Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/215244
out. It's gonna be fun, it's gonna be different, but it's not like it's a nine-to-five job. I'm going to travel and still be a part of KTM. Even next year, part of my deal for 2014 is to race and do the Ride Orange program." What's the secret to longevity in this business? "For me, it's the drive you have. It's staying positive. I do get bummed out about races and it's hard to dig yourself out of a hole or keep digging yourself out of a hole. These last couple of years have been really tough for me winning-wise. It seems that when you win, it's easy, and when you don't, it's really hard. It seems like your back is always against the wall. It's also that I love to do it. But after all this time, I'm good with it. You look at some of those other guys like Mike Brown, who's in his 40's and still doing it and winning at something new. That's amazing to me but I don't want to chase something like that." What are some of the changes in store for 2014? "I will be on a factory race bike and I'll be in the semi like I used to be. I've usually had my own motor home, my own mechanic and now KTM wants to do more stuff inhouse. My suspension is going to change too. I'll no longer be with Factory Connection and will be using the factory stuff. It will take a little time to adapt, I've always had my program here at home where I did my own thing. Now KTM is going to do it all so I'll pretty much show up and race and be under the KTM tent. In some ways it will be easier, in some ways it will be a little harder. Testing will be a little different without my own mechanic here, but I'll be doing more with KTM. I think that big picture-wise it will be a little easier for me and I'll be able to do more with Ride Orange." come back from injury and be in contention for the championship by the end of the year. I didn't win the championships but I gave it a 110 percent and came up short." How would you like to go out? "Of course I'd like to finish the year by winning it. If I could write the story, that's the way it would end. It's been a while since I've won and to win my ninth [championship] would be a perfect ending. There were two years where I lost by a total of six points, of course I want to get the ninth. Still, if I could go out and be solid and win races and be in contention knowing that I gave it 110 percent, win, lose or draw, and that I'm satisfied, that's what I want to do. I'll be able to live myself after that." When we finish the interview we load up and head for Jack Sr.'s garage where we set up for the day. Mike is always accommodating and upbeat to work with. If it involves riding his dirt bike, he's all about it. When we travel to a location via dirt bikes to do a photo shoot, he usually stays within sight as a courtesy. On this day I ended up tracking him to each location. It wasn't exactly hard to do—just look for the single strip of dirt amongst the leaf covered forest. He was definitely pinning it. When the photo shoot begins, Mike rips from corner to 2014's Are Here NOW! What was a high point in your career? "I look at the high points as winning a championship. Still, there was one year where I was hurt, still won some races, came back and lost the championship to Russ by one point. Another year I lost by 5 points after being hurt, so I've had two years where I came back from injury and was in contention for a championship. While not a real high point, it was nice to November 2013 9