Yamaha's Keith McCarty talks 2009 in his Soup interview, mentioning that Ben Bostrom's resurgence has been inspiring for the entire company. image by wolf jay nelson

Soup grabbed ten minutes with Yamaha US Racing honcho Keith McCarty last Friday at Yamaha USA's Media Day. McCarty had just announced some big news: an '09 Superbike team comprised of Ben Bostrom and Josh Hayes, and a four-bike assault on the Daytona 200--with Josh Herrin and new signing Tommy Aquino competing alongside the Superbike guys. Big Blue has obviously made a huge commitment to racing in AMA Superbike and Supersport in 2009, so we asked McCarty about Yamaha's thought process regarding the DMG-controlled series and their new rider lineup. Enjoy.

Q In regards to your commitment for the AMA championship next year, it's a pretty massive statement of support to put four bikes out there in the Daytona 200, when a few weeks ago everybody was saying that nobody's going to be racing in 2009, there's going to be an alternate series, and everything. I heard you say on the podium today that you guys had made a decision a while ago that you were going to compete in the series. Could you talk about that a little? Because you had a relatively low profile in all the hubbub, compared to some of the other manufacturers.

A I think that, again, in March, when they made this statement, it was basically a passing of the torch from AMA to DMG. I think we all understood the AMA suffered for years of nothing but criticism of what they've done. "Everybody could do it better, everybody's this, that." So I think they almost backed the AMA into a corner to do something pretty drastic, which they did. So they put the whole thing up for sale, and somebody stepped up and said, "Look, we know how to do this. We can do it. Here's our offer." So for me, this was--and Yamaha, not just me--it sent a message that, "Look, if you want to be racing, they're going to be the racing entity." I think Yamaha's commitment to racing has been there for an awfully long time with the AMA. I'm not sure why suddenly we would want to change that because it changed hands. So does that mean that we enjoyed every change that was suggested at that time? I think, emphatically we weren't. But I don't think that trashing them in the media really ever resolves anything. If somebody started saying the things that were said about DMG and some of the people, to me, I would be taken aback a little bit. It's kind of like firing a shot over the bow. Some people might say all these things were said because they wanted them to change direction. Right or wrong, our commitment was we wanted to go racing, we wanted to have a voice and be able to talk about the things that were important, and that's kind of what we've done all along. So when I said our commitment, we knew we were going to go roadracing, and we saw 600s, we saw 1000s, we wanted to be in both classes as we've been the last few years. So business was going to be the same for us. Who we put in those seats and what we did? Of course, that decision wasn't made in March. But as things came down and we kept doing our due diligence with discussions with DMG and just feeling our way through this like everybody else, and here we are. We've got a team, we've got bikes, we're working on bikes. Yes, it's late, and I don't think they envisioned it being this late without solid rules and things. But I don't think that was their-- you can't fault them, because everybody else created that mess. It could've been there a lot smoother, but there was three months of nothing. So we are more than three months behind, but I think there's a reason for it. Personally, I think that they have the fans' best interest at heart. They want close racing, they want good racing, they want affordable racing. I think that's what everybody wants. That's what everybody should want. So that's what I meant by a commitment.

Q Four bikes in the Daytona 200 is a massive commitment. I would imagine you guys are probably going to get behind that pretty significantly in terms of marketing, as well.

A We have a great list of riders. We have four guys, Tommy Aquino being the guy with the least experience and especially at Daytona, but last year we did remarkably well on the R6 there with Josh and Ben finishing 1-2, less than a second apart. It was a photo finish, a great finish. I think Ben certainly wanted an opportunity, as did Josh, from early in the discussions, both guys. It still has meaning, the Daytona 200, regardless of what everybody's saying. It was the race to win in years past. I think somewhere in the back of DMG's group, they'd like to regain that heritage, that people come on out and race, and in order for them to get that, OEMs like Yamaha and the other companies need to support that to get people to come. That's what it's all about. You're not going to come watch a hockey tournament at Daytona, but put a motorcycle race on at nighttime, on the bankings or whatever they're going to do for the 200, definitely they want some excitement, and our role is we'd like a piece of that excitement. So again, I think it is a big effort. We're hoping that we execute as we need to. But again, I think the Graves guys have done a remarkable job with the bike, and it won't be without their help that we get this done. They've got most of the work, really. We're working on getting our 1000s done. I think we have a pretty good package. We'll see. We'll be there, and hopefully things can go well. We're ready to get going.

