Five minutes with Matt Smiley
- Mr. Consistency
By Bonnie
Hamrick
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2002 GNCC runner up, Matt Smiley agreed to give us the scoop on his 2003
season. Here's what he had to say when we cornered him at round nine in McHenry,
MD.
ATV Scene: What have you changed for the
2003 Season?
Smiley: This year I am riding
with Maxxis tires and the new LRD chassis.
ATV Scene: How long have you been fighting
for the first place position?
Smiley: I started racing
the GNCC races in 1993, where I started in the pro class, but I didn't get serious
about it until 1997. That's when I started riding to my full potential. In my
first year I got fifteenth overall, then the next I got sixth overall. As for
getting serious for a National Championship, that was in 1999.
ATV Scene:
Who is helping you make it big this year?
Smiley: Team Safari has been
awesome to me. As well as Pro Parts, LRD, Maxxis, and MSR.
ATV Scene: What other ATV racing do you
participate in besides the GNCC Series?
Smiley: District 6 in Pennsylvania.
Whenever I can get to those races I will go, but I don't run the whole series.
It is mainly for practice.
ATV Scene: What is your opinion of the
Pro Production Class?
Smiley: I think it is a good
class, but in order for it to work as well as it should, the factories need
to step up and give us some incentive to ride their ATVs. I know there are some
new models coming out, but I don't feel as though their quads are as good as
the two strokes that I currently ride.
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ATV Scene: What is your job during the
week?
Smiley: I am in landscaping.
I work about 50 hours a week.
ATV Scene: How do you stay in shape for
the races?
Smiley: Working mostly. And
I guess riding as much as I can. That is probably the best I can do besides
racing.
ATV Scene: What is the best thing about
the sport?
Smiley: I think that when
people can go out and have some fun and get paid to do it. Not paid a lot, but
still getting something out of it. I get a big rush out of it for sure.
ATV Scene: What do you think of the new
Yamaha quad?
Smiley: I haven't seen it
yet, but I have seen pictures and it looks pretty interesting. I am definitely
anxious about getting on it.
ATV Scene: What are you planning on riding
for the 2004 season?
Smiley: It is hard to say
right now. Yamaha just came out with that quad and Honda is coming out with
one; so I really don't know. I am looking for some factory involvement that
is for sure. There are a lot of guys out here that deserve it, especially me.
I mean I feel that I am well qualified for some help.
ATV Scene: What do you think about the
factory involvement so far in this sport?
Smiley: You mean to tell
me there is factory support in this sport? The GNCCs? (laughing) Well, it is
nice to see people like Suzuki and Kawasaki here at least. It is good to see
that they are starting to get some what involved, but they really need to take
it to the next level.
ATV Scene: What is the worst thing about
the sport?
Smiley: That there are guys here that are
great athletes and no one is recognizing it. It is just sad that they can't
make any money at what they do best.
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ATV Scene: Are you married?
Smiley: Yes. (Sorry ladies,
taken)
ATV Scene: What tracks do you like best?
Smiley: I like the more technical
tracks. The tighter and technical, yeah! Really though, I am pretty much right
there on all of them.
ATV Scene: What do you see as the biggest
risk in this sport?
Smiley: Going broke. Coming
out here and getting hurt, it is a big risk. But you can't come out here and
race your best if you are going to worry about getting hurt. So I really don't
worry about it. I am more worried about if I get hurt, I can't work.
ATV Scene: What are your parting words
for the readers?
Smiley: Go out there and
first and foremost, have fun. If you aren't out there having fun, there is no
point in being out there at all. If you want to put the work in it, then get
out there and work for it.
