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KTM's Marco Dube took the first 125 main event win of the Canadian Arenacross Championships in Toronto, Ontario.
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With the all hype surrounding the 2006 supercross efforts of Darcy Lange, Dusty Klatt, Mitch Cooke, Colton Facciotti and more, everybody has lost tabs on KTM Canada’s Marco Dubé. This past fall, Dubé has been racing the Canadian Arenacross Championships, where he picked up a few wins and was leading the AX2 series until he skipped a round to race the Bercy Supercross in France. Racer X Canada caught up with Dubé while he was recuperating from his weekend in Paris.
RXC: Marco, how did things go for you in Bercy?
Marco Dubé: All right, I’m a little disappointed. I wish I could have done better; I was going out there to finish in the top ten every day. But after my first practice session, I kind of tore something in my shoulder. From there, I didn’t have any strength in my arm and I was riding unbalanced all weekend. The first two days I was one spot out to make the final and yesterday (Sunday) I finished 12th after getting stuck in the gate like a junior. No, it was a good experience and I was there in ’96 and again ten years later, so it’s good. There was a bunch of American riders, it was a great show. I wish I could have raced up higher.
What happened? Bad starts?
No, no. Actually just … there were some huge whoops; it was pretty much the place where people were passing, because they were unreal. Really big, a bike could fit in between the whoops. We had to go through them in fifth gear, and on a four-stroke you have to go through in a high gear. Actually, I pulled my muscle in my shoulder in the second lap of practice in fourth gear because I was in too low of a gear and it wasn’t skipping them. I over stressed myself to hold on to the bike. And in the night, the first qualifier, there was a big triple after the whoops and I missed a shift downshifting and was in third hitting the triple and cased it. That [hard landing] didn’t help my shoulder situation. I had some massage workers help me, but it was painful.
So did you make the night program?
Oh yeah, every night. I was two seconds off of the fastest guys, but it was rough, it was hard. The first two nights, I missed the main event by one spot. Every night I was in there, every time I was in. The corners were so slick and I was trying to work myself, but I kept washing out. I couldn’t hold on, a weak shoulder … it’s hard. But whatever, it’s fine, same track as everybody.
Did you get into any fights with the Alessis?
No, no, those guys were hanging out with me all weekend, we were parked together. All the KTM riders were parked together. [Eric] Sorby and him got together, like Jeff [Alessi] and it was the worst thing I ever saw.
Did it happen in front of you?
No, but I saw it on TV after. The younger one, Jeff, got together with Sorby in the first couple of laps of the final on Saturday. After six or seven laps, I saw Sorby on the TV was getting back up from a crash in the tunnel and he was waiting for an Alessi, but he jumped on the wrong one. He threw his bike to cut the way of Mike [Alessi], but thought it was Jeff. I've never seen anything like that, no respect, no …. There was a little fight after in the pits. But hey, French people and the Alessis … they’re pretty aggressive on the track. But what’s left on the track is left on the track.
So you were parked with the Alessi brothers?
Yes, and [Sebastien] Tortelli, Ryan Marmont, two GP riders, and the two Alessis; kind of a KTM team.
Who was helping you out over there?
For me, KTM France brought me a bike and Kurt Nicoll from the factory brought me one from the factory for trick parts; so I could outfit the bike. But right out of the crate, the KTM 250F is the strongest 250F out there.
You’ve been on fire this fall, with a second in the 125 class at Montreal and some wins at the Canadian Arenacross Championships.
Yeah I went across that series. I had a couple of problems but it was good to keep going and keep busy.
What do you think of the series?
Yeah I ran the first three, and then missed Vancouver for Bercy, but I won’t go to the last one because my body is beat up. After Montreal, I went to Europe a couple of times and back and forth. But no, the series is good and I thank John Hellam’s sponsor to bring our bikes in the truck and just having one bike is good, cheaper for us. It’s too bad; I didn’t care about not racing the last races because there was no championship. That’s why I missed it to go to Bercy.
So you’ll be at the Toronto WSX round?
Oh yeah. In two weeks I’m going to Belfast, for a supercross in Ireland and then I will be back for Toronto.
Any goals for WSX?
I'm feeling pretty good. If I can get my body and power back, I would like to go there and get a top ten in the 250 class; I know I can do it.
Will you be riding a two-stroke?
No, a four-stroke. I’m a four-stroke man.
I always thought the 250 was the preference for supercross?
No, I’m loving that bike so much. With the technology, you can get the thing so crispy and they lighten it down every year; you’ll be surprised [when you see the bike of choice this year]. When I was down testing for Yamaha of Troy, [Chad] Reed loved the four-stroke and is way faster on it for supercross. And Carmichael will be on a four-stroke too, that’s what I heard.
So what’s going on with Yamaha of Troy, will you be racing for them too?
I’m doing the first six rounds of the west coast 125. I’m going to do it with Yamaha of Troy.
How did that happen?
I went down there with Luc Caouette--they call him Frenchie out there--and he’s the Crew Chief. They needed a test rider and I wanted to stay in shape so I went there two weeks ago. I was just helping to get the bikes ready for the power the riders need. Then I will go back for four weeks to get ready for the opening of Anaheim and they will help me out and bring my bike and I’m going to race on their bikes ... not their full factory bikes, but good bikes. I’m excited to go down to the states, because I’ve never had good machines. Before when I went down, I was testing bikes for racing up here and to get in shape. Now I’m going there to try and perform.
How are you feeling on the bikes down there?
I feel very good, pretty encouraging. My manager was there everyday, and he said, “You know you’re not scared of the top riders.” So that was pretty encouraging to me. I’m helping them with testing and getting bikes ready and they’re helping me to race. I will do the first six rounds for sure, and then come back here and test my KTMs.
Will you be back with KTM for 2006?
Yes. I didn’t get my bike yet, but next week or the week after I get it and will get it ready for Toronto. I love the bikes, they’re powerful and I didn’t want to switch. KTM ... they were good to me last year, it was good. I had some bad luck, but that was from me in testing season. I didn’t want to race too much because I hurt my back in arenacross. I know the bike now and know how to make it work better; I’m ready to go...
Are you pumped to race World Supercross in Canada?
I think it’s a great opportunity for us. Last year I missed it because of arenacross, but this year we should all take part in it.