Q What are your thoughts about the whole concept of parity, technical parity, in racing--or prescribed parity in racing. Obviously, there's discussion now about Formula One maybe having a spec powerplant. DMG flirted with horsepower and weight parity. Would you guys have raced if there was some kind of horsepower- restricted formula, and what do you think about that in terms of, does that produce good racing, or what are your thoughts on that?

A I think parity in some areas is important. Spec tires, we're going to spec tires in MotoGP. I think you can see when one company is so dominant with their product that it really impacts all of the other companies and the racing itself, which is essentially a show for the fan and the spectator, it's very damaging to a series. And so, parity in that format, where one component can make the difference, I don't think you'd have that with a wheel or a brake pad or whatever. I don't mean to pick on them, but they're not going to be game-breakers. But tires obviously can. I think that engine configurations have proven not to be the sole thing. MotoGP has a variety of engine configurations, and they don't have horsepower restrictions. But there are some key components that definitely change the balance of racing. Technical strategies to have parity with those components, I think it's come of age, because of the cost of doing it. Teams just can't be forced to go out there--they would love to have the top tire sponsor, but maybe the top tire company can't afford to support everybody. So it's not a matter of choice at some points, it's a matter of opportunity.

I think that there are some elements that are important to the strategic parity that they've envisioned. The question about whether we would race if there was horsepower [restriction], I don't know. We don't have to make that decision, because there isn't. I think that my own personal opinion that Supersport racing in the United States was the most exciting racing that we have, week in and week out with more than one or two guys at the front. I said that from the first time I went to a roadrace, and I'll say it again now. So anything that helps us get to that type of racing, I'm not saying it's 600s, not making a statement about any of these technical things. I'm making a statement about the ability to have five guys racing that have a chance to win. I think that's what's important here, and I believe that's Roger Edmondson's vision that he'd like to have, as well. And so, anything that we can do to help support that, again, keeping the other items in mind that are important--the costs of racing, and availability, which he's Addressing--those are also impact points for this parity. So, in essence, yes, I think there are some technical pieces, strategies to keep parity out there, definitely.

Q You're having some pretty big changes in Superbike for 2009. You've got a completely new machine and a complete switch of riders. Obviously Jason DiSalvo and Eric Bostrom are not going to be returning to the team. Ben's stepping up, which I think a lot of people are really excited to see Ben back in the Superbike class, and Josh Hayes is finally going to get his chance at a factory Superbike ride. Could you talk about what you saw in Ben to take the chance on him? It's really a Cinderella story--what happened with Ben and his domination of the series last year.

A I think that any good manager or any leader, their real role is to inspire people. We understand that's our role, and we try to do it. Aside from a personal interest, let's say, in inspiration to young people and try to see them grow and become successful, we have a responsibility to our company. We're marketing products. We're racing because we love it, but the end-result is we want to sell products, we want to showcase our products in positive lights, and we want role models of people that have likenesses or think like that, as well. So, taking a chance on Ben, when you ask what did we see, we saw what everybody else saw. We saw the re-emergence of a guy that always had talent, and by his own admissions maybe misdirected some of that, didn't quite take it as serious. He got away from it but realized how much he loved it. He got a chance to come back. A lot of that was marketing. He's a very marketable guy. He's got a great following. We got him into a fold, or a family, and we inspired him. Obviously something inspired him, or gave him hope, and I hope it was our team. I believe Chuck Graves and his crew and Yamaha as a company, that's what we're supposed to do, is inspire and give opportunity. When you put all that together, as long as you don't mess with it too terribly much, you have great soup. And I think that he was kind of reborn in a sense of his own, in his training, his mentality, and the desire to win. Along with that, he's been a great role model and an inspiration to the young guys. They want to beat him, because they don't--they want to beat him, but he's giving of himself even thinking that he might get beat. So that decision for me wasn't a tough decision, and it seemed like the natural decision. He's on an upswing, and I think that's kind of what you want, you want to get that upswing going.

