Again, if we don't accomplish all those things I just talked about, that doesn't mean that things are wrong. It just means we haven't been able to test him as much as we want to before we put him in an actual event.
One of the things that we got going that's kind of neat with the announcement we made last week with Mark, Mark has a lot of equipment in Florida that he's been using with his son Matt. So we'll be using Mark and Matt some, too, at times next year where Ricky has a Tuesday off, Mark has some time off, they can go to New Smyrna or Lakeland, wherever, and make laps all day. He'll be getting tutored, again, from one of the best ever.
Again, we just want to do this right. We want to take our time. Ricky is obviously very young still. We just want to make sure we're doing this systematically and doing the right thing every step of the way.
Q:
Ricky, you're so accustomed to winning. What learning curves do you expect to hurdle as you go for your first win in stock cars?
Ricky Carmichael:
You know, car racing is totally different than Motocross obviously. The car has so much to do with it. But I think one thing that I do have and that I've learned is I have a lot of patience. I think that could be something good, a good character, a good trait that I could bring over. Even though I am used to winning, I have a lot of patience. I just have to basically let it come to me. Do my best and just let it come to me.
It will be tough, but I know - I feel that I can do that.
Q:
Do you feel you have a lot of the traits of a winner - you obviously are a champion - the champions in stock car racing?
Ricky Carmichael:
Well, I think I have a lot of determination. Obviously I respect what those guys do so much. I mean, they're the best at what they do. You know, it would be like them coming to Motocross and racing.
It's going to be tough, you know. The only thing I can say is I'm just thankful for my opportunity that I have with MB2 Motorsports. I want to make the best of it.
Q:
Jay, what makes you think that Ricky can make this transition?
Jay Frye:
Well, like Ricky was saying, Ricky is a very determined rider. One of the things that we've discovered or knew about Ricky starting this process off was his work ethic. I mean, he's a champion. He has nothing to prove, but yet he's out there every day practicing, he's out there every day trying to get better, he's out there every day testing. What he did yesterday is not good enough for what he's going to do today. So that work ethic, just his natural ability that he has, his winning attitude. I mean, he definitely has the ability to do this.
Again, we just have to go through the process and do it right.
One of the things, too, about our sport which, as you know, is very hard, is getting acceptance from the other drivers in the sport. Well, our NASCAR drivers will completely embrace Ricky and do whatever they can to help him because they respect him so much because of his success in motocross. He'll come into our garage area with a huge amount of credibility and a huge amount of respect from all of the NASCAR drivers, which is certainly something that will help him going forward.
