Keith from the East
Interview with Keith Johnson
Story & Photos by Eddie Graveline
www.motopress.net
First of all, you have to know which Keith Johnson you’re reading about.
This is the East Coast Keith. This is the Keith that was riding for Cannondale
from the beginning of its development through last year’s U.S. Open debacle.
With a restless need to get on with his racing career, Keith recently decided to
leave Cannondale and he joined the new EZ Wider Yamaha team out of
Massachusetts. Keith is now competing in the 125cc National MX series and has
already turned in some impressive rides. I caught up with him early in the
outdoor season and got up to speed on what he’s doing these days.
Q: Well, Keith, I didn’t even know about this team until I saw you guys out
at the opener at Glen Helen. Why don’t you give me the run down on your
program?
A: It’s a New England based team, 3D Racing, which has been in New England
for a while. EZ Wider (cigarette rolling papers) came along as a sponsor this
year. They decided to ride all of the East Coast 125cc Supercrosses and all of
the Nationals. There are two of us riding in the 125 class and one guy riding in
the 250 class for all of the Nationals. I’m riding the 125 class.
Q: Can you talk about Cannondale?
A: Yes.
Q: Are you involved with the factory at all anymore?
A: No.
Q: Is everything falling apart there or are they just kind of restructuring?
A: Yeah, a little of both actually. The race team fell apart because they
were restructuring and doing different things. I could have stayed and kept
doing development riding. I wanted to keep racing. The public kind of took what
Cannondale did the wrong way and Cannondale didn’t really like that.
Cannondale went out there, in the public eye to do testing, but it kind of came
back at them the wrong way. It made it look like the bike wasn’t ready when,
in fact, we were testing things that hadn’t been proven yet, not for a
production bike, but on a race bike. It kind of came back and bit them and they
didn’t like that. They wanted to kind of tone down the racing scene and just
do a lot of development stuff.
Q: You raced the Cannondale in the 4-stroke class at the U.S. Open last year
and it wasn’t a success. That seemed to be the proverbial kick in the stomach
for the company. What all happened there?
A: Just the same thing that happened to us all year. We’d have parts that
hadn’t been race-proven and we’d go out there and that’s where we did a
lot of our testing, racing and the day before the races. We’d test all week
long, but things would change constantly. Obviously it didn’t make them look
good and obviously, it didn’t make me look good either. That race (the U.S.
Open) was one of the main reasons that they decided not to race this year.
Q: I know that you got off to a slow start in the 125East Supercross series
this year. What happened there?
A: I came on (the team) after the first Supercross. I missed the first one
and then I rode Atlanta, New Orleans and Daytona and then I got hurt. I rode a
125 indoors. I’m kind of a big guy for a 125 so I struggled a little bit.
Daytona being a little bit more of an outdoor kind of track, I was able to adapt
to the 125 a little bit better. I would have rather been on a 250, but we
didn’t have time to set up a 250. We had 125 race bikes already. Then I got
hurt and didn’t ride the last couple and I just concentrated on getting ready
for the outdoor season and putting my EZ Wider (YZ) 250F in the front.
Q: You had a scary injury. Tell me about it.
A: It was a lacerated liver. I was at home riding and I never wear a chest
protector. I went over the bars and got a handlebar in the gut and ended up in
the hospital for a few days. I wear a chest protector now!
Q: Is this team purely a privateer effort or do you get some help from
Yamaha?
A: No, we don’t have any help from Yamaha. We’re just purely a privateer
team. Our biggest sponsor, EZ Wider, is where everything is coming from and
without them we wouldn’t be here, for sure. As far as factory support or any
special parts, we’re on our own.
Q: Based on the limited amount of time you’ve had with this team and these
bikes, what do you hope to accomplish in the Nationals?
A: I’ve been working really hard this year and the team’s working really
great. Everyone’s been giving 110% effort. Everyone’s learning as they go.
Our bikes are great, everyone here is great and I’ve been working really hard.
At the end of the series I think I’ll be in the top ten. Once everything moves
east, I’ll have a little bit more of an advantage. Southwick and tracks like
that are my home tracks.
Q: Like you said, you’re a bigger guy. You also have extensive experience
riding 4-strokes. Is the 250F the perfect bike for you?
A: Yeah, exactly. I like 4-strokes and I’m used to the handling
characteristics. I think the 250F’s great. I like it a lot. It’s got its
advantages and disadvantages. It’s heavier and a little bit ill handling
compared to a 125. On the hard packed tracks they’ll be a little bit better,
but at Southwick, it’s going to be a little bit different story.
Q: If you had to ride a 125 against other guys on the 250F, would you think
it was unfair? Be objective.
A: On (Glen Helen), no I don’t think it’s a fair race. I’m 185 pounds
almost and all of these other guys on 125s are 130 pounds. Me riding a 250 and
them riding 125s, it’s fair. These guys way 130 pounds soaking wet and one of
my legs weighs 130 pounds. Honestly, I think that pound for pound, the 250F is
faster. It’s going to be an advantage for sure on the starts, but tracks like
Southwick and tracks where you don’t need a lot of brute power, I’d rather
ride a 125.
Q: Well, Keith, I’m glad to see you and the EZ Wider team out here. We’ll
be watching for you guys to keep the New England MX scene’s reputation up.
A: Thanks.
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