For Josh (Hayes), you said it exactly. He's probably--maybe when he was a Superbike rider, he wasn't quite ready for it. I don't know. I really can't focus at that time in his career. But what I do know is, the last several years, he's been kind of stepping up and becoming more of a player, and wanting that chance, and being one of the names in American racing. I don't know all the reasons, but he's been overlooked. I think as far as getting that, getting in the game, getting to be the guy that has the ball, we wanted people that are in that part of their career, that want the ball, and that they can push forward, and they're going to give us what we feel in terms of trying to get this product to the front. I think it was a good decision. Of Course, it sounds good on paper. Everybody's still got to put it in motion. But our role is quite simple. We need to inspire and motivate these guys, and do our part on the back side, and I'm pretty sure they have the credentials to do their part on the track.

Q Certainly, Josh's ride in Portugal in the Supersport race was pretty unbelievable, on a bike that wasn't making as much horsepower as the front-running guys. His whole demeanor that weekend, he must have known that he was going to be signing with you guys, but he had a lightness and an optimism to him, and a wonderment that seemed like he was in a new head space to where he's been over the last couple of years. I think Josh Hayes certainly seems pretty excited to be with you guys.

A We're excited to have him. I think this process of selecting riders is difficult. You have to feel what they're feeling and know where they're at. I think that we, at some point in time, you just have to make your decision, and you have to go with it, and you hope in the end, it all works out. We've had instances where it didn't work out. Doesn't mean that we have any hard feelings or whatever. It's just about space and time in people's life. You look at Ben and see this transformation, and here's where Josh Hayes is, and hopefully it'll all be the right time for these guys. And Tommy Aquino. Here's a kid with a lot of time. He's a young guy, but look at what he's got to look at in front of him: guys that know how to get there, how to do it, and want to help. That's the best thing we could offer him right now. So I'm really happy. I'm going to be quite proud to go to Daytona and see those guys there. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but Tom Halverson and our crew, and Chuck Graves and his crew, they can handle it. They're ready to do it.

Q One last question about the level of preparation. Given how late the rules package came in and how late you're getting the R1, there were rumors at the test in World Superbike that the chassis was pretty much what the 2009 World Superbike chassis was going to be, but that the powerplant was not really that special yet--it didn't have all the special sauce on it. How ready do you guys expect to be with the bike? It's going to be just at the beginning, but what are you expecting at Daytona in the Superbike class?

A At the race?

Q At the race.

A I think that in the beginning of this, certainly with the lateness of the rules and everything, I kind of coined the phrase, "It's almost like we're going to race from a standing start, instead of a running start that some of the other people may have already enjoyed." I think enough of the rules changed, or there's been a lot of changes, that maybe there's more of a standing start for a lot of people, because some of the things that you used to do-- like the 16.5" versus the 17" tire--I think it's a pretty big step for some of these guys that know these things like the back of their hand. So I think that our expectations are pretty high. I would be silly if I didn't recognize the guys that we're racing against and their level of talent, and I think that for us, at least my line of thinking, I love to win, I want to win, but I understand we can't win every race. Daytona's the starting place. I don't know where I want to put my expectations, but as long as we're battling for the front, then I think I would be okay. And especially, I'm, again, very, I believe a lot in our team and our group and Yamaha as a company, the support that we get from other areas. It may not be the most. It may be more than some. But I think that, so far, it works really well Together, and I'm very optimistic and quite excited to be going down there.