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Billy Laninovich
Billy Laninovich has the speed to be a Supercross champion: In any given race, you’ll likely see him running right at the front of the pack. Laninovich has the experience to be a Supercross champion: He has gained podium spots a number of times, including a race win in San Francisco in 2005. And he has the tenacity to be a Supercross champion: He has repeatedly battled back from significant injuries time after time, working himself back into the forefront of competition the old-fashioned way—with lots and lots of hard work. In the final analysis, Billy Laninovich needs only one more element to become a champion: one healthy season. During 2007, Laninovich stands primed and ready for his first
professional championship, In Supercross, the venue that he favors over the outdoor Motocross series, he has racked up impressive results. In three seasons of West Supercross Lites racing, Laninovich chalked up fourth-place overall in 2003 and 2005, plus a fifth-place season in 2006, when he also garnered a pair of podiums. So he’s ready to make the next jump upward in the ranks, even as he battles back from yet another knee injury sustained in 2006. During the fourth round of last year’s outdoor season at Budds Creek, Laninovich had almost worked his way to the front of the pack when he lost the front end of the bike and stalled. Before he could get back to speed, another rider collided with him. Result: a torn ACL, and months of rehabilitation following surgery. “I definitely did not need another knee injury,” Laninovich says. “But I’ve had reconstructive knee surgery before, so I knew what that was all about. I knew what the timetable would be like, I knew about all the hours of therapy ahead of me, so I just figured I had to go ahead and do it. I won’t lie; it can be really tough at times. Being away from racing, which I love more than I can describe, working for hours and hours, day after day, all alone to get the knee healthy again, that’s definitely no fun. That’s the hard part of racing that most people never see, maybe never even realize that it’s a part of the sport. But I’m not a quitter; I have never given up. And now I’m ready to go racing again. Having been away from it for so long just makes me want it even more than ever in my career.”
Laninovich also holds high praise for the machine he rides. “I love the Honda CRF250R,” he says. “It offers great handling, the suspension is awesome and the power is so good. Davi Millsaps won a championship in 2006 with this bike, so what more can you say about it?” As proof of his riding abilities as well as his versatility and adaptability, Laninovich tