Five Minutes with ... Darcy Lange
APRIL 3, 2007

Lange sits third in the Eastern Region Lites series (eight points out of the lead), with one round remaining in Detroit.

Allison Kennedy photo

 

By Allison Kennedy  

It's been five weeks since Darcy Lange stood on the second step of the East Coast Lites podium in Atlanta and became Canada's first supercross contender.  He did it again in Dallas. Lange looked like he had a shot at the win, but after a few bobbles by himself and race-leader Ryan Dungey, his teammate Townley took the win. We caught up with Lange who is back in British Columbia for a few days, to talk about his second-place finish in Dallas and the points race heading to Detroit.

RXC: Let's start at the beginning: did you have any big problems getting to Dallas on time?
Darcy Lange: Actually, no. Our plane was a couple of hours late, and we were on the runway for about two hours. I think I got there around five on Friday and I was supposed to be there around one.

When you heard the track was going to be a litte muddy, what did you think?
I was actually excited. I was like, sweet, cause it could do nothing but help me out. It didn't actually turn out to be too muddy though, but they did cancel our first practice. For the night show, I walked around the stadium before our heat race and in the first turn, in the main line where we were going, we had pushed the mud out of the way but then the track crew spread the mud all around the first turn. I knew going into the first turn that there would be a couple of people going down. I got a good jump but then I backed off at the last second, and a bunch of people kept going and when they got on the brakes they went down, about three of them, then I just kind of snuck up the inside and started off about third. It was Bobby Kiniry, and then Ben, and then me; we both got by Kiniry in the whoops and I was right on Ben and he kind of messed up on the triple and I jumped to the inside. Me and Hackley got by him and I won the heat race.

How many is that now and what's been coming together in those heats for you?
I think that's four and I have no idea. I just can't put stuff together in the mains. This weekend, I got out front, I was second off the start and then I passed Ben on the first lap and then I lead for three or four laps and I messed up in a corner and Dungey got by me. Then I was right on him and he fell over and I kind of ran into him a bit, because there was a rut where we were, and Ben went outside and got by us both. I think he was probably two seconds ahead of me and I was about the same ahead of Dungey for the rest of the race.

Were you pretty happy with how you rode then?
It was good. I was just glad to be back up on the box.

Lange won his fourth heat race of the series in Dallas.

Tim Dailey photo

On the live webcast, they were talking to Ben about the start and he was surprised, as his teammate, that you went inside on him.
Oh, really? I don't know, he would have done it to me--he has done it to me. [Laughs] It was good. He was only two points ahead of me so we were both battling for points. Once he got ahead of me, it was just kind of follow the leader; he gapped me a bit and I gapped Dungey a bit, so it wasn't too bad.

So, heading to Detroit, the points are more complicated than ever. Morais is just three points ahead of Ben and you are just five points behind him. What's your strategy for Detroit?
Townley is three down and I am down eight. I don't know what will happen. Townley's going to get a fourth, Dungey is going to get a fifth and I'm going to win [laughs], that's my plan. Townley, Dungey and I are the fastest three, and Morais is right there now too. This weekend he wasn't too far behind us, we were pulling away a bit from him but… I mean eight points is a lot to make up in one weekend. I don't know what they [the team] are going to say, it will suck if I am going for my first win and they make me pull over for Ben.

That hasn't come up yet in discussion though?
Nope, not yet, but I'm sure it will. It's just been cool to be on that team, personally, for me and obviously they are after the championship now so … we'll have to see what happens.

What are your plans for the break?
I'm at home right now and I fly back down south on Sunday. So I've got a week at home. I haven't really been home since September so, I'm excited.

Thanks, Darcy, and have a good break. We'll see you in Detroit.
Thanks.