Monday Conversation: Davi Millsaps
Monday, February 11, 2013 | 9:40 AM
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PrintRockstar Energy Racing's Davi Millsaps is in the midst of a career year. He's the 450SX points leader through six rounds and captured his second victory of 2013 in San Diego on Saturday. Jason Weigandt caught up with Davi after the race to get his thoughts on his season thus far.
Racer X: I saw you walking in here this morning. Does it even dawn on you, do you come here and say, I’m the guy right now. Out of everybody here I’m leading the points. Does that even run through your mind when you’re driving into the stadium in the morning?
Davi Millsaps: No.
Because it doesn’t or you don’t want to?
All of the above. That won’t matter until after Vegas. I just do the best I can every weekend, one race at a time. That’s all I can do and that’s all I can look for. If I think about the red plate or the championship, it’s too early for that. I just take it one race at a time.
But it has to help in some way. It’s got to be like a spring in your step, a little boost during the week…
It’s definitely a confidence booster but I don’t go to the practice track or come to the race like, I got the red plate. I got this in the bag. There’s no way that anybody out here can think that. There are so many of us that can win at any given moment. It’s crazy if you think that you’re going to come here and dominate. It’s quite hard right now this year. Just go out and do the best you can and put yourself in a good position to do good. That’s what I’ve been trying to do and hopefully I can keep it going.
Millsaps celebrates his second win of the season with his Rockstar Energy Racing team.
Simon Cudby photo
Talking to Ezra [Lusk] in the off-season, he’s said the goal is to get you to believe your one of the guys. That’s not even a question anymore. You go to the gate, you’ve got to think, "Hey, I can win this."
I feel like I can. But putting myself in that position and riding like I can and putting a solid 20 laps in is what it takes. So that’s really about it.
Well, first of all, these starts have been awesome all year. Is there anything to that? Is it you, the bike, just happening?
I feel like I’ve always been a decent starter. In the past I’ve had bikes that are pretty aggressive and stuff. You don’t really need that. You just need to bite that one wheelie and what not and that’s what I have. My bike’s ridiculously fast but for the start it’s really good.
So there’s something to the bike? It’s not just a coincidence that this is happening this year. The bike is good?
Yeah.
And it seems like you’re even experimenting with the bike. The bike started with air forks and stuff last week… It’s getting better?
Yeah, we’re moving forward. It’s where we’re trying to go. We don’t really want to go back and stuff. So just go forward. I like my air forks, I like my suspension right now. I’m pretty happy where we’re going.
Take me through the race. You had the lead early. Chad Reed eventually got to you. How did it all play out?
I got the holeshot and I just put my head down and was just riding my solid 20 laps. He was riding lap for lap and hitting my mark every time and trying not to make many mistakes. I was making some mistakes here and there which were kind of slowing me up a lot. But they were going fast. It was a great 20 laps. It was a good battle for all 20 laps. I didn’t have it easy.
No, Barcia was close most of the way.
Right.
Millsaps (near) fought off an early challange from Chad Reed (middle) and a late challange from Justin Barcia (rear).
Simon Cudby photo
Some people are saying Davi’s got a family now and that’s made him more focused, more motivated. Is there anything to that?
In outdoors last year they said the family - I just had my family during the outdoors - they said in outdoors that maybe that’s why I’m not completely focused. So now they changed it. It’s awesome that he’s here. He comes to the races. I have to do the best I can and provide him. But when I go on the track it’s me worrying about me and the race.
So the bottom line is whatever your family circumstance is do you think you’ve always had these results in you, it just hasn’t come together in previous years for whatever reason?
I don’t know. I’m just going out and just doing the best I can. Whether I’ve had it in me before and I have it in me now… whatever. It’s just going out and doing the same thing and hopefully end up on top.
Last thing, we’re going East. That’s where you’re from. Is that an advantage for you? You look forward to that?
I’m looking forward to going back East but everyone has to race the same dirt. And everyone’s raced there before. It’s just another weekend to go out and put your head down and do a solid 20 laps.
You’ve got this not getting too high, not getting two low thing down. You’re just taking it for what it’s worth.
The sport’s too small to have an ego that your head can’t fit through the door. We race dirt bikes for a living - it’s amazing. There’s no need to get a big head. Any of these guys can win. It’s not just me. I’m just doing me, just being myself. I’m going to be the same guy whether I win or I lose. That’s just how I am. I always will be.
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Good to hear Davi's take on things but i reckon some of the questions sounded a bit dumb...
Good to see him up front...
Who will be the first to say "wait until next week when ........"? While everybody is waiting for next week Davi keeps stretching the points lead. It's fairly obvious that no single rider is going to go on a win streak long enough to make up points that way, so it really is up to Davi to not throw it away.
