Podium Speak: Justin Brayton & Kevin Windham 2

Justin Brayton has had a tough season, basically sitting on the couch since San Diego after a practice crash left him sitting on the couch with a fractured fibula. But he’s turned in some good rides, has shown quite a bit of desire in trying to run up front, and he scored another podium in Toronto.

Q: That was a killer start out there.

A: Yeah, that was an awesome start. That’s actually my first holeshot as a pro in Supercross, so I’m pretty happy to put that check on the mantle. Just knew I had to do it. In the Heat Race I felt like I sat back there and ate some roost and I knew I didn’t want to do that for the Main. Just didn’t have his pace for 20. There’s a reason why he’s a champion and has the number one plate. He’s really, really fast. So, go back and work on some speed. The bike was awesome. I can’t thank the Team Honda / Muscle Milk guys enough. They’ve been really sticking behind me. We’re going to get one here soon.

Q: Yeah, I was going to say the speed doesn’t seem to be a problem because you were the top qualifier today.

A: Yeah. I think the not riding...I mean, I’ve probably practiced four times since San Diego. I feel like it’s starting to catch up to me a little bit. I worked so hard pre-season and now it’s slowly wearing off. So, got to get back to work even though the leg is really hurting. After the race tonight, Sunday it’s really bad. Monday it starts coming around, but I’m just going to have to push it. I’m looking forward to use the weekend to kind of have a weekend off and try and get this thing healed up and a little bit better. But I’m looking forward to Houston next week to get back on the podium. I really, really want to win. I’m going to do everything I can to do that.


Q: Some guys seem like, when Ryan goes by them, they’ll just kind of throw in the towel like, “I’m done.” But you were out there fighting the whole time.

A: Yeah. Like I said, I want to win. Even though he is the champion I believe I have his speed and I just need to prove it and get up there and race him. That’s the only way that I’m going to learn and win some of these races, is just get up there with him and keep getting good starts and putting myself in a good position. That’s really all I can do. I have a feeling we’ll get one soon.


Kevin Windham scored a podium finish in Toronto on a night where he wasn’t sure he was even going to be able to ride, after a tough crash in Indy. While we were catching up with him, there were a few die-hard fans in the background, hoping to catch an autograph from K-Dub. He looked up, and said, “These guys are amazing.”

Q: For somebody was as beaten and banged up as you claimed to be earlier today you had a lot of fight in you tonight.

A: Yeah. It was one of those nights where I kind of had a lot on my mind. I really didn’t know that I could do it. Literally, I came into this race not riding at all last week and doing some amazing physical therapy. That was a huge help. I think without that I wouldn’t have been able to get it done. Rode the first Open Practice and realized I could at least do it and was actually able to throw some good laps down. But it was just single laps; I didn’t know what I’d be able to do for the Main Event. You find out a lot when riders are sick or down or injured or beat up. Somehow you just find a way to make it click. This was one of those nights for me. It was a good race with Weimer. It was a good race with Millsaps. Unfortunately Weimer really got the bum end of a deal here with a lapper. But I felt like I had ran him down a little bit and was ready to make a race out of it. He’s riding great. Everybody is. It’s a shame that we had so many guys out, but the guys that are out there are riding really well. I’m just glad to put the GEICO Honda on the box again.

Q: So, on nights like this is it just the adrenaline kicks in? Is that part of what gets you through it?

A: I think so. A lot of guys get sick, guys get injured… They come out and they make the podium. You see it happen time and time again. I don’t have any rhyme or reason why it happened tonight. I know that we were riding good but I felt like I had a little bit stacked against me. Somehow it just happened and it all worked out. It was good from that aspect. I can’t put it into words; I can’t explain why.


Q: Talk about last week. What happened in Indy? Was it a bad move on somebody’s part or what was going on?

A: It depends on who you ask. Obviously I shook his hand. He asked me if everything was cool and I said yeah. He was in the race line - no doubt about it. The line that he ran was the race line. But when someone has a head of steam on you and they’re on the inside of you and they’re revving the piss out of their bike and the guy looks over at you twice and acknowledges that you’re on the inside...generally when someone’s on the inside you have to give it away. I can’t believe he did it just from the sheer fact that he’s lucky that he didn’t bust his ass just like I did mine. It was one of those things were it was just not the right move on his part. Was he in the race line? Yes. Was I in the race line? No. Because Alessi is the biggest blocker out there. That’s just what he does. So, to get around him you’ve got to kind of drive it in there up the inside and I was beside him. And I was on the inside. The only difference was my wheels weren’t on the ground, so I couldn’t change my direction. He knew I was there. There is no question. He knew I was there. So, with all that said he’s crazier than anybody for even putting himself in that position. It could have been really bad for both of us. It’s kind of water under the bridge for me. If he blocks me in the future, you’ve got to get around him aggressively. You’ve got to hit Mike. That’s just the kind of rider he is. You ask everybody in this industry, they know he rides a wide bike and he gets a good start. Was it his fault? He was in the race line. But I know what I know, I know what I saw. It’s water under the bridge for me. There’s not going to be any retaliation from that. It’s a done deal. I’m just glad that I’m healthy. Glad that he’s healthy. This is a tough sport. I’m just thankful to have 18 years in it right now. I hate seeing anybody get hurt. It’s just a tough game.