Looking back which rider admire most and why?
Definitely Wayne Rainey as he put up with Kenny Roberts for so long... That was a major achievement along with his three 500 GP Championships...
And who's the most over-rated rider?
Without a doubt, Carl Fogarty.
Oh... why?
Because there's no way he'd have been able to ride a 500 competitively to save his ass...
Right, juicy stuff. It's over a decade since you retired, what's the best GP story you will now own up to?
I'll own up to any one you like - I'm not married and have no responsibilities. It's the other guys I'd worry about...
Erm, you weren't looking at me then, were you?
(Silence...)
Moving swiftly on. Why did the UK fans take you to their hearts as an honorary Brit?
Possibly because of the team being UK-based, so it was as close as we could get to a home GP. I guess I made a big impact in the 1980s in the Transatlantic races as well, perhaps that's it. And I always went well at Donington. I've met every fan personally at Redgate at one time or another... Either on top of the bales or under the tables at the Redgate Bar!
How may broken bones have you had?
Too many to count, but everything works reasonably well now, I don't hammer my body so much anymore.
So does it ache like f*ck when you wake up in the morning?
It's not too bad, but I take a drug called Vioxx, which is a mild pain relief drug if I'm doing anything stressful.
What's the worst thing about getting older?
I don't have a problem with getting older. I wouldn't be able to do what I used to do on a 500, but I do a bit of supermotard on a DRZ400 and run at the front, so I'm happy with that. I do some cycle racing as well.
What's your ideal evening? Sitting back in your favourite rocking chair on the front porch with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a chromed Desert Eagle, taking potshots at horses and people?
Until today and these pints, I've had no booze for three years. And I like horses, so I only take potshots at people... Is Mat Oxley here?
What do you do with your days now? Car racing?
Nah, the car thing is all finished. I look after a Suzuki Race school where we run GSX-R600s and SV650s. We have nine dates a year there and you can contact us on schwantzschool.com. I'm also on the AMA pro-racing board of directors there as rider representative. I look at track safety and basic superbike rules. The post covers motocross, hill-climb and road racing. I also work for Suzuki at all the AMA rounds.
Any kids? Still got the old sex-drive or has that headed south now?
Man, it's headed north, I can't get enough now I've stopped racing!
Final question. Can I have that fiver back that you borrowed in 1989?
Sorry mate I don't carry any cash!
