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Defending Champ Tomac, Legend Windham Lead GEICO Honda Charge Into Anaheim
It might be a new year for GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac, but the motivation remains unchanged - Tomac wants to be the champion, again.
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Tomac is the defending Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites West champion, so the coveted No. 1 plate will be on his bike the 2013 whole season. Tomac's mission, starting with Saturday's opener at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, is to keep the leader's red background on that number and repeat as West champion.
"I'm definitely itching to go racing," Tomac said. "I've been doing great on my bike during testing. I had a really good off-season with some races in Europe and a good showing (third overall) at the Monster Energy Cup.
"There really haven't been any bumps in the road, so I'm totally ready to go."
On his way to the championship a year ago, Tomac won five times in nine races, which is a number he'd like to at least equal this season.
"I think defending the No. 1 plate is going to give me the extra fire to go out there and keep winning," Tomac said. "I'm looking forward to that challenge.
"Knowing I can win races and beat most of the guys out there off the starting line is huge. It's just up to me now to make it happen."
Returning for his 18th season of Supercross racing is GEICO Honda's Kevin Windham, who is looking forward to racing bar-to-bar with the sport's best and feeling the energy of the crowd.
"After all these years I am getting to the point where I am cherishing every one of these rounds," the 34-year-old Windham said. "I start preparing for the season in October and you try to get into a racing mindset then, but it's not until you roll into the first race and you get the excitement of the new trucks, new paint jobs, the new team shirts, the sell-out crowd and all the excitement from all those different things that it really hits you.
"It's a new challenge every year and a new level of excitement that doesn't diminish even after a long career like I've had."
Making his debut with the team is Zach Osborne, who reached the podium twice in the Lites West last year before leaving to race in Europe.
"I'm feeling excited and maybe a little bit nervous at the same time," Osborne said. "I feel like I'm prepared and am going to have a good bike under me.
"It's a big weekend for me because it's my first race with this team and Anaheim in general is always a big race."
Osborne said training with his new teammates and under the watchful eye of team manager Mike LaRocco has been valuable to his preparation.
"LaRocco is such a solid guy," Osborne said. "He's a huge asset to the success of the team. He's committed to the cause of making us all better riders. The team wouldn't be where it is without him and the other people in this group. He's so good for the rider's development and as someone to bounce ideas off of. He's got me pumped up."
Practice for the season opening event at Angel Stadium of Anaheim gets under way at 12:30 p.m. PST on Saturday. Opening ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m. SPEED TV will broadcast the race live starting at 9:30 p.m. EST.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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