Motocross

Quick check in with Lewis Woods

Author: Aaryn Minerds

Author: Aaryn Minerds

Posted:

After a few years aboard KTM's predominately in the Pro Open class racing as consistent as every, Lewis Woods for 2012 has moved back to the Lites bike joining the Hart&Huntington Insure My Ride team for both the Monster Energy MX Nationals and the upcoming supercross season.

This season has been a little different for Woods. Woods has always been the type of rider that you sneaks up in the points tally, always finishing just inside or just outside the top ten, he has always been around the top five overall in championship standings come series end.

This season is playing out a little differently, getting caught up in other riders crashes and struggling a little out of the gate has seen Woods working his way through the pack on a number of occasions with some blistering speed.

At the Hervey Bay round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals, Woods showed what he could do with a good start in moto one, racing to a 4th place finish before more bad luck caught up with him in the final two races. However it did show what many of us already knew, the Victorian has the speed within to challenge the best in the country.

We caught up with Woods in the lead up to his home state race being held in Horsham this weekend to get his thoughts on the weekend ahead on a track he knows well, the season to date and what the future holds.
Lewis Woods in his other home state race for the year at Wonthaggi - Credit: Aaryn Minerds
Fullnoise: Hi Lewis, what are you up to today ?

Woods: I am just about to head out for a ride, I have just finished working on the practice bike with the old man and about to go and get some riding in before the weekend.

Fullnoise: How are you feeling heading into your home state race at Horsham this weekend?

Woods: I feel pretty good heading into this weekend, I am a hard pack rider and Horsham is a hard pack track, so it should suit me that way. I had a Victorian state title there a couple of weeks ago. It was muddy and I rode well there and it is a track that I usually ride well at.

Its a good round, there is not much travelling involved for myself and a lot of the boys will be there so it should be fun.

Fullnoise: Looks like it could be a wet weekend there again this weekend?

Woods: Yeah that's right, It is probably the only race I have ever gone into hoping it rains, if it pisses down with rain, I know exactly how to ride the track, It is different to any other track when it is wet, especially when they rip it so deep and it sounds like it has been ripped already, there should be some nice deep ruts, I am looking forward to it.
Woods is enjoying being back in the MX2 class aboard his RM-Z250 - Credit: Aaryn Minerds
Fullnoise: It is probably one of the toughest tracks on the circuit to ride in the wet as it becomes a very thick heavy clay?

Woods: That's It, on any mud track you have to keep your bike working and keep it going through the mud, but at this track its different. It becomes hard to change gears and use your rear brake due to the amount of mud that builds up around the foot-pegs.

That was one of the biggest problems I had at the state titles, if it ends up being the same, we have made a few changes to stop the mud from sticking in those areas so bad.

Fullnoise: How has it been jumping back onto the 250F for this season ?

Woods: Being back on the 250 has been good, I had been in the 450 class for two or three years now. I got to a point where I was not getting any bigger and not growing any more, I am only 70kg so I am definitely a Lites size rider.

I feel I ride both bike really well, I thought I would step back onto the smaller bike and Kale Wallis, (team manager for the Hart and Huntington, Insure My Ride team) said he would give me a ride on the team.

The team is really made up of a close group of mates, and the team is based not far from my place, so it has made being on the team easy. We have some great sponsors on board and the Suzuki is an awesome bike.

I actually said to myself, if I didn't get a ride, I was going to go out and buy Suzuki's anyway. I had ridden a mates and really liked it, they are a good all round bike that handle really well.
The Hart&Huntington Insure My Ride team has been a good fit for woods in 2012 - Credit: Aaryn Minerds
Fullnoise: How has it been being on the new Hart&Huntington , Insure My Ride team ?

Woods: Kale sponsored me last year through a personal deal when I was on the 450 with the Top Gear team. Then that team moved on and I had nothing to do and there were no offers coming in.

Kale then stepped in with his new team and put me on the team as the Lites rider with the aim of being inside the top ten and pushing for top five, which I feel i am doing a good job of.

I need to start breaking into the top five week in week out to continue to improve the support.

Fullnoise: At the Hervey Bay round you were up inside the top five, finishing with a fourth place moto finish, does that give you the confidence to know that you belong up there?

Woods: It felt good and it all come down to starts, that is all that it is. Starting up front makes it so much easier, there is only one second to a couple of seconds between all the top guys.

To try and make up one second a lap during a race when mid pack, you are taking some massive risks, If you start out front you have already made up those 10 to 20 seconds you can be down at the end of the first lap with a bad start.

The round got of to a good start when I got 4th in the first race which was my best finish for the team this year. I then had some bad luck in motos two and three getting taken out by a lapped rider in the second race before getting tangled up with Ford Dale in the last race and hafting to come through the field.

I know I have the speed after the 4th place finish, and I also put in the fastest final lap time in the longer final moto, so I know I have the fitness there as well, I just have to get the starts basically.
If Woods can keep clear of other riders troubles in the final few rounds of the season a top five and podium results will be on the cards - Credit: Aaryn Minerds
Fullnoise: What are your goals for the final few rounds of the season ?

Woods: I am aiming for podium finishes in the moto's, I have always been a consistent rider so if I can minimise the mistakes that have been made by other riders around me, which can be pretty hard and get better starts, Ill be in the top five for sure and a overall podium would be great leading into supercross.

Fullnoise: Will you be staying with the team for the Supercross season ?

Woods: Ill be with the team for Supercross in the Lites class which will be awesome.

Last year I was on the KTM 450 for supercross and it really was a tractor of a bike with the carburettored 450. For this season Ill be on the fuel injected RM-Z250 which is so nimble and light with a lot of power down low and it handles really well, I am excited for Supercross for sure.

Fullnoise: Thanks for your time mate, go enjoy your day riding and ill catch you on the weekend.

Woods: Awesome thanks a lot man.

Top Image: Lewis Woods
Credit: Aaryn Minerds

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