[ K. Windham | D. Reardon | T. Canard | B. Metcalfe | B. Wharton ]

Born: Feb. 28, 1978, Baton Rouge, LA Residence: Centerville, MS National #: 14 Began riding: 1981, age 3 First race: 1981, age 3 Training: Weight training, running, bicycling Hobbies: Flying, family Height/weight: 6’1”/185 pounds Marital status: Married, wife Dottie, daughters Madelyn and Annabelle, son Kevin Jr. Current racebike: Honda CRF450R Mechanic: Brian Calma

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Profile: KEVIN WINDHAM

At age 31, Kevin Windham has defied all the odds. He’s not only a seasoned professional racer, he’s remained relatively injury-free—and a serious threat on the Supercross circuit. Windham is a standout not just because he is still racing, but because he is at the top of his game.

When Windham rode to a second-place finish in the 2008 AMA Supercross Championship, it was hardly a fluke. He finished in the top five in every one of the 17 rounds.

“It was a great season. I had some ups and downs, but I was able to stay really consistent. I was a frequent visitor to the podium and that felt great,” he says.

One of the Windham’s most impressive performances-to-date came last year during a torrential downpour at Daytona.

“Daytona is the single biggest race of our season and it was a great accomplishment to be able to win that. It was a very tough race—tough to finish, and tough to just keep it on two wheels. But we were able to do that, and it was a nail-biter, with Chad Reed and I going back and forth at the end. I still have my jersey with all the original mud on it. It was a very important race for me and one that I’ll always remember.”

Windham’s fortitude and success in the outdoor series—he was runner-up for six years between 1999 and 2006—had some wondering why he opted out of the 2008 season.

“I got to the point where I had to pull back to increase my longevity and be able to stick around for a few more years. Because I really enjoy what I do. With that said, they are making some interesting changes to outdoors for 2009, and it is something that I am thinking about seriously—to revisit some nationals and see where it goes.”

As a veteran leader of the GEICO Powesports Honda team, Windham also sees great value in his younger team members.

“It’s been great to have some of the younger guys around, especially on the Lites program. It’s just a good working relationship. I learn from them, they learn from me, and it’s a good fit.”

With the 2009 Supercross championship within his reach, Windham is anxiously awaiting the opportunity to pilot the all-new CRF450R in competition.

“Honda has made some huge improvements based on some of our feedback from years past. I am looking forward to having the race spec come together and having a good showing at Anaheim 1.”

Off the track, Windham is dedicated to his wife Dottie and his three children. Being a family man has changed his life.

“I guess it just a combination of age and children and growing up, but it becomes very clear to why I do the things I do. My kids are very proud of me. When I am done riding at the end of the day, they come out and go for a ride with me on the bike, and that makes me proud.”

Q: Congratulations on finishing runner-up in the 2008 Supercross Championship! Tell us about your season.
A: It was a great season. I had some ups and downs, but I was able to stay really consistent. That was one of the things that I wanted to do. I think I was the only rider not to finish outside the top five and I was a frequent visitor to the podium, and that felt great. I wish I could have won a few more. When I look back at the season, there were a few points that I left on the table and that was the difference. But I learned a lot and I am really optimistic about the ’09 season.

Q: You won the 2008 Daytona Supercross that was run in a torrential rainstorm that turned the track into a mud bog. Many described your ride as heroic because as others fell, you and your CRF450R never faltered. What are your memories of the race?
A: Daytona—just to get a win there—is by far the single biggest race of our season, and it was a great accomplishment to be able to win that. It was not the normal conditions for Daytona because there was so much rain, but at the same time it is known as being one of the most brutal and physically demanding races of the season. To be honest, it was no different just because it was wet—it was equally as brutal, if not more. It was a very tough race—tough to finish, and tough to just keep it on two wheels. But we were able to do that. And it was a nail-biter, with Chad Reed and I going back and forth at the end. I got stuck in a mud hole and he had pulled away a little, and then he had some misfortune. So it was kind of a back-and-forth battle and one that we came out on top of. I still have my jersey with all the original mud on it—it’s framed—and the trophy. It was a very important race for me and one that I’ll always remember.

Q: Was the Daytona race the highlight of your 2008 campaign, or is there another moment that stands out?
A: Seattle was another great race, one that I won and it was an emotional rollercoaster. I thought I was going to make up a lot of points because Chad went down in the first turn. Then I had a hay bale get caught in my rear wheel that took me out, and it was just a crazy race back and forth. We had a lot of races like that this year, a lot of good battles, and the wins that I had were hard-fought and the podiums were the same way. It’s a tough field and a tough class, and to come as close as I did, it’s bittersweet. I really wish we could have won, but it was a great season for me and one I can be proud of.

