GNCCRacing.com: What's going on today?
Layne Michael: Not much. I just got out of school, came home and got something to eat. Now me and dad are out here in the garage trying to get the 250F together and work out some bugs in it before the race this weekend.
Photo By: RacedayPix.com
The New Youth Motorcycle Champion is jumping on a big bike at the Power Line Park GNCC.
Yep, and right now I am pretty excited about it too! I've been riding the big bike all year and just racing the 105cc at the nationals. I've just been getting ready used to the big bike and everything. It's been good all year, we've been having a couple problems this last week. We were like, "Oh my of course right before the first big race". But we're getting the bugs worked out of it and here in a little bit I've got to go test it and make sure it's alright.
So do you have good place for testing?
Yeah we have a 72 acre farm out here. We have a motocross track, grass track and woods track, so it's got all the needs you have for racing.
Congratulations on the Youth Over All Championship!
Thanks! It's almost like a dream come true I guess you could say. I remember being on the last line in the 65cc 7-9 class, me and Steward Baylor (now in XC2 Pro Lites) would be sitting back there watching all the lines take off and then we'd go. Each year we would progress and move up a line and do better in the over all. When I was little I was always looking up to the kids that were winning, I would think I hope I can do that someday. Now that it has happened it is kind of a shocker.
Photo By: RacedayPix.com
Layne Michael has dreamed of being Champion for a long time.
What is so shocking about it?
I don't know. It's just like, it actually happened, you know, I was actually "Top Mini Rider" and it's pretty cool to just be able to say that.
How does it feel to win a championship that started so many careers like Charlie Mullins, Thad Duvall, Kailub Russell, Corey Buttrick and a number of today's top GNCC riders?
It definitely looks better. I have been friends with Thad since I can't remember and I've been running around with him and Kailub Russell and they always say that you need to get that GNCC Youth Championship that's what they say is the next step. I am just kind of waiting on an offer to come through, but we're just playing that by ear right now. I am not expecting anything too big with the way the economy is right now. Whatever offer we get we will probably going to take because it kind of going downhill a little bit.
What kind of support have you had?
Morgantown KTM has been just awesome to us. I have been riding with them since 50s. The past 4 years or so they have given me a race bikes and we turn it back in to them at the end of the year and that has been the biggest help. If wasn't for them getting us the bike I don't even know if we could have afforded it. And PR2 Suspension picked us up last year at Snowshoe and they're trying to pull some strings trying to see if I can get a ride with them. It's good to have people like them on your side.
What class are you moving up to?
We've been talking it over and we are not "certain" certain yet but we are thinking about just moving to the B Lites line to just figure out what the 3 hours are like and how the track is going to go. Nothing is for sure, I don't want to move up too fast and ride over my head and get hurt or anything. So we might just ride the B Lites and get the feel of the 3 hour race and see how that goes for us.
What are your expectations of 3 hours compared to the 1 hour and 30 minutes you run as a youth?
At the local races I run a 2 hour race and I never get tired. My last lap is normally always my fastest. There are a few races like mud races I slack off a little bit. Tiring has never been an issue for me so I am sure I should be alright for 3 hours, I know it's an extra hour from what I do at the locals, but we will just have to wait and see.
Photo By: RacedayPix.com
Layne Michael knows how to push it to get where he wants.
I've been racing since I was 5 years old. I did my first local race on a Honda z50. Started there and just kept progressing each year. I remember back at locals the biggest thing in the world seemed like on my 50 was the GNCC. I think it was 2003 I did my first GNCC on my 65cc at the Wisp. We liked it and that next year we did all of them.
Would you say it turned into a passion for you?
Yeah! Even when I was little we would go up to High Point and Matthews Farms and watch. I was like, "Man , this is cool, I want to race here some day!"
How did you get tied into GNCC racing?
My Dad (Rick Michael) used to race back in the day and in his prime he raced all the Black Waters and Big Bear and all those races. He was pretty good. He got 5th in his class the last year he did it.
Have you always raced woods or do you motocross as well?
Actually I used to run motocross on the Honda 50 and the KTM 50. We used to go up to Pyramid Valley and I would race there all the local motocross races. Then we got into the woods when I started on the 65cc and started racing nationals. The woods racing is not as much pressure, just more fun and you get to be on the bike longer where motocross you don't get much time. I raced the Loretta Lynn's Qualifier at High Point this year and we only got 5 laps and that was it. Where in the GNCC you make a little mistake and have time to make up for it. I ride a lot of motocross and I enjoy it but racing in the woods just suits me better.
Well good luck with everything and thanks for taking the time out to talk to me today and get that bike running straight.
All right, we will. I would just like to say thanks again to Morgantown KTM and PR2 Suspension. I would also like to thank Troy Lee, EBC, KTM Hard Parts who has been giving me gear for the last few years. That's awesome and good money we get to save. I also want to thank Scott Goggles, and Maxima Oils. Of course Mom and Dad and all the friends and family for their support I couldn't do it with out them and GNCC for putting on all the races.
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