Catching Up With Davi Millsaps
words by Michael Antonovich
This off-season may be the shining example of the economic crunch being felt worldwide. Teams are forced to downsize after the higher-ups hand down budgets that are missing zeros when compared to years past, sponsors switch teams or leave the sport all together, and more than a few riders are left looking for a ride while three of the main guys line up their programs. It seemed that Davi Millsaps would be one of many looking to set up a new deal for 2012, until a press release announcing his extension at JGR/Toyota/Yamaha came through our inboxes. Millsaps, who had spent 2011 aboard the East Coast team, will team up with James Stewart as the campaign the entire American tour. We caught up with Millsaps during his drive to the Stewart Compound for continued Supercross testing and discussed the changes we can expect for the upcoming season.
When was your deal with JGR Yamaha reestablished?
We had everything finalized a week and half or two weeks ago.
How is the vibe at the team now that they have signed James Stewart? Has it changed much in comparison to last year when the team was yourself and Justin Brayton?
Yeah, it has changed a bit. They are trying to do more work and put things forward than they were last year, but I felt like the bike was good this year. The bike definitely feels a lot better for next year than it did last year, and I have only been riding it for a week. I think that it is going to be good now because we test at different places than just North Carolina, which I am pumped about. Right now we are on our way to Bubba’s house for more testing, and while I am not pumped on the ten-hour drive, it is cool to test somewhere else. It has changed a little bit, but it is still about the same.
Is there much that is different about the bike you will ride next year in comparison to the bike you rode this past season?
Yeah, there are some things that are much different, but I can’t go in to detail on what they are, but it is a good thing. The stuff that we had at the end of the outdoors we didn’t have during Supercross made the bike better, but now we have it for Supercross and it has helped a lot.
Last year the team had Shift and Muscle Milk, and both are gone from the team this year, so where does that leave you? Do you have your own private deals, or did you stay with Shift and your other sponsors?
I don’t have anything. I’m in talks with some people, but I’m not saying who (Laughs). I don’t know helmet I’ll have, what gear, what boots. I do have Oakley goggles, because that is with the team, but as far as anything else goes, I only know that I’m on a Yamaha.
How does your body feel after being sidelined this year?
I feel like I am better. I trained very hard after Pala until now and I lost a bunch of weight. I feel like the harder I work, the better it is going to be.
Do you have expectations set for 2012?
Just do better than I did this past year (Laughs). I just am going to be the best I can be. I can’t tell you that I am going to win races or the championship, no one can tell you that, but I’m going to do the best that I can to get there.
