Following Jeremy McGrath’s press conference at Anaheim yesterday, where the seven times Supercross champion announced his immediate retirement from racing, ‘The King’ made time to talk to the assembled media and answer their questions with amazing honesty.
One of the most surprising revelations is that Jeremy intends to keep racing, but away from the intensity of an AMA championship:
''I see myself as an enthusiast and I see myself racing at local races,'' revealed McGrath. ''Riding is a blast, and I look forward to doing it. What's funny is all the special bikes that I have ever had, I don't need those anymore. I can go and get a standard bike and ride that…''
Q: What made you decide to retire?
Jeremy McGrath: When I went to Europe [for the two opening World SX GP rounds] I wasn't leaning one way or the other. Throughout your whole career you have something inside that is telling you when you are on, and you have days when you are not feeling good. You kind of have self guidance. The day that I got hurt was, well first off it was a bad day. I never have been hurt bad like that.
I always ask myself why do these guys have problems when they come back from injury. Now I know why. Part of me was thinking about that a lot. I always told myself if there is ever a point when I am thinking too much about being out there. Everything we do out there is a natural reaction. It is supposed to be like the back of your hand. You can do it blindfolded. Then if you start thinking about it and questioning yourself I feel it's the time to step away.
Any split second of hesitation or anything can end not only your career but end your sense or normality. You can get hurt really bad. You have to give it 100% because there is no medium speed. There are huge jumps out there and if you make a mistake, it can cost you everything.
Q: How do you think you managed to stay injury free for so long in your career?
Jeremy McGrath: I think its because I am a thinker. I put myself on the right position on the track and calculating what is ahead of me or what could happen, and I stay way clear of any of those things. At times things happen that are freaky, like with the bike or whatever. For the most part I have been good at being able to ride at a high speed without being over my head. That is important. Often when you look at a sport, especially our sport, you see a guy out there that is fast as lightning but crazy as hell, you may see him out there only every other weekend. I think my limits were high and I could ride within my limits and I was always thinking about what is going on out there. It's never by the seat of my pants. I am not a Wildman. Even if some wild guy passed me I would never lean back on it and go back. That's not my style.
Q: Can you describe last year from your point of view?
Jeremy McGrath: Last year was an extremely tough year, and it was tough because my body was working against me. 2001 was tough but I felt like I let myself down by not being prepared well enough. So in 2002, there is no way I was ever going to let that happen again. I was digging deep reaching for more. I just went too far and my body started working against me. That was really frustrating because I was working my ass off and it all wasn't coming together.
Q: What’s it like to really ride on the limit?
Jeremy McGrath: That one race that RC [Ricky Carmichael] and I got into it here [Anaheim] in 2001. I pushed it a little over my edge that night because I wanted it so bad. I don't agree with pushing it past your limits like that.
Q: What about your obligations to you sponsors to race?
Jeremy McGrath: If I were to go race the few couple of races and then stop, it would be bad for everybody. I was making up my mind and felt sure that was what I wanted to do. When I was first deciding I knew that timing was a big thing. I knew I couldn't lead the sponsors and team on for 4 or 5 races and struggle and even do that to myself, if that is what happened.
![Seven times Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath announced his retirement just before round one of the 2003 US Supercross series [Photo: nacnac.com].](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/47458.jpg )
