R450: It’s rather impressive to walk around the Suzuki trailer and see the ten or fifteen guys that come to support you. You’ve got a huge truck and trailer with Suzuki written all over the side of it.
Doug: Yeah, it’s awesome. It is exactly what I have always dreamed of. When I started racing pro in ’88 or ’89, I was like man I would love to have a factory sponsorship. I remember that I used to go to the three-wheeler nationals. They used to call them AATVA Nationals back in the mid ‘80s and watched Jimmy White and Marty Hart with good factory support. I always dreamed of that and it came true and it is just what I expected. It’s great. It’s more than I expected.

R450: Your support through the team is amazing. Is there anything that they are doing for you that everyone should take notice of?
Doug: They are just giving me 100% backing. Whatever I need and how I want the bike, they listen and support me 100%. It’s a full factory deal you know. It’s great.

R450: Suzuki has definitely stepped up to the plate and come big this year. Do you think that Honda and Yamaha will come back with big sponsorships next year to compete with Suzuki?
Doug: I think that they will now knowing that they got their butts kicked. They probably thought they had the best bikes and didn’t have to give 100% sponsorship, but we proved them wrong.

R450: You definitely proved a point. If they follow in the footsteps of Suzuki next year and come back at full force, are you looking forward to some good, strong competition next year?
Doug: Yeah, even if they don’t do it, I know that there is going to be some really strong competition. We’ve got riders like Dustin Wimmer who came up this year and next year more will come up. Joe Byrd just turned his program around and won this race. He’ll be really strong next year. There are ten guys on any given day that can win. It was a really tough season that we had this year. It’s going to be even tougher next year.

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