Black Knight!
Published: 12th March 2008
Author: Words by Billy MacKenzie Photo by Toby Fuller
Billy unveils the new Monster CAS Honda colour scheme at Hawkstone – and shows the MX world that he means business
Last you heard I was in America and I could bet most of what I wrote was happy clappy, just like the Americans. So this time I'm back in Britain and most of what I write is probably gonna be depressing and moany, just like the British! The reason is because we have nothing to be happy about over here - it's just crap! It’s small, it’s cold, it’s windy, it’s polluted - I could go on and on…
Sorry to pish on anyone’s bonfire but the only thing that has been good since I’ve been back is Hawkstone! What an awesome day and how about the weather this time round? Ain’t got a bad thing to say about Hawkstone. The track was mint, the fans were there in droves and as far as I know everyone got out the paddock in good time! It was also my very first race on the Honda and I loved every lap (except maybe the last lap in moto two)!
Coming into Hawkstone I didn’t really know what to expect but then again I wasn’t really worrying what I was gonna do, I just wanted to jump on my bike and have a little squirt around a scramble track! I've been so excited riding my Honda, I've been doing things in practice and stuff that I would never normally do just because I feel so confident in the bike and I guess it showed at Hawkstone. The first race I passed everyone in front of me within half-a-lap and I pulled off an awesome move into the bombhole to pass De Dycker and someone else for the lead. It was one of those things that gave me a rush and made me think ‘right, this race is mine’!
It was all going well until near the end when a back-marker stalled it in front of me off a small ski jump and I landed right on top of him, snapping something on the bike. So that was the end of the first race but I felt good and was on course for a win.
The second race I pulled a monster holeshot and led until the very end. I made the mistake of starting to worry about what was behind me instead of in front of me and De Reuver came past me. With half-a-lap left I tried that little bit harder to try catch him and slid out, almost going down and letting Coppins and Ramon slip through. I was pretty pissed off about that one.
The last race was even cooler and it was actually more fun passing riders than getting a holeshot. The MX2 guys left the gate and I thought I had 10 seconds before our gates dropped but it turns out it was only five so I was still sitting there spinning my tyre when the gate dropped! But it made it fun coming through and I was pulling off some mega passes and just having so much fun! My fitness felt incredible considering we didn’t have long between getting changed from race two.
I remember passing Philippaerts, Ramon and Swanny in one lap. I didn’t even realise where I was until my new mechanic Teasy (Paul Teasdale) told me I was second and 10 seconds behind Tommy. I had a look over the track and saw Tommy in the lead and I did not want to let an MX2 bike win so I put in a hard lap and caught him by six seconds. I could see him on the same straight as me now and I wanted him bad! Me and Tommy always want bragging rights! Anyways, it wasn’t meant to be - I was out of tear-offs and ended up burying the front end in a soft berm but I'll get him next time.
For those of you who couldn’t make it to Hawkstone, CAS Honda is now officially Monster CAS Honda. We’re running black Hondas in the British championship and I'm running the #1 plate (orders from Harry Ainsworth!) but I'm quite liking the idea and I can’t wait for Donno this weekend. I hope it ain’t too windy because I wanna do some bum twitches over the finish tabletop! I might even do a Jeff Matiasevich one-hander or a quick chin grab if I get bored up there (look out for me and Tommy doing chin grabs - we're gonna start a new craze).
I can’t wait for the GPs to start - tracks like Spain and Portugal are always cool road trips, everyone travels together and stays over at the campsites. Being home is normal, mundane - just a stop off while you wait for the next adventure. I'm sure I would be the same even if I didn’t have motocross to take me round - I'd be wanting to see something different every week.
Sorry guys, nothing else that exciting happening - just a lot of riding and training - but I’m sure I'll have something for you next time!