Maybe RV, RD and Chad should go to MTF to learn starts! Remember Barcia trained there for a while.
I am amazed at Mr. Milsaps' ability to be comfortable with himself regardless of the circumstances: (1) wife and child with him in the workplace, (2) a mother who tried to force him to be more aggressive than his personality would allow, and (3) pushing past the fear of several horrific injuries.
I would like to hear him talk about how he is able to focus his thoughts. I go to work to get away from home, and then don't bring the stress of work back to the wife and kids. I don't know how these boys are able to balance their lives so successfully.
Feld should put them on the road doing motivational seminars when they retire from racing. I would definitely go to the local convention center to hear Carmichael speak.
Congrats to Davi!!! Sounds like he has got his head in the right place and his riding sure looks like it... Davi has a high level of Comfort on the bike and he is beaming with Confidence, a combination that can put a rider on the next level. Keep up the Good Work!!
@missoheye,.........agree, Its up to Davie not to wad her up and score a dnf, I think he knows that, WTG Davie!!!!!
This is Millsaps at his potential! Talent and speed were always there still in flashes. He's always looked fantastic on any bike when he is on. I think a multitude of factors have finally all fallen into place like his health, a proper off season for the first time in years, and some good guidance from Ezra Lusk to get him believing in himself again. I don't doubt he likes the Suzuki better than his Yamaha, but he looked good last year as well and we all know moto and SX is much more about the rider than anything. That's what makes it the best motorsport in my eyes.
Watching Davi's ride on Saturday night reminded me of interval training when cycling. You mut in a burst to you threshold then recover and then a burst again. When reed caught him he upped the pace a bit and then settled when he crashed - then when Barcis approached him it looked like he did the same thing - to me at least. Lets keep in mind he set the fastest lap as well. - also the gap they had 9he and Barcia) on the third through 7th battle was pretty large by 2013 standards.
If Barcia had not had the two DNF's the series would be different - not saying Barcia would have beat Millsaps because he has not poassed him all year (the Phoenix win Barcia Holeshot) - but that these two are consistently the best starters so far and that is making all the difference. - Just saying I think seond in points would belong to barcia not Dungey - but that is all conjecture.
Many on here were railing the track but I think it produced a good race - well not if your a fan of (fill in the blank) or anyone other than Millsaps. - You may need an excuse for why your guy did not win. -
Front end goes out from RV again - not gonna say it...not gonna say it. But I am amazed he rides that thing that fast.
CR needs "feel" - dude you own the team - put on the 2012 forks if that is the case - drop the Air Forks.
Stewart - is it still the knee (not sarcasm just a question)? He gets around Dunge - Dunge gets him back and pulls away - RV too...he never looked super comfortable but the only ones that did finished 1-2.
Dungey was the best of the rest - RV was on him and Dungey pulled away (albeit slightly) - that has got to fuel some fire on here right guys?
Millsaps is probably looking forward to the East more than anyone right now - lets hope for wicked rutted out Daytona and SLC - he'll wax em there.
@retardcross - Isn't ironic? Yogi was EXACTLY like Millsaps throughout his career. Maybe that is why they work so well together? Lusk would win one week and be twelth the next. I guess when he says do this or do that it is truly coming from expierence.
I don't think Davi will crash out. I am worried about a mechanical DNF. The bike locked up once already. I noticed before the heat race when he was warming the bike a big cloud of blue smoke came out. It could of been simple like a new pipe or muffler packing. I'm no expert, so I'm not sure why a fresh motor would do that. It should have been already run in qualifying so it wasn't just burning off assembly lube. Any real mechanics with a thought on why that would happen? Do they run them motors so loose that oil will seep by rings and seals until the bike is hot?
Sorry to even mention this but can we stop with this:
"is Davi Millsaps for real? question is officially over"
Its been said over and over week after week and everyone says it as if to never bring it up again. So please follow your advice and move on, we now have the big 4 er 5 er 6 er, well we have an awesome group of racers right now!
Anyways back to the point of this article, great job Davi, awesome race.
This is turning our to be an incredible story no matter what the outcome......I'm personally pulling for this guy to keep the run going. He's going to be tough to catch now.
Thanks to RacerX and all the other MX news/production companies for the insight into these guys whether it's these interviews or videos such as the one that aired yesterday on RV. As fans we really don't know a whole lot about most of these guys and subsequently don't truly respect/appreciate what they've gone through and the sacrifices they've made.
Most of us on here look back and lament we didn't have the kind of careers and success these guys have but I wonder how many of us could have endured what they have to get there?
