Final Analysis
In the end, it wasn't just Team Suzuki with a spate of bad luck. Natalie's seat departed his TRX in the second moto and that was enough to ruin his flawless day, and another Honda rider was able to claim the overall...Joe Byrd.
As for my mission, I believe the big question has been answered. Suzuki's new LT-R450 is a race-ready ATV right off the dealership floor. This thing may be a lethal weapon, especially in the mere mortal ranks. To work on the pro level I think Team Suzuki proved that it needs a touch of aftermarket help. However, the best part, regardless of the outcome of its race initiation, is that Suzuki bridged the gap between the stock machinery and a fully race-prepped quad. The company is surely headed in the right direction and '06 may go down as groundbreaking as '03.
30 Seconds With Defending Champion John Natalie
Part of being successful on the track is studying your challengers' strengths and weaknesses and having a strategy to handle each adversary. With this is mind, we spent a moment with John Natalie Jr. to hear his perspective on the top of the GNC field and then on his plans and tools to keep that number-one plate in his hands.
ATVR: John, Doug Gust is on a new machine this year, what's your take on him?
JN: He's laid-back and takes it easy at the beginning and then comes on hard at the end. Gust has always been tough on the track. He is a smooth rider.
ATVR: Jeremiah Jones?
JN: Jeremiah, he's really tough. He's fast and he's on a bike kind of like his old two-stroke, so he's able to throw it around a lot more. He's also got Suzuki behind him, with its new machine and powerplant-everything is working really well for them. Jeremiah has the heart of a champion. He really trains hard. There aren't many guys out there who take it as seriously as he does. He's gonna be tough.
ATVR: Who Else Do You Look Out For?
JN: You never know about Timmy [Tim Farr]. He always rides best when he's hurt. So if he tells you he can't ride, he's probably going to win the race.
ATVR: What About Joe Byrd?
JN: Yeah, Joe Byrd has talent, and he's got a really good motor underneath him this year. We had some good battles last year, so I'm going to watch out for him. Of course, Travis Spader is coming up-he has a lot of help this year, so he going to be a contender. I'm not overlooking anybody this year, including Pat Brown, Dustin Wimmer and some of the other up-and-comers. Last year I was an underdog, nobody thought I was going to win, and I was able to accomplish what I did.
ATVR: What about John Natalie Jr.?
JN: I'm ready to go. I've been training hard, my body's ready and I'm in shape. We got the bike dialed in pretty good, so we are going to go out tomorrow and see what sort of homework we have to do.
ATVR: How Are Those Elkas Working Out For You?
JN: The Elkas are working great. We've done a lot of testing and tried a lot of setups. I think Elka has the best shock out there. I've always thought they had the best components. It comes down to valving and making the right linkages. I think we hit the nail on the head today.
ATVR: What About Your HMF Pipe?
JN: We just did a John Natalie Signature Series and dyno tested a ton of other pipes. I think the closest one comes within a half horsepower, and it has a full pound of torque more than the next closest pipe. We haven't found one that makes any more power yet.
ATVR: Is it available on the market for anyone to buy?
JN: Yep, they just got the stamps down and everything is available now.
ATVR: What other races do you plan on doing this year?
JN: I was planning on racing the Clear Channel Indoor Series, the Monster Truck Series, and they canceled that. I heard the MXi Series is down to two races, so I'm going to try that, and I'm going to try to hit as many of the GNC Series as I can.
ATVR: So we'll see you in Florida?
JN: Yeah, I'm building a bike right now, so I'll be done for Florida and will be ready to go down there.
ATVR: So when you're done with the motocross scene, you'll be an off-road guy?
JN: Hey, I just want to race. If I can race, I compete. I want to do Pikes Peak, overseas events-I want to race every race there is to race before I'm done!