Once the golden child of US roadracing and the person many thought would lead America to success on the world stage, Mike Hale is now riding Erion Hondas in 600 Supersport and 900s in Formula Extreme, trying to reestablish his racing career.

He talked to AMAsoup at the Dunlop tire test at Daytona.

Q. What has Mike Hale been up to since we last saw you here, a year ago?

A. I've been riding, getting ready for this test. I've been riding motocross bikes or XR100s; have my dirt track buddies come over to the house and run into each other while going left.

Q. Are you still living in Carrollton, Texas?

A. No, I live over by Fort Worth; I bought some land and built a house. It's a little bit less expensive as far as real estate there than where I was.

I've gotten married and had a baby girl since ...

Q. How long has it been since you have ridden full time?

A. 1999. I took off all of 2000 and 2001.

Q. And what did you do in that period?

A. I had some offers on the table when I stepped back but it felt like I had been through hell in the last several years before that. I just said, 'Look, it kills me unless I am running up front; that's what I race for. I don't want to come out here and fill up the grid or do it for the money.'

I've probably grown up a lot in the last two years.

The offers I did have were not on Dunlop tires either, and that was a priority for me. So I went and chased the car thing. I had a good opportunity with the management I had, had some good connections ... I got some seat time and had some good results, but we never got the big sponsorship that it takes to do it. And with the economy kind of turning down like it did, the timing wasn't that great.

So I started talking to the Honda guys again. And that seemed to be one of those things that seemed perfect for me because I wanted to come back in and get re-established, get back on Dunlop's and get on good equipment. I wanted to be on something that is capable of winning. It's just something that will help me get back up to speed and get reestablished. I think the Formula Extreme thing is perfect for me.

Q. What is your goal in this re-establishment? Do you want to go back to the world stage? World Superbike?

A. No, I'm perfectly content right here. I really am. I'm just taking it one step at a time, and I have the Formula Extreme and 600 championships ahead of me. I want to go out and focus on winning races and hopefully a championship. Or two.

I know both classes are going to be real competitive, but these classes will definitely get me up to speed. If we can come out here and do well, put a championship under my belt, we'll see what happens. Then maybe a Superbike deal (domestic).

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