K-Dub Update! Looks like he's in for Nationals!

[nikki]

Cooool looks like K-Dub is planning a comeback for the 2003 National season! Sounds like his options are wide open as far as team/bikes but he might be on a thumper. Very cool!! :cool:

What I wouldn't give to see K-Dub win a few Nationals again! Also - according to a few sites, Albee will be racing the opener at Glen Helen. I hope Ricky and Reed and Ferry and company stomp him! ;)


From www.racerxill.com

February 5, 2003

Kevin Windham talks about his comeback
by Davey Coombs

Racer X caught up with Kevin Windham this morning as he was working a dirt job on his tractor down near his home in Mississippi. The sidelined superstar has been away from the races since he broke his femur back at the Atlanta SX, almost one full year ago. He has since parted ways with Team Suzuki, and he and his wife, Dottie, had a little girl named Madeleine who went to the starting gate a little early (almost three months!) and is still in the hospital getting healthy and putting on some weight (almost four pounds now).

At any rate, Kevin told us last fall that he was thinking about doing some racing again, even venturing over into Texas for a few local money races. Then, last week, he sounded a little more serious as we spoke about doing a GNCC down on his land in Mississippi. Now he sounds like he's ready to finally get back out on the national circuit!

When I asked him who he was going to ride for this summer, he said, laughing: "Well, that seems to be a big part of the problem. I'm riding the Honda CRF450 right now with no team affiliation or anything; it's just a fun bike to ride. I decided to give a four-stroke a whirl, and I'm liking it. So I'm talking to them and Kawasaki a little bit, but Suzuki is kinda down right now [with injuries] and so is KTM. Even Yamaha has a bike right now [YZ450F] that no one is riding. It's too bad that so many guys are hurt now."

When I asked Kevin what clicked inside him to make him want to get serious about racing again, he answered: "Last year there was a little desire to take a some time off, and then I hurt my leg. Maybe it was sort of a blessing in disguise. I had no choice but to take the time off that I needed, and now I'm ready to ride again. Believe me, after doing some other jobs - some real, everyday jobs - I think I understand what hard work really is. I mean, there's nothing to this racing thing! Until you get in the real world, you have no idea how fortunate you are to be racing a motorcycle for a living."

We wish Kevin and Dottie good luck with the baby and can't wait to see K-Dub back out on the race track. Stay tuned to Racerxill.com for more on Kevin's comeback.

 

[mdkuder]

Woohoo, I'm ready I'm ready. I know he can come out and kick some a$$ on the nationals. I plan on making the trek to Millville this year, so I'll get to see him there. Considering what was going on in his personal life I don't blame him a bit for dropping out for awhile!

 

[oldguy]

That is great news now I hope the layoff has recharged his desire. It looks to be a great Nationals this year if everyboby can stay healthy.

mdkuder when millville gets closer we will have to do some planning we will be there as usual Friday thru Sunday

 

[XRpredator]

If I were Windham, and my daughter was born 3 months early, I'd have a hard time being motivated to leave her and my wife to go racing.

I hope everything turns out okay for the feller and his family.

 

[BEEF706]

Ditto what Pred said, and I hope he comes back with a vengance, he is very talented, now sounds like he may be motivated. Loved his comment bout not knowing what hard work was, till he did some other work, lets star a rumor, how about KW on an Orange bike under the MC racing team banner?

 

[Okiewan]

Originally posted by XRpredator
If I were Windham, and my daughter was born 3 months early, I'd have a hard time being motivated to leave her and my wife to go racing.

I hope everything turns out okay for the feller and his family.

You'd assume all will be well with her by the time the Nationals start...

 

[Chili]

Count me and the family in for the Milville planning also :) See ya Friday Dave :thumb: EDIT errr make that a week friday, dang I'm too excited for my own good :laugh:

 

[Senior KX Rider]

Great to KW is coming out to race He has always been one of my favorites :thumb:

 

[Reesknight]

Originally posted by BEEF706
lets star a rumor, how about KW on an Orange bike under the MC racing team banner?

I like that rumor! I hope Albee does well if he does any racing too. Wouldn't mind seeing him on an orange bike as well. :thumb:

 

[truespode]

I am looking forward to seeing Kevin Windham ride.

Ivan

 

[Combat767]

Great news! :thumb: It aslo sounds like Kevins shot of at least a short term gig with a factory team are decent. (Unfortunate for those factory guys that are injured) If not, it'd be just as nice to see him run his own show for a summer. There'd definitely be a whole lot less pressure to win and he could just enjoy himself!

Originally posted by Nikki.
Albee will be racing the opener at Glen Helen. I hope Ricky and Reed and Ferry and company stomp him!

