Interview: Husaberg's Mike Lafferty

You gained some momentum when the series went out west.

Yes, my set-up was a little off at the first one in Wyoming, but I got a second and then I won the next week in Montana and Russ got third, so I went into Blaine with a little momentum.

The schedule has just been released for the 2010 season and it's very similar, with a few exceptions, to the one this year. How big a factor is the schedule when it comes to competing for a title. Some rounds are always going to be in someone's back yard and some are going to be in your back yard. But there is always a lot of good variety to the schedule and that favors the all-around rider.

Yeah, it's a factor. But to me, I don't think there's much advantage. For sure, the first four races are SETRA races, which are in Russ's territory. But I love the Alligator and Georgia I've won. I like the dirt there. But for me, the schedule is good because I've been to all these places and it's the same situation. We know what it's going to be like and what it's going to be like if it's wet or dry. It's comfortable for me because I've done it before. 

I think the NEPG tries to change things up as much as possible and there's a new round in Maine this year which will make it interesting - a little variety is always good. But there has to be some continuity to it too.

The series seems be much more professional now that the NEPG is at the helm.

They do a good job with it but they have a lot to do each weekend. The clubs still set up the courses, but the NEPG has four or five guys who go out and ride the course and check for markings and make sure it's safe for the pros as well as the C riders. They have a tough job because some of the clubs can be stubborn, but I feel safe knowing [the NEPG] has ridden the course and it's good and doesn't have anything crazy that's going to get someone hurt. Some club members really want to work hard to make a better race and some just want to make it gnarly and hard and they think that's what it's supposed to be, so the NEPG sometimes has a battle on their hands. It's rough but they do a great job.

The NEPG tries to make things as uniform as possible from race to race and their job is to make sure the pro riders don't finish a section early and, still yet, that the C riders don't hour out the event.

It's been three years now that the series has been running the new rules, which basically eliminate time-keeping. Has this change helped the series and does it change how you prepare for a race?

It's been great for the series. As far as preparation, I don't spend as much time taking the race apart before hand, but I do a little more walking on Saturday, checking things out. I've gotten used to it and I don't see much difference. It's a lot less work, which I like, as far as setting up a computer and figuring check-ins. It's just cut and dried - the fastest guy wins. I like that a lot more, because, before, if you went to a guy's territory, they would have a big advantage just because they would know how the race was going to be set up just from general knowledge from other races. I think it's more fair now. We use transponders and there's no guess work, there is no imaginary line you have to cross. It's all done electronically.

How big is the TV deal with MavTV?

That is huge. I think with the economy the way it is, that will help getting sponsors and it will bring more exposure and more people into the sport. I think it's going to help the series in leaps and bounds. The series is getting back to where is once was and I think all the steps the NEPG has taken have been positive and good. But it needs to be taken a little more seriously by the manufacturers. It all comes down to the big bosses and what they want to do and what they want to support. We just have to put on the best racing we can and give those guys the best shot at getting exposure.

You've ridden a lot of different events, what is it that you like about enduro racing?

You're seeing the track for the first time and it's not beat up and it's not dangerous and all blown out. It's tight single-track enduro trail. I grew up with that and I think it's the most fun trail to ride. It's all about reaction time because you're seeing it for the first time and you have to go the fastest you can for that one chance. It's not a loop race, it's point A to point B with time to get refueled and work on your bike. It's an adventure ride and it's a sprint race all in one. An enduro, to me, is the best way you can challenge yourself on the most fun type of off-road trail there is. To me, it is by far the single best single-track race in the United States.

You turned 34 in October, what are your plans for the future?

With this new deal I want to push real hard to go after another national enduro championship. I think I have another two good years in me and then I will just evaluate things after that. This year, my body was the best it's been in a long time and if I can stay injury-free and take it one year at a time I think I can have a few more good years. After that, if I feel great and I feel competitive I will go for it. I think a lot of it comes down to being smarter and I think I've come into that and I'm a lot more conscious of how my body works and what it needs. I don't ride certain places as much as I used to and I save myself a little bit of wear. As long as I'm having fun and my attitude's good, then I'm going to go as long as I can.