So what's the schedule for these guys? Are they riding with you yet?
Well, Gordon just did a supercross last weekend, and Glenn is still in Australia. But we are going to get together within the next week to get these guys here and get them on the bike. Luckily, I'm pretty confident about the bike, so we don't have as much work to do as I thought. I would like to get Gordon here a little early just because he needs to practice and race some local races, and get used to riding in the trees. But Glenn knows what he is up against - he understands this game - so I think with a little fine-tuning on the bike he'll be good to go.
You were known as a real innovator on bikes - you made bikes that people wouldn't think would work win races. So if you're saying this bike is good right from the crate, that's a bold statement?
The bike produces great power, it has a really broad sweet spot that gets great traction - it's almost idiot-proof power. I think that will allow the guys to save energy. And because of the design, it has a really low centre of gravity. So even if it weighs the same as what everyone else is riding - and I think it will actually be lighter - but even if it's the same it will feel lighter because the weight is carried so low in the frame.
Sounds like the BMW team is doing their homework. First they figured they wanted to go off-road racing from the start, and then they figured that GNCC was the best series to be in, and then they realized you were the best guy to run the team. It sounds like they did a lot of research, and they didn't just start selling bikes and hoping people liked them.
They did. I think BMW wants to appeal to a younger demographic. You know, they make adventure bikes that just dominate that market. If you're looking for a bike that will be comfortable for 15 hours a day, they have the bike, and it will not break down. But I think they realize that to get some younger riders you should go GNCC racing, and me being the four-stroke guy in the past, it was kind of a natural thing.
How exciting is it to have something new like this?
Well it's exciting, because I have always enjoyed being a part of it. I enjoy making a better 'mouse trap'. I'm an amateur fabricator, and my dad being kind of an inventor, we've had fun coming up with better ways to make a motorcycle work. So this is right up our alley, it's kind of like working with NASA, but now the topic is a motorcycle instead of a spacecraft. This motorcycle has over 20 patents. I can communicate with these guys, but I'm not going to say I understand things better than they do. But there are things I do understand - and that's the human side - and what it takes for training, preparation, and putting a team together that allows the racers to get the best possible result at a GNCC.
So they're not using GNCC racing to develop a bike, they're using you to develop a team and win.
Right. I think the bike is pretty much done. But they're willing to listen, and they're scheduled to start production pretty soon. But I did make a few changes when I was over in Munich, and that's what slowed down production of the first batch of bikes.
You're your own worst enemy!
(Laughs) Yeah well, it will pay off in the long run. We may be a bit less prepared for the first race or two, but we will have a better motorcycle in the long run.
Good luck with the team, Scott.
For more information on the 2008 GNCC series, please visit the www.gnccracing.com website. We will bring you further stories and team details, as well as results from every round of this year's series.