Hi Tyla,

I know I can also ask you a question when I normally speak to you because I think I know quite a bit about you but it is always nice when you get such an opportunity, hahaha.

We all know you have signed your contract for next year on the 250 cc 4-stroke.

What do you think about the 250 cc 4-stroke? And what do you think about Ben and Marc having pretty much problems with it.

I don't mean that in the negative way but I guess it doesn't worry you that much otherwise you wouldn't sign for it in 2005.

So maybe stupid question but I think people would want to know your opinion on this. They have heard Marc's and he sticks with it no matter what. For him no 2-stroke.

By the way we all have enjoyed the racing last weekend in France. You wouldn't have believed it, if you could have seen it with your own eyes, what happened at our house while watching the race on AB Moteurs, hahaha

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"Hello Tyla,

You rock on your bike dude!
How do you prepare for a Europian GP, like the one in France?
And what do you think while standing behind the starting gate and you see thousands of people watching you?"

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Hey Zipje, zo'n gevoel heb je toch ook op de BMB-wedstrijden?

Vind je het een gelijke strijd townley op de 4takt en jij op de 2takt.

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"Hello Tyla,

You rock on your bike dude!
How do you prepare for a Europian GP, like the one in France?
And what do you think while standing behind the starting gate and you see thousands of people watching you?"

---

Thanks. I am well prepared and confident now, and the riding is going good. I can ride all track surfaces, and for a GP on a hard surface I would normally practice on a hard rtack, but last week I actually trained on soft tracks.

I still get a little bit nervous when I go up to the start, but as soon as the gate drops, it's over. Of course it feels great to have thousands of fans cheering you on.

Styla,

do you think you will go faster on the fourstroke 250 KTM?

do you think of going to race in the USA in the future?

praat je gewoon nederlands??? (is misschien makkelijker voor ons.. ;-) )

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"praat je gewoon nederlands??? (is misschien makkelijker voor ons.. ;-) )

"

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Wel een beetje, maat Tinus vertaal voor mij he

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"well, if it is easier for you to speak english I shall try to do it in eglish :P


have you already been riding with the 250 four stroke?

And within the champ "team".. do you like the people there? and do you get the same treatment as townley? "

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No I haven't ridden the fourstroke yet. Even if it gets offered to me now, I think I will keep riding the two stroke, since I don't want to change strokes halfway through the season :)

I like the atmosphere in the Champ team and all riders are treated the same. Ben naturally has more interaction with the team because of the development of the fourstroke, but we are all equal.

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"Hey Tyla,

When you came to Europe at a young age dreaming of a world championship. Didn't you thougt about going back to home when you had a bad period with riding??
"

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It was really tough in the beginning and it wasn't always easy to think that you are getting somewhere when riders are lapping you! I chose this as my career though and although there were tough times, some good things also helped me pull through.Even if it was tough, I never seroiusly thought about going home because I always saw progress

My team would sometimes take me to a smaller race when I was having a tough time, and I would win or do well, and my confidence was back. Sometimes I even beat some established riders at these smaller races and then I started seeing that I can beat them in bigger races as well.

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"Is the dutch championship one of the "smaller races" you talk about?? "

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Definitely not. When I came to Europe the Dutch Championships was one of the hardest championships for me. I was not used to deep sand and in my first race at Gemert I got lapped twice.

Before the end of that year I scored my first oints in teh Dutch Championships and I was so happy!

In my first year in Europe (2000) we did German, European and Dutch championships. The smaller races I talked about are the German Pokal races that I sometimes did(maybe like KNMV regional).

What are your plans? Do you really want to race in the States, are you first going to race in MX1 like Ben is going to do before leaving or what?
Do your parents come over sometimes to see you racing?
Are you kind of a hero in South Africa now you'r winning Gp's, how do the people in SA talk about World Motocross Championships?

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"What are your plans? Do you really want to race in the States, are you first going to race in MX1 like Ben is going to do before leaving or what?
Do your parents come over sometimes to see you racing?
Are you kind of a hero in South Africa now you'r winning Gp's, how do the people in SA talk about World Motocross Championships?"

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I'm definitely staying in Europe next year to participate in the MX2 championships. I'll probably go to the States before I race the MX1 championships.

My stepdad has always been with me in Europe, and my mom is with me at all races.

We are working very hard to make the press in South Africa more aware of motocross. All the GP's are broadcast a few times on TV there, and I think the interest is growing. For sure most of the motocross fraternity follow my international results, and I get a lot of support from South Africa, which pleases me.

quote:

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Originally posted by:
"Hey Tyla,

did u get any last weekend ?"

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I can't tell you because you are a kiss-and-tell. In any case it would have been easier for me than for you to get something :)

Hi Styla, congratulations with your GP Victory..Great !
When you started racing, who was your biggest Idol.. Was it Albee ??, or haven't you see him racing that much? I think he's one of the greatest racer ever..did you ever meet him or still have contact with him ?
Good luck in Italie !