Q: The last time you finished on the Supercross Championship podium was in 2004. What are your goals for Supercross going into 2009?
A: Really more of the same, the field is getting tougher. You start getting more and more guys in there, and they are younger and younger and full of more and more energy. It leaves the veterans having to rely on their experiences in battle, so that’s what I am going to be relying on, and I still feel like I can do it. I still feel like I’ve got the ambition to go out and win, yet also the experience to keep it on two wheels and be consistent. And with that many guys going for race wins, there is only one guy that can win and three that make it to the podium. So there will be people that have the shortcomings of certain races, and I don’t want to be that guy. I want to keep it consistent and keep it here in front. Q: Over the past 10 years you finished as runner-up in Motocross Championships in 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001 and 1999, and in 2000 you finished the outdoor season in third. With that record, many of your fans were surprised to not see you racing Motocross in 2008. Why you didn’t race, and do you have any plans to return to Motocross racing in 2009?
A: With my age and the wear and tear of racing, and everything that has gone on with the progress of the sport, it can be difficult on the riders. I got to the point where I had to pull back to increase my longevity and be able to stick around for a few more years. Because I really enjoy what I do. With that said, they are making some interesting changes to outdoors for 2009, and it is something that I am thinking about seriously—to revisit some nationals and see where it goes. It’s a little early to say definitively what I am going to do. It’s a huge part of our sport.

Q: You have been an integral part of the GEICO Powersports Honda team for many years now. Talk about that relationship and why it works so well.
A: Well it’s been an evolving relationship, especially when I have been with them as long as I have. We’re really excited to have GEICO Powersports on board. It’s the backbone of our existence. We’re hoping to put our best foot forward and continue with what we know how to do best, and that’s race. It’s been great to have some of the younger guys around, especially on the Lites program, and me being the senior member on the 450. It’s just a good working relationship. I learn from them, they learn from me, and it’s a good fit. The environment that they provide and the bike that they provide have really been second to none for me. It’s been a big help for where I am at now in my career, and where I hope to go.

Q: Tell me your thoughts on the inclusion of three new venues to the Supercross calendar for 2009. What are your thoughts about these new rounds in New Orleans, Jacksonville, Salt Lake City?
A: New Orleans has been great for me. It’s an hour from Baton Rouge where I was born and raised, and I’ve had great success there. There’s something about racing in front of your friends and family that is really incredible. So I am really excited to see that one is back. I know there is a big following for motorsports around our area, and I hope they come out and see us because it’s great to ride in front of a big, loud crowd. The new venues are going to be fun. It’s interesting to see what they will bring. Hopefully we get some growth out of it and get motorcycles in front of a new fan base.

Q: You’ve had the opportunity to ride the new 2009 Honda CRF450R. How is the new bike different from previous years? What you like about it?
A: I think they’ve done some great things with it, and everything has been going really well in testing. Honda has made some huge improvements based on some of our feedback from years past. That makes it fun to ride and fun to do our job. I am looking forward to having the race spec come together and having a good showing at Anaheim 1.

Q: Can you talk a bit about being a family man and what impact that has on your racing?
A: It’s given me a great sense of pride. I guess it just a combination of age and children and growing up, but it becomes very clear to why I do the things I do. And what I have to do to prepare myself. Through preparation and putting your best foot forward, I think you decrease the chance of injury and you increase your ability to perform at your best, and those are all things that I take pride in. My kids are very proud of me. It’s fun to have them see me on the big screen. It’s cool to see my kids’ faces light up, and be somewhat of a hero to them. When I am done riding at the end of the day, they come out and go for a ride with me on the bike, and that makes me proud.

Statistics

2008

2nd AMA/FIM Supercross Series

2007

4th AMA Supercross Series
5th AMA Motocross Series

2006

2nd AMA Motocross Series
14th AMA Supercross Series (shortened season due to injury)

2005

2nd AMA 250 National Motocross Series
3rd AMA 250 Supercross Series

2004

2nd AMA 250 Supercross Series
3rd AMA 250 National Motocross Series

2003

2nd AMA 250 National Motocross Series

2002

Missed most of season due to injury

2001

2nd AMA 250 National Motocross Series
4th AMA 250 Supercross Series

2000

3rd AMA 250 National Motocross Series
4th AMA 250 Supercross Series

1999

2nd AMA 250 National Motocross Series
7th AMA 250 Supercross Series

1998

4th AMA 250 Supercross Series
8th AMA 250 National Motocross Series

1997

1st AMA 125 West Supercross Series
2nd AMA 125 National Motocross Series
18th AMA 250 Supercross Series

1996

1st AMA 125 West Supercross Series
2nd AMA 125 National Motocross Series
19th AMA 250 Supercross Series

1995

5th AMA 125 East Supercross Series
16th AMA 250 National Motocross Series

1994

AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year