Chris Bithell has been fast all year-really, fast for the last several years-but seems to have bad luck thwart him at every turn. But he finally had things going his way over the weekend in Yadkinville and delivered his first win since 2008. Could it be the sign of more to come? Let's find out.
By Rodney Tomblin
Photo By: Shan Moore
Chris Bithell is usually caught smiling, regardless of his results.
Chris Bithel: Not too bad, just finished with some Tire Balls and now I am headed to the auto parts store to pick up some parts.
Auto parts!? Are you having problems with your vehicle?
No actually I am putting an oxygen sensor in my brother's car. It never stops, come home to put in Tire Balls and work on everything! I don't get a break.
(Laughs) I guess that is better than sitting around doing nothing.
Yeah that's for sure, I can't do that. I don't know, I can't sit around inside and watch TV even if it is raining out right now. I've got to be doing something.
I guess I should say congratulations on the big win this weekend.
Yeah, thank you! Man it feels good, I'll tell ya' that!
I can imagine. It's been a while! I was looking through results and the last win you got was in late 2008.
Yeah it was '08 on the Can Am when I was number 3 at Unadilla that I got that win. It's been hit or miss here and there, you know and last year I think all I got was a podium in Ohio. I've been working really hard this year so I knew that it would come. I figured I could get a few podiums this year and I'm hoping with this win that it is maybe going to make it even easier. I am hoping I am going to go out and just be on fire the next few rounds.
Your season started out well. You have not been on the podium yet, but you have been top 5 a lot and ran in the top 3 and even have been in the lead some.
Each race we have been doing so good. And like you said, I was leading in Georgia and a stupid mistake took me out, but I was able to salvage a few points. I have been able to finish some 4ths and 5ths and have been around the lead at about every race. There were two races where we had some pretty bad luck with some DNF's but I'm hoping those are behind us and we can look forward to the few races before the break. These are pretty much my home tracks coming up, they are maximum within three hours from me, and just the kind of terrain I like to run the next three races, so I'm pretty pumped.
You mentioned DNF's, what happened at Steel Creek when both you and Adam blew motors within just a few minutes of one another?
Yeah, they were two separate issues. Mine was the upper motor and his was the lower part of the motor, something went wrong in each motor. It's just one of those things, it happens I guess and hopefully it's behind us.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Bithell and new teammate Adam McGill have taken the DS450 to the front this year.
I think my team, Warnert Racing Can Am, has really stepped it up this year. I don't know, everything is just clicking this year. Everybody is working great together. I work great with my mechanic and he works great with his boss our team manager. We have a big loop and we are all friends and I can call or text any one of them anytime day or night and even on the weekends. I think that's what really helps; I think we are all really so close that everyone takes it to heart when someone does badly.
Warnert Racing has a big team with you and Adam on the DS 450 and then the Utility guys on the Renegades and Outlanders, what is it like being all on the same team?
It's great! Michael (Swift) and Cliffton (Beasley) and Bryan (Buchannan) are great guys and they are doing just awesome for the team. I would like to get out and support them more, but with P.A. and TV interviews and autograph sessions going on during their race, it makes it tough to be out there supporting them and getting into their race more the way I would like. Almost every weekend those guys are winning their classes. If they are not, then there is something wrong. It is pretty odd not to see those guys not win. They are on fire and they scare me sometimes the way they ride those things. I told those guys a few times that they need to slow down and realize what they are riding, but I guess they know what they are doing!
Do they stick around after their race and support you guys?
Yep, they do! As soon as they are off the track they are giving us the heads up on the track. It starts there, then they will help us out during the race. They are cheering for us the whole race most of the time if we are doing pretty good and stay right there untill the end. And I know this week they were all there cheering me on when I finished. That's pretty awesome, they work hard to do what they do and they will stay and support us too and that's pretty cool. It's a lot like a family.
So did you do guys sit down and talk after the race, did you do anything special?
Adam and I sat around and talked a little just the same as any other race. I can't sit around thinking "Oh yeah I just won! I'm just going to feed off this the rest of the year!" It's the same as any race; I am going out to train as hard as I can for the next one.
Traditionally, the wins you have had in the past have been late in the season. Does it make you feel more confident to have the win earlier in the season?
Yeah it does. I put a lot of hard work in this year before Florida. I think it showed. I finished the race in Florida with my best results ever to open the season and have been strong and consistent with my finishes. I think that shows that I was in shape and ready and that I put a lot of work and heart into it this year. I knew it was just a matter of time before I started to podium and to get the win is even better.
Do you think that you want now more than you have before?
As far as this year goes, yeah! I see that this year my team is giving 100% of their effort and I said that I am going to go ahead and give those guys 100 percent of my effort.
That's what it takes.
Yeah it takes going to the gym everyday. It takes riding everyday. It takes keeping your practice bikes running so you can race locals every weekend. You know, I don't think a lot of people see what we do as racers. It's not like I got a factory ride and I am set, I sit around on the couch and eat Bon Bons all day. I work in the shop every day and I am at the gym almost everyday of the week and I'm trying. It's not like you can just slack off after you get it a pro ride.
The next race is The Moose Mountain Ridge GNCC in Somerset, PA. Would this be considered the home race for Chris Bithell?
Yeah this is my home race and I usually seem to have a pretty good time there, too. It is only about an hour away and I always seem to do pretty good there. I am not a huge fan of bashing myself through those rocks all day, but somehow I do it fast. I think it has something to do with all the people that come out to watch me do it. I have a huge crowd of family and friends that come out to that one. And they are out there cheering me on and if I do well those guys go nuts.
Sounds like you may have a lot crazy folks around then.
I sure hope so! I'm lining them up.
(Laughing) Sounds good! Have a good day Chris.
Thanks a lot! You too.
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