SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
By Danny Brault
Photos: Jason T. Griffiths
Richmond Racing Kawasaki's Darcy Lange.
After returning to the CMRC Canadian National Motocross Championships this summer, Richmond Racing Kawasaki's Darcy Lange looked like he would ride to a comfortable third-place series finish in the MX1 class. Despite being absent from the series for nearly two years, Lange came out at the first round in Ste-Julie and rode all by himself for two third-place finishes. He then followed that up with a win over JSR in a qualifier at Gopher Dunes, and two more podiums in Nanaimo and Calgary. Unfortunately, Lange's return ended in Regina following a first turn crash that left him with a broken thumb. It was an all too familiar scenario for Lange, who has struggled with injuries every year that he races the Canadian Nationals, and 2006 might just be the last time we see him grace the national circuit. We caught up with Lange, while he was on his way back from the Campbell River track following a day of riding, to find out the deal with his new Babbitt's Kawasaki ride and his thoughts on returning to the Canadian National series next summer.
RXC: Darcy, first off, what have you been up to since Regina?
Darcy Lange: Not too much, just doing some wakeboarding, hunting and fishing and hanging out with my family and friends. Just having fun this summer.
That’s good to hear. Could you just take us through what happened back in Regina.
Yeah. The second moto, just in the first turn, I don’t know if I hit somebody or I just got on the front brake too hard. But, it was kind of wet, I slide out and couple of people ended up running into me and I broke my thumb pretty bad. They had to put a couple of pins in it and a bunch of stitches in my other arm.
Before your injury, how were you enjoying being back at the Canadian Nationals?
It was fun, for sure. It’s been so long since I’ve done it. I was just happy I made it through the first few rounds okay. Things were starting to look up and then halfway through the season I get hurt. It was definitely fun to be back battling with all of the old people I used to race against.
Coming into the season, did you have any expectations where you would be?
I wanted to be inside the top three. My main goal was just to stay healthy.
What did you think of the competition this year at the nationals?
I don’t know. It was all spread out. It didn’t seem like there was too much close racing. Roy was out front, whoever was in second was back a ways. Then, after the first four laps, everyone just settled into their own pace.
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Have you got your ticket for the Montreal SX yet? Well, you better, it's only two weeks away and Lange and Dusty Klatt will surely put on a good show in the all-Canadian 125 class! |
Now, you’ve signed with Babbitt’s Kawasaki. Could you expand on that deal for us.
Well, I talked to Billy [Whitley] and Mike [Eyre] from Richmond and they already had a deal with Kawi for supercross and outdoors and they both called me and asked me what I want do. I said that I really wanted to go back to arenacross just cause I won that twice. The money’s better for me; supercross is tough and I just wanted to go back to something—it’s a lot more fun when you’re winning.
So, you’re planning on doing the Boo Koo AX series?
Yep.
If that goes well, could we see you in SX?
Yeah, you know, it would be nice to do some of the east coast. It’s kind of all up in the air. I know my option is open with Billy, too, to be a backup rider for him. It will be good. Who knows, the Babbitt team said they might go do some after.
In the Boo Koo series, do you know any of your contenders?
I think Shane Bess is doing it, and Josh Woods. I don’t know; I haven’t really looked at who’s doing both series’.
What about the Canadian Nationals? Have you given much thought to coming back next year?
No, I haven’t given it any thought. Right now, I don’t have any intentions because anytime I get hurt, it’s from them.
Will you be at the U.S. Open?
Yeah, it’s looking like that now. That will be just a warm up for the arenacross with the Babbitt team.
And Montreal, you’ll be back there this year?
Yeah, for sure. I’m just riding today for the first time and I don’t feel too bad.
Which class will you ride?
The 125.
That will be a good battle between you and Dusty!
Oh, is Dusty doing it too?
He’s riding both classes!
Both? Jeez, He’s on a high horse now.
So, what do you have coming up here in the next few weeks?
Montreal is my first race back, then the U.S. Open is the second and I think the second week in November is the first round of AX.
And, Iain Woods will be back wrenching for you?
Yep. Iain will be back.
Cool. Well, we’ll talk to you later, Darcy. Good luck at the U.S. Open and Montreal.
Thanks.