People have been predicting the fall of #18 since the conclusion of A1 and it has not happened. In fact, the lead keeps getting bigger. Never in a million years did I think this would happen. At the start of the season, I thought this would come down to RV, RD and Barcia. It is great just to see something surprising every Sat night. With so many guys riding well, point swings can be big.
One again, Millsaps proves the adage “consistency wins championships” or at least keeps you in the best position to win come season end. Really a neat story of hanging in there and never giving up.
@JasonWeigandt; Well, you can't say you didn't try, (again). To me, I am more surprised that any, (Swingin-Arm) out there that DM18 is doing what he is doing right now, after getting married and having a new child. I had him figured for 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
Davi falls in love, Davi loses interest in anything that (doesn't) have a capital "Y" where the legs meet. Davi gets married. Davi has a new (baby boy. Davi and bambino lose interest in dirt (other than pies). Davi finds a nice job with the Post Office. Davi delivers mail (slowly) into the sunset.
Say Goodnight Gracie, to Davi, and they all lived happily ever-after.
I have never been more wrong than with the, "New Davi Makeover."
In summary; James Stewart was right all along..."It was that, Blue (Devil) Dart all the time."
Yellow (GOOD)...
Blue (BAD)...
(Boris Karloff, circa:1931)
I appreciate how Davi side steps the drama and simply maintains his focus and does his "talking" on the track. It's suprising how this year is turning out but you have to be happy for Davi and admire his humility and confidence.
Just keep your head down and keep taking it race by race Davi. Once it's over, you will be the guy on top no matter what the hoopla is around you.
If any of the "top riders" are going to make a run this year they better get focused and get it done pretty quick. Otherwise Davi is going to quietly and modestly leave them in the dust.
1-3-4-2-2-1 - Asking the Question is he for real looks "real" silly right now.
dinosaurmedia, Not an excuse but the track did suck, One line and if you get out of that line you are done. I hope now that we are done in Cali the trackks will get better.
.If Saps keeps getting top 3 starts it will be a long year for the rest. Has he had a start outside the top 3-5 yet? I said it before the season started that Starts will be a key like never before this year.
Dinosaur, I cant agree with your Barcia what if comments. Barcia made mistakes that cost him one race and was involved in another racing incident crash at the start. Those are different circumstances than say a DNF from a mechanical issue. In that case the whole "what if" can be applied to any rider out there, "If" RV hadnt crashed a bunch this year, "If" RD, has gotten better starts, "If" JS hadnt hurt his knee at the first round.
Congrats to Saps, he is looking pretty solid this year. Finally putting it all together in a series, and not for just one race. If he keeps getting good starts, and the other top riders keep having their issues (crashes, bad starts) he will be looking pretty good down the stretch.
Very grounded answers. I heard Johnny Unitas would carry himself in that fashion. Win or lose, it was more about the love of the game.
Ezra makes a good friend to the story. My guess is they share a similar frequency.
Keep serving that humble pie DM. There is a long line of doubters that have earned a slice.
Motohead279 - I was just saying he is the second best overall atarter and as we have seen this season the starts are huge - So if (yes if's are irrelevant0 the DNF (self induced or otherwise) had not occured things might be different - but that applies to everyone who has had a bad start, knee, front end, crash or all of the above take your pick.
Just looking at the stats - Barcia 7-1-DNf-DNF-3-2, easily the second most consistent if you remove the DNF's was all I was saying.
Again that was a tangent and this article is about Davi - so congrats again to (for me) a super exciting race)
Good interview--I have met him several times, and he is always the same guy.. No phony BS, real easy going, and always very friendly.. No big ego with this guy--even the first time I met him , he was the top dog in the 250 class at the time.. He spoke with my son foir a long time, just real cool and easy going.. A good guy for sure.. Glad he has gotten it all together and is healhty... And I will say this, I think his testing and bike set-up ability has helped him alot.. He didnt have any problems with the Yamaha, alot of guys seem to with it.. And he seems to have the air forks dialed also.. He seems to have a good idea of how to set up his rides, never seems to have the problems like some riders do...He is smart and has it together for sure..
"I’m going to be the same guy whether I win or I lose. That’s just how I am. I always will be."
guy has positive outlook.. love that he's leading in points. about time all the RV2 fans stay quite at the races.
I thought for sure RV was going to stomp them this week - he had the look. The slow blink, no fear, not a concern.
I really like the ride that DM put in. Really effective.
