Five Minutes with ... Darcy Lange
MARCH 21, 2007

Lange picked up his second podium finish of the series and is still second in points.

photo: Simon Cudby

 

By Allison Kennedy

Wow, it sure has been amazing watching Darcy Lange battle for the top spot each weekend. Lange picked up another podium in Orlando and kept himself solidly in second-place in the Eastern Lites Region title chase. It’s got to be an amazing feeling for Lange, who didn’t know where he’d stand in supercross this year (or that he'd even be racing the series). It’s also been amazing for the legions of Canadian motocross fans who spend their time combing the U.S. results to see how our riders are doing. No need to comb through them this time; it’s hard to miss Darcy in this series. MX101’s Steve Dool made the trek to Orlando to watch Darcy and sent us a few snaps of the action. Thanks, Steve! Darcy is still looking for a win one of these weekends, hopefully that can happen at Indy.


RXC: Congrats on another podium. Did it feel good to be up there again?
Darcy Lange: Yeah, for sure.

Were you happy with a third or are you hoping for a win each weekend?
I’ve got to get a win one of these times. I need to get a freaking start. I have no idea what’s going on. I’ve never had bad starts. I wasn’t too pumped on the red flag; I was in second before that.

How much has your approach changed since St Louis and what do you need to do to stay in the point’s race?
I need to beat Morais. This weekend didn’t go too well for that but at least we got a third. Mike Alessi went down in the last corner [laughs]. He got by Morais right away at the beginning and then the three of us were right together for the whole race. I don’t know. The races seem short when you’re out there.

You set the second fastest time in practice. How did you like the track?
The track wasn’t too bad. It was kind of weird dirt; it was really soft on top and it got kind of rutty but once you got through the soft stuff it got really hard and slippery.

The heat race collison that sent Darcy to the LCQ.

photo: Steve Dool

 

 

There was a big triple that was causing a lot of problems for the 250Fs?
Oh yeah, there was a real tricky rhythm section and then you did a 180 back, and it wasn’t like the triple was big—well it was pretty big—but it was really slippery going up to it. In my heat race, I got a bad start and I got behind a couple of KTM guys. They were outside so I went inside just to tuck up underneath them and going up the face, the KTM guy kind of spun and cased the jump and my right hand landed right on him. I guess I landed right on him and I guess I wasn’t the only one. After that, I got up and got my bike started and I was about tenth, so I had to go to the LCQ. And those aren’t fun by any means.

Then the red flag in the main didn’t work in your favour, did it?
No, I finally got a good start. I was on the far outside and I kind of got pinched off. I think it went Hahn, Dungey and then me. Then Dungey went down and I ran right over him and I was in second and they red-flagged it. Jesseman was the one who caused the red flag and then he freaking gets the holeshot and wins!

The main sounded crazy.
I got into the first turn good, but it was like a ninety into the first turn and then another ninety into the second turn. By the time we got to the second turn, I was outside and everyone kind of pushed me out. I think I was back about twelfth coming out of there. I got by a few people and then Laninovich took Townley out and I think I was out in fourth for the rest of the race and then Alessi went down, it was pretty funny.

Pretty funny how?
Just convenient.

Darcy is hoping for that elusive first win at Indy, but he also knows he's riding for points.

photo: Steve Dool

Were you worried when you were running in fourth about getting on the podium?
I wanted to, I was right there and the last few laps, I closed in on Morais and Alessi. We were all within a second of each other and then Alessi went down all by himself, I guess.

As far as thinking about the championship, is that changing the way you are riding out there?
Oh yeah, for sure. I don’t have to banzai it and crash. That’s no fun.

What’s the plan heading to Indy?
I just have to beat Morais and Ben, get ahead of those guys, and get a start.

It’s been a pretty crazy run for you, is it starting to sink in?
A little bit. It’s kind of weird. Before the series started, I didn’t think I’d be in championship contention.

Thanks Darcy and we’ll see you at Indy this weekend.
Oh, yeah? Nice, I think Woodsy is coming too. See you then!