I haven't seen Nikki hostile before? Did I miss something about Albee, or am I just reading to much into it. ;)

 

[Philip]

I'm onboard!! :yeehaw: My favorite rider on my favorite bike, Nikki it can't be true. I'd like to see him ride the red thumper with the mad woody woodpecker on the side. I wish his new family well. When we talked to him at Xmas he said he would not make up his mind to ride until his daughter was born. Well now she's here and I guess he'e ready to ride. If anyone has every seen this guy ride in person he is some kind of smooth. He can run a blistering pace and make it look effortless. Wish ya well K-Dub. :thumb:

 

[WideOpen]

mcgrath racing anyone? I'd love to see jeremy pic up K-dub for the team and for KTM :yeehaw:

 

[bclapham]

the way things are going with injuries in the 250 class, K-Dub could be the only one fit enough to finish a moto come glen helen in may!

good luck KW!

 

[nikki]

Originally posted by Combat767
I haven't seen Nikki hostile before? Did I miss something about Albee, or am I just reading to much into it. ;)

LOL... I just wish K-Dub coulda took the outdoor crown in '99 when Albee got it. I was heartbroken that season :) Windham had 4 wins on the season compared to Albee's 3 - but Windham had a little bad luck along the way, too. He has always been my favorite rider.

Actually I woulda rather saw Windham, Lusk, Button, Henry, Ward, Ferry, etc.... take the #1 plate that season over Albee - maybe it's just a cheering for the US boys thing... isn't it US motocross? :confused:


Chili, Oldguy, mdkuder - we sould be making Millville too - looking forward to meeting up with ya!

 

[Combat767]

LOL... That explains things... You didn't strike me as a person who'd have a mean bone in her body, except maybe when roosting a 2-stroke racer out on the track. ;)
Then again that's all in the fun of riding/racing. :laugh: :laugh:

Yeah... when Windham is on his "A" game, it's tough to beat him. It sure would be great to see him come back and pull off a series championship in the next couple of years. :yeehaw:

 

[Senior KX Rider]

Doesn't matter to me what he decides to ride. I think he has a few more wins left in him and he will get them no matter what bike he decides to ride :)

 

[nephron]

Windham will be relatively serious, until his farm cow gives birth to calves, then he'll have to fly home to be close to them...I also highly doubt he'd end up on a Woody Woodpecker with RC. RC would have him sittin' in the corner and sucking his thumb a lot, pouting...and then he'd start thinking about taking time off again, and how his cows are doing, and how building mudbarns wasn't that bad afterall.... :silly: 

 

 

[portish]

lol

 

[nephron]

You'll also notice that he didn't say anything about Suzuki. I think of Roger, look at his current staff of riders, and think about him and Hannah going at it in the old days, right at the end of Rog's career. Even at the end of his career, at his slowest no doubt, and against the youngest and most ambitious upcomer of the time, he went balls out 100% of the time. Now that's a MAN, and I don't blame him for being frustrated thinking about all of KW's talent. I think it's beyond rumor now that he' s coming to his wits end with his riders--read that recent SWAP interview about how TP's mother and father always tell the entire internet about Travis' plans and injuries (one in the same ;) ) before he even knows anything....how in the hell does Roger deserve this stuff? :ugg:

At least he's got Tortelli, who you know is giving it his all. I can't wait to see him in the outdoors on that ZOOK. He will, no doubt, be out front frequently.

 

[Philip]

I agree with ya nephron, Roger had the best potential in his stable, the injuries and lack of motivation by his riders has to be frustrating. :flame: At least with Tortelli he was in the Honda camp and saw the commitment it takes to win, and before the injury looked like he was headed in that direction. You gotta feel for Roger. :|

 

[Timr]

I don't disagree with Nikki about pulling for all of the US guys, but you have to respect Albee for his determination.  I mean, how many faceplants did that guy do?  Remember that time that he augered in on that quad jump at one of the Calif. SX races.  It was truly ugly.  That guy rag dolled off his bike more than TP.  Maybe it's a suzuki thing.

Go KW.  From what I can tell from guys who have gone riding at KW's riding area, he sounds like a real down to earth kinda guy.

I wish him success.

 

[ScottYZ250]

I'd love to see KW riding an orange or red thumper. Either color would be fine with me. I love blue, but they have Ferry. I'd like to see more quality riders on thumpers... :worship:

 

[zcookie49]

Yeah, K-dubber is one of my fav's as well...
Pretty interesting story line here so far, a few months ago, KW was interviewed and said that if he returned to racing, he may just concentrate on riding outdoors/Nationals only....
Now he has been putting the time in the saddle of a 4stroke... not to say that 4strokes are great, but maybe he has a plan to take a serious attack at the outdoor title. Granted, it will be very difficult this year with RC, But maybe there wont be as many injuries making it a possibility.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Went to a local Areanacross this past Saturday in Hattiesburg MS and KW was rompin! He was on the Woody 450 and was lookin very smooth. The track was very tight with 28 second lap times. Kevin got third place starts in both his heat and the main. hard to say if he was tryin his best at the starts or not. The start straight was only about 90 feet long with a 180 degree left hander. he moved into second both times by the second lap and jumped into first by the fifth. He then proceeded to get about a 3/4 lap lead by the end. Unfortunately i didn't get the names of the other pros. There was no program listing the riders and the PA sucked. Definitely a treat to see KW!

Joe