YOU KNOW WHAT ? LOOKING AT POINTS DAVI CAN MISS A MAIN EVENT AND STILL BE 2ND IN POINTS AND 2 POINTS AHEAD OF RV. THATS PRETTY DARN GOOD BUT YOU KNOW HIS BAD MAIN EVENT IS COMING. EVERYBODY HAS TO GO THROUGH IT .bUT hey this is 2013 and somebody said theres a magic about the #13. Could this be the yr a non contender actually wins?
For sure Millsaps has changed the game. RV RD and JS Reedy they no longer have to go to races thinking I just gotta beat JS or RV now they have to think. Im going to do my best to win. and that makes for good racing. IM SURPRISED millsaps has been slowly extending his lead
Hopefully Davi can carry the torch back east, good luck Davi.
It is truly awesome to read an interview with a (or the) top guy who isn't arrogant, not talking about him being "The best rider to ever throw a leg over a dirt bike", and just taking care of business. I hope he can pull it off, he is a good dude who has paid his dues. He deserves it!
As far as the back east thing, isn't he from Georgia?
the two top guys with air forks are washing out more this year than in the past two seasons combined- CR and RV. Is it time to do what RD did and put the springs back ?? Reed has complained more about the handling but RV rarly complains about anything. DM is riding extremly well and pushing hard even when passed which is totally new for him.
Davi has become the true Cinderella story, which has made this season so interesting and has left everyone else scratching there heads. Davi is living the life and now meeting the expectations of him we he first went pro.Also great interview!
From the sound of most of the questions, the press is having a harder time believing Millsaps can do this than he does himself.
@mxdgnr8 I do believe you are correct, except I am having a hard time keeping my jaw from dragging on the ground every time I think DM is almost a whole race in front of 2nd place with some healty blue chip talent out on the same track. No asterisks next to his accomplishments!!!
Indeeed Big Ugly....how quickly we are approaching the halfway point and Milsaps has 19points over Dungey in second and RV in 3rd 27 pts back......Going to ge really interesting.....RV and Dungey are pretty much the only guys who have a stab at the title if Milsaps avoids any catostrophic evenings.....The pressure and reality for Milsaps will certainly start to build in a few more races and he will be in uncharted waters....can he keep it going...top3 every week with a win or two more will certainly make it hard for the rest.....dont think we'll see Reed go on a winning streak to get back in it...so we'll see....very impressed to see Milsaps ride and handle things the way he is so far.....Stewart is out of the running, so I'd like to see RV pull off the 3-peat or see 1st time SX champ Milsaps!!
davidl: I agree that RV doesn't complain a lot. I feel a big reason is because he has no doubt consistently had the nest bike/team combination of any rider since he turned pro.
@ RCRDDW
wow...no stopping you and your brain dead comments......you ever like that toilet seat yet?
of course the only reason RV has won anything is because his bike was so much better than everyone else? haha you're such a child. Don't be afraid to give the guy a little credit......his new found struggles with his front end are keeping this thing interesting.
LICK dammit.....so irritated I can't spell
@davidl--Wrong, Millsaps is running an air fork also---he isnt washing out..Dungey put the spring back in the rear, not front..
mofo
maybe Millsaps Air fork is an upgrade from what he's used to....therefore easier for him to get used to?
there's a long ways to go, and i got a feeling RV is going to climb back into this championship . it should be interesting as it plays out. saps is a surprise this year, i kinda thought he would be on the podium maybe but if you would have told me jan 1st that milsaps would be leading points after the cali swing and would win two........i would have called you a moron! im pulling for davi, but fear what poto can get done
Way to go Davi... I have been a fan for a long time and i"m stoked to see him with the points lead. Being from Okieland i'm also ready for Trey to pick it back up and put the pressure on. Good luck to you both.
"God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud" Amen. Davi look up man!!
Davi sounds like a down to earth stand up guy.
After ready this interview, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who will be chearing for Davi to win the Title.
Great dudes like Milsaps make our sport so unique and a step above the rest!
@DungeyPoto---I seriously doubt that.. He had the best equipment there was with JGR....The Yamaha SSS suspension in the forks are great, and JGR spares no expense.. He gets NO HELP in the form of Factory parts from Suzuki now.. I think Millsaps just does a great job of testing and setting up his ride....
Congratulations Davi, glad to see
You in the hunt of your Dream..
Just do me a Favor and Thank Your Mom on the Podium
You have an AWESOME MOM
TRUST Me Life is Short
I Lost my mom to Cancer in 2010
She was 72 but had 28 at Heart left
You Got a Neat Mom and Truth be Told.... She DESERVES a PODIUM
Thank You!!!! Stay consistent and watch out for the RV2 Express
I got a Feeling he will Win a Few more... Glad to see you in this lead though, keep up hard Work... 2 words... Thanks Mom!!