Bill Ballance 5-11-03
- Updated: May 11, 2003
ATV Scene: What’s new Bill?
Ballance: I recently switched to Vector A-arms and swing arms built by Mike Hallock at Custom Axis. I feel we had the best suspension available and now with the new Vector arms and swing arm, we get more travel and more ground clearance. So the best just got better.
ATV Scene: What does it take to be a Bill Ballance type of rider?
Ballance: If you want to win championships, you have to take it serious. You almost have to live it. You constantly have to be thinking of how you can make yourself and your machine better. It’s all about what kind of edge you can get on the competition.
ATV Scene: Is this your last year on the two stoke?
Ballance: It sure is. In fact, I’ll be on a Suzuki LRD framed four-stroke at the next round (Millfield, OH).
ATV Scene: How long have you been testing with your new thumper?
Ballance: A long time. We aren’t about to just jump in with a big change like this. I’ve been riding a Suzuki for quite some time now and posting some impressive lap times with it. We’ve got it dialed in really well. It’s a stock geometry LRD frame. Which means it won’t handle much different from the stock Z400 but it will be lighter.
Smooth and fast best describes a Ballance blitz throught the woods.
ATV Scene: Are you planning on racing the Maxxis BUCCS (Buddy-Up Cross Country Series) this year?
Ballance: Actually my brother and I might team up for it.
ATV Scene: Speaking of teaming up, have you formed your Maxxis 12 Hours of ATV America team yet?
Ballance: We don’t know what machine yet, but we do have our team in place. I’ll be racing it with my brother Brandon and Johnny Gallagher. We’re looking forward to it.
ATV Scene: Speaking of your bro, what’s gotten into him lately?
Ballance:He’s got the speed to go out and win. He always has. Before it was a lack of drive. He wanted to go golfing and fishing all the time and wasn’t completely focused in as much as it takes. In the last few years he’s really focused in on ATV racing and it’s showing.
ATV Scene: Chasing you around the practice track probably helps the cause a lot too.
Ballance: Yeah, he’s been riding with me a whole lot lately. He still has some things to learn, so he’ll only get faster.
Bill often gets good starts. Here he holeshots at the Rausch Creek GNCC.
ATV Scene:So do sponsors get twice the Ballance for their buck? Or does he go his own way with sponsorships?
Ballance: I would hope for our sake, and sponsors as well, that we could keep things simple and ride under the same program for years to come. We could really learn from each other and help test the same products under the same program. Right now, he’s in the top five or six in points. If he can finish up the season like this, I would think he would be pretty valuable to a potential sponsor. I would think it would be crazy not to combine us into the same program and a simplify things.
ATV Scene: What’s your reaction to the new faces on the podium this year?
Ballance:I welcome it! It’s a lot more fun mixing it up with new people, and it’s what GNCC racing is all about.
ATV Scene: What’s the best thing about our sport?
Ballance:The people involved with it and everyone’s way of keeping it real.
ATV Scene: What’s the worst thing?
Ballance:The lack of factory involvement. I hope that changes.
Bill is trying for a fourth GNCC professional championship in 2003.
ATV Scene:What’s your opinion on the pro production class?
Ballance:It’s a good way to entice the factories to get involved. What they do with it is another story. Whether the factories do indeed get involved or not, I do see the world of ATV racing becoming all four-stroke soon – regardless. In a few years, if the factories are still not involved, I don’t see any point in even calling the class “pro production”. We should probably just go back to one pro class.
ATV Scene: Do you think it cost less money to race the production class?
Ballance: This sport has a ton of aftermarket companies that are committed to being at the top of the game. There is always someone releasing a new products that works better on the track. In order to be competitive, you’ll need to purchase the latest greatest products. This is true whether you’re racing an aftermarket based ATV or a production based one. The guys that are really competitive are spending serious money – this goes for the production classes as well. So all in all, it really isn’t any cheaper to race the production class.
ATV Scene: Who is helping you chase your fourth pro GNCC championship?
Ballance: First and fore most – the good Lord, my pit crew, Jimmy Duff, Klotz Lubricants, LRD Frames & Motors, Maxxis Tires, Douglas Wheels, Custom Axis Suspension, Hinson Racing, Works Performance, Tony Kellner Racing, Liquid Performance, Baldwin Motorsports, Troy of Honda, Pro Art Works, Rebel Gears, Regina Chains, Moose Offroad, Smith Goggles, Tag Metals, Clarke Gas Tanks, DP Brakes, Outerwears, AC Racing, Quad Tech, Maier Plastic, and everyone that I might have forgotten.
ATV Scene: Any parting words?
Ballance: Hey Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki give me a call, — let’s work out a deal.
