Interview:
Bill Ballance - 9 Time GNCC Pro ATV Racing Champion
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#1
Bill Ballance - Quick Facts |
| Birth
Date: |
8/26/1976 |
| Weight: |
170lbs |
| Hometown: |
Smith's Grove,
KY |
| ATV: |
Yamaha YFZ450 |
| Occupation: |
ATV Pro Racer |
| Hobby: |
Hunting &
Fishing |
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It’s
been a tough two years for Yamaha’s Bill
Ballance as the nine time pro ATV GNCC champion
has had his fair share of setbacks after dealing
with a serious injuries last season, and this
year, mechanical issues took a toll early in
the first couple of rounds of the 2011 GNCC
season. But like a true champion, Ballance has
remained positive and is looking forward to
returning to GNCC racing this weekend and the
future with his Yamaha / Ballance Racing team.
There
are few racers that have the courage, drive
and talent to overcome the odds and achieve
what Bill Ballance has achieved, in the course
of their careers, and be able to strive for
longevity and success in an industry that
can be fickle at best to become a legend in
the industry.
ATVRiders.com
recently had the opportunity to sit down with
Bill Ballance, to find out what has been going
on with the championship record holder, both
on and off the track, as he discusses racing,
his role as team manager, and a little bit
about how he likes to spend his off time.
ATVRiders.com:
Bill, you started out the season and had some
problems, can you tell us a little bit about
what happened in those first couple rounds
of the season?
Bill Ballance:
I started out the season and was close to
being ready physically, I thought I could
go in and kind of suffer through the first
couple of events and then be in shape by like
the third race. Other than getting hurt, I
had some of the crappiest luck and mechanical
issues I’ve ever had.
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9x
Bill Ballance on the gas early on in
the season opener at the River Ranch
GNCC |
ATVRiders.com:
What kind of issues did you encounter?
Bill Ballance:
Just silly stuff, like a tie rod and a steering
stem spline issue. It was obvious that starting
the season off with two DNF’s and coming
back and chasing down a championship; those
hopes are pretty much shot.
ATVRiders.com:
With that being said, what are your goals
for the rest of the season now?
Bill Ballance:
I knew then that it was best for me to turn
my focus to taking care of the other three
riders on our team and work with them as much
as possible with testing and things like that
and making sure that their programs are going
as good as possible. My Main focus right now
is managing the team and working with the
guys and trying to represent our sponsors
and everybody that’s behind us. As far
as racing goes, since I wasn’t ready
physically, like I would have liked to be
from the injuries that I’ve had, I wanted
to spend the next month or two just training
and getting in tip top shape to where when
I did get back on the starting line that I
wouldn’t have any doubts in my mind
about myself and would be ready to go out
and contend with (Chris) Borich and chase
after wins like I used to.
ATVRiders.com:
How are you feeling now?
Bill Ballance:
I have finally gotten back to that point.
I have been training a lot with Thomas Brown
and Taylor Kiser back home and riding my butt
off.
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| Yamanha's
Bill Ballance will be back in action
this weekend at the Indy 100 GNCC &
Bill plans on also racing at ShowShoe,
Ironman, and Loretta Lynn's when it
is rescheduled |
ATVRiders.com:
When do you plan to race again?
Bill Ballance:
Well, I was planning on Loretta’s but
it got rained out. The next round is in Indiana.
That gives me time to get in a couple more
rides and go back and show up there and be
in the form that I was before I had all these
injuries that I have dealt with for the last
two years.
ATVRiders.com:
Are you planning on racing all of the remaining
races of the season?
Bill Ballance:
I really don’t know yet. I want to do
at least three or four that way I have something
to judge on to see if I want to continue racing
next season and go for that tenth championship.
ATVRiders.com:
You mention three or four rounds. Any idea
of which events you will be attending?
Bill Ballance:
I’ll be at Indiana for sure, and then
Snowshoe because of the money involved in
that one with all of the contingencies given
away at that one. The Ironman would also be
a good one for me to race since it has one
of the biggest turn outs of the year and when
they do reschedule Loretta’s; that’s
my home track and the place that I love to
race more than anywhere else. Those are four
that come to mind that, Lord willing, I will
be at the starting line.
ATVRiders.com. Obviously you aren’t
planning on a whole season this year, but
for next year are you thinking about an entire
season?
Bill Ballance:
If I can show back up at the track at these
four events and get back up to the pace that
I once was at and I feel like I can be a contender
again, then yes, I would like to come out
there and try to get my tenth championship
before I retire. If not, I’m not going
to frown or fret about it because I’ve
had my moment. I’ve got the record of
more consecutive championships in GNCC than
any other racer out there. I’ve had
my moment in the spot light and it’s
nothing to be ashamed of so whatever comes
my way, I’m just going to take it with
a smile.
