by choltsford
5 Minutes with... Nick Wey
Friday, July 2, 2010 | 10:40 AM
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Maybe Monster Energy Kawasaki Nick Wey’s results have not met his expectations, but he’s been on a mission to change that. With his constant testing during the week, and Florida relocation to improve his conditioning, Nick is hoping that his return to home track Red Bud gets the ball moving. We were able to catch up with the just turned 30 year old at an autograph signing at sponsor Babbitt’s Sports Center in Muskegon, Michigan.
Racer X: Nick, your results have been progressing the last couple rounds.
Nick Wey: Yeah they have, but the outdoor's haven’t been going the best for me so far – that’s for sure. I definitely would like to be doing better; it’s just that something seems to have been missing, and I’m not sure what it is exactly. I’ve been working my butt off, and I feel like I have been riding very well during the week – then I come to the races and get held back by something. Obviously the bike is great, and we have been making some changes to get it suited to me a bit more. Chad (Reed) has a bit of a hybrid setup compared to what I have had, and I think that I ride quite differently that (Ryan) Villopoto does, so maybe I’m just having a hard time adapting to his setting. But as far as the rest of the year I am really looking forward to Red Bud this weekend. The Ritchie family does a great job with it and there’s not a better place to get the ball rolling.
Nick Wey at High Point
Photo: Simon Cudby
Clarify that part about the bike a bit more; so literally you are riding Villopoto’s bike with his same set up – suspension and motor?
Yes, that’s right; it was specifically set up for him, then we go from there and fine tune it for me. But we have been finding that his riding style compared to mine is very different. So now we are switching over to more stuff like Chad has been using – and getting used to that. As I said, things have been going well during the week; I just need to carry that over into race day.
Speaking of riding "during the week", did I hear that you are now living in Florida?
Well, for the past three or four weeks I have been staying down in Florida, because it’s so hot there, and it’s good for training. I’ve been riding down there with Jake Weimer a lot and Chad a little bit – really just trying to get better and get the train rolling.
Being that it’s now July; has the "silly season" started for you yet?
Oh I don’t know; it’s always silly for me! In Supercross I was doing some team jumping trying to make things work. I had a great opportunity there for sure, but at times it can be difficult switching things up. I’ve really been very lucky with the support that I have had; MSR has really had my back, along with Babbitt’s, Kawasaki, and the Ti-Lube guys. Also Foremost and a few others really kept me afloat this year. As far as the future; I’m just trying to keep focusing on the riding part, and then things will work out.
What type of results are you looking for in the rest of the series?
For right now, a top five overall would be ideal; then just keep on chipping away at it from there – and hopefully get on the podium before the season ends out.
Let’s wrap up with this Nick; you just turned 30 last month; many of the guys you were racing back in the 125 days like former teammates Nate Ramsey, and Ricky Carmichael have retired – has this entered your mind at all?
No, not really; I’m a couple years younger than (Kevin) Windham, maybe a year older than (Ivan) Tedesco, (Michael) Byrne might be a year older than me, and Chad might be a year younger; so actually I think that I’m in my prime - we’re just going to get things figured out and make it happen!
Photo: Simon Cudby
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NYK - good luck this weekend
better get it figured out real soon i would say. Lots of opertuity there, use it!!
Nick's a good guy but lets be real...... It isnt the bike Nick.
OOOOOO No it's not the Bike! They are all the sme. Just go buy one off the floor and race !
Llots of rain here in florida, good for mud prep.. i agree that it could be the bike a little bit, He just has to put everything else together, and do what he knows how to do. Top tens fo sho.
Ok lets put it this way so you can understand a little better. It's fair to say James Stewart can win on any bike he rides, ok then. Nick Wey will finish 8th through 12th no matter what bike he is on, you get what I am saying now ? you can't adjust talent. Nick is a cool kid but like I said, Lets be real.
who the hell is james stewart?!!!
Come on, you've got to be kidding me. No way can I believe NW is riding RV's bike and set up. I know for a fact that RV's bike has a shorter sub-frame and has been lowered just like RC's bikes. NW has got 8-10 inches and probably 20 lbs. on RV. Mr. Fisher, if your reading this give NW, CR's practice bike and start from there. Keep fighting Nick.
racer628, I was wondering the same thing about this stewart fella? Did he ride mx back in the day or something? I dunno. anyway, NICK Your a top pro, set the bike up for you, what pro nick wey likes. Trying to ride somone elses settings is crazy. Your not out there to fill in and be like villo, Your out there cause your bad ass and you need to blaze your own way. Your as good as he is, your just not as confident as you should be for who you are, Your NICK WEY! you really have to believe! Go win, you can...
long time NW fan, hopes he pulls something together. used to practice with him back in the day and enjoyed every minute of this guy on the track. hope he pulls something together soon, and keeps living the dream that most on here would kill for.
God I love some of the comments. Wey is 8-10 inches taller than Villopoto? So is it that RV is 5' 2" or is Wey 6' 5"???
Please do not put Wey and RV in the same category, The bike is great Wey is a midpack rider point blank!
so 10th at red bud national qualifies as mid-pack rider now days...interesting. i gotta remember that.
yea he got a tenth at red bud, i ll giv him that but the dudes not even in the top ten in points on a factory bike! bet you did nt comment when got 18th a few weeks ago or got lapped in the sx season.
18th, 12th, 14th, 12th, 14th, 10th. again, you stated he was mid-pack rider. hes non-factory rider, riding a borrowed bike. is he gonna be top 3 contender, prolly not...but at least if your gonna bag one somoene, get your stuff straight.
Yeah, I don't understand the mid-pack comments either. There's 40 guys out there. Wey is 12th overall in points, but the field is pretty stacked this year. Alessi is sitting in 7th and he was supposed to be a favorite for the title. Some people think that because Wey is under the factory tent that he suddenly starts getting factory-type paychecks. I doubt a fill-in makes very much at all (if anything extra) compared to factory team riders. He is a fill-in, not a contracted team member. Hey, he's one of only 5 guys that have scored points in every single moto! Dungey, Metcalfe, Townley, and Alessi are the other 4. Every one else has at least one goose-egg for points. Is Wey going to win or podium or even run top ten consistently? No, but he isn't expected to or being paid to. He is doing exactly what Kawaskai wanted as a fill-in, put the bike out there, score points, and sign autographs in the pits.