Site Lap: Ironman Continued

Last week we spoke with newly crowned and 2-Time ATV Pro Champion John Natalie about how things were going since sealing the championship at Loretta Lynn's in August.   Obviously things are pretty busy but it's not all about the celebrations. It's all about the future and John Natalie looks forward with a lot of promise.  John is currently building two homes, one to live in and one to work in with the Can Am family.

This week we pick up where we last left off with The Champ:

ATVMotocross.com: I know it seems so long ago at this point but at the beginning of the season you stated that as far as you were concerned it was your championship for everyone else to try and take away.  What's it going be like next year actually sporting the #1?

John Natalie: To be perfectly honest with you, I have pretty broad shoulders and I think that I can handle the # 1 plate.  I've done it before and you know we just had some issues.  In 2005 I won the championship and then in '06 at Steel City while leading the points I ended up breaking my thumb and it kind of took me out of the hunt.  I am not a stranger to leading the points and I like the pressure.  I think the pressure actually makes me stronger.  So the more pressure and more competition the stronger and faster I am going to be.  I'm excited about it.

 

I don't know if I can imagine how excited you must be.

I'm not just excited for me though.  I am excited about it for Can Am and I am excited about it for my race fans.  It's nice to be able to give them the #1 plate.  I have seen a lot of things on Facebook and on the internet about how they really wanted me to be #1.  You know it's great to be back there and hopefully I can set a good example to other riders and parents and anybody out there.  Maybe I can do it the right way and maybe somehow help this series in some way shape or form.

What about the talent coming up through field right now? It's almost as if the AMA ATV MX Nationals future is starting to look brighter?

Yes it is.  I am really excited about the talent that is coming up.  I am not going to be in this forever. I am already talking about a team manager job or something with Can Am.  There are a lot of guys coming up and we might have a couple of surprises under the tent next year.  Of course I am still young enough that I can whip their @&&es. (Laughs) But I must say that I am excited for them too.

That's huge!

It's a huge thing for Can Am and I want everyone to realize how much time and effort and energy that not only our MotoWorks Team but also Can AM has put into this whole program.  Giving people a chance to win contingency and giving me a chance to live my dream of racing.  You know when all the other manufactures and companies are pulling out they are still sticking through for another year.  Hopefully the people out there will realize they need to go out and get these DS450s and do it the right way.  You know support this company that right now seems to be the only one out there supporting the sport we love.

 

That is true.  And you know even though the Can Am is a competitive sport ATV it is not really like all the other ATVs out there.  It seems this one is a little different overall?

We were talking about being a part of the legacy with Can Am earlier and being a part of the legacy is being a part of the history and it's great to know that I am a part of that. Anybody that knows a Can Am knows that it's a reinvention of the wheel basically.  It's not a lot like the Japanese bikes, there are some big differences.  The only other company to try that was Canondale and we see that they obviously failed at it.  So it's great to know that I was part of a team that did it and succeeded.  I mean it's really only been a short 4 years or so and we have already won a championship.

Thanks John and good luck next year! I can't wait to see what the surprises you spoke of are all about!

(Laughing) Thanks and just have patience and it will all come in due time like my 2nd championship....except you won't have to wait quite that long. See ya!

It has obviously been a long career with many highs and many lows for John Natalie but the one thing you can say is that he has never taken his eyes off the prize.  In 2005 John Natalie appeared to be an unstoppable force.  Unfortunately his dreams of winning a second championship in 2006 were put on hold.  However it was John Natalie's hard work, heart and obvious dedication that eventually him overcome the adversity, naysayers and haters to have his dreams realized and crowned champion once again.