HIGH FIVES - OLIVER SANDIFORD SMITH
May 07, 2008
MOTO web reporter Ade Threasher managed to find ten minutes of spare time to HIGH FIVE interview Oliver Sandiford Smith of CCM just before his injury which put him out of the Maxxis championship for a short while – take it away Ade.
MOTO: After a having a highly successful schoolboy career, we haven’t heard much about you since your move into the adult ranks, what’s been going on?
“In 2003 I was riding for Albion KTM and got a forth in a British Championship Race, I was then the youngest rider to get a top five race result in the championship but after that I've had a few family problems, I've been messed around by a few teams and I've had a few injuries, one of them put me out for a whole year, I had to have a full ACL reconstruction on my knee, that was 2006, I didn't get back riding until half way through 2007, it's been quite tough getting back on the bike but I'm working my way back up to where I want to be”.
MOTO: After all that was it a surprise to be offered the factory CCM ride for 2008?
“I suppose it was but in a way it wasn't because I know I've got the ability to do well and justify it.”
MOTO: Did you see it as a gamble taking on a brand new unproven bike?
“Yeah without a doubt - A lot of people said to me that it was a gamble but what else could I do, my parents couldn't afford to help me out and obviously I can't work and race at the same time so it was a gamble but I think it's a gamble that's going to be good”.
MOTO: Have things been going so far this season?
“Not too clever really - I mean my speed's there; I'm training with David Thorpe. Swordy and Tom Church are there and my speed with them is great, they pull out by only a second or so lap, but when it comes to a race I don’t know what’s happening, whether I'm putting pressure on myself or something I don't know but I'm working with a psychologist to hopefully sort that. With it being a brand new bike as well we're struggling with set up's but we're working to sort that, I'm also struggling with my starts, and we all know, get a crap start and you’re up against it from the off.”
MOTO: What’s your goals for the rest of the season?
“My goal is to podium, I know I've got the ability I just got to get it done”!
MOTO: Thanks Ollie, we hope it all goes well and that we see you and CCM up there on the podium by the end of the year.
Image and interview by MOTO WEB reporter Ade Threasher
Send this article to a friend
Page 1 of 1 pages
