Kevin Windham enjoys his first-round win with new mechanic Brent Myron

Kevin Windham may not have been on the media's short list in all the preseason hype about Anaheim 1, but when the wacky, muddy event was over, he was on top of the podium, serving as a reminder that hype is just, well, hype. He's had a distracting off-season, with the birth of a second daughter and the tragic death of his mechanic, Jonathan Hyland, but he was ready for Anaheim and made the fewest mistakes. We talked to him right after the post-race press conference at Anaheim.

Racer X: On this preseason hype business, people just talked about Chad, Bubba, and Ricky, and you proved them wrong. When you were finishing the race or on the way to the podium, did you think to yourself, Ha ha, I just proved all those people wrong? Or are you just focused for the moment?

Kevin Windham: It was such a crazy race tonight, I didn‘t have time to think about anything like that. I think that since it was a unique race, I’m going to have to do good again next weekend in what people will consider a “real” supercross race. As professionals, we have to deal with the situation that is given to us. It’s even for everyone. I feel great about how I did. Consistency is what this year is all about. I put my best foot forward tonight, and I hope people count me in for the rest of the season. I am looking forward to Phoenix.

Do you think some other people may wish they were on 450s now?

I don‘t know. It will be interesting. I love my bike. I love it in all environments. It’s not something I will say won a race for me or lost a race for me. Honda gives me the best equipment that they can, and it’s enough. I love it. It is my job to go out there and do with it what I can.

Of all the supercross races you have done, and you have done plenty, how crazy was this one? Does it rank way up there?

It does. McGrath and I were talking about Charlotte, I believe it was ’98, when I had a huge lead and I was doing stuff like it was dry. I ended up in the hospital with a concussion. I ended up not finishing the race. I was just out of it.

I remember that race. I remember asking you before it what your plan was, and you smiled and said, “Pin it.”

[Laughs] I did, for a little while.

Last question on the Jonathan Hyland thing: did you see it coming?

Not at all. I talked to some people, and you know, people never see a thing like that coming. It’s not something that people offer information about. I thought a lot about, was there something I could have done, as someone who was fairly close to him, at least in his work. I didn’t know about his personal life, but I knew a lot about work. In reality, I am a professional motocross racer. I don’t know how to read people’s minds. I don’t know how to do that kind of stuff. I wish I could have helped, but it seems obvious that he didn’t want it or didn’t think that he needed it.

You have had a lot going on in your life— getting ready for a season, the Jonathan thing, and you are a father again.…

Sure, and it finished on a good note with the birth of my second daughter. Everything went a lot better than it did with Madeline, our first, who was premature. Anabelle came out smooth, and I thank the Lord she was at home before I left, not much time in the hospital. She is with family now, and that makes it a lot easier to come to these races and not think about it, knowing they are in good hands. I can’t wait to get home tomorrow.

Last one. Are you ready to mix it up with those other three every weekend, the ones who got all the hype?
Sure. I was this weekend. I will be next weekend and for the next 15 rounds.

Thanks for the extra time.
Thank you, Steve.

Reprinted from www.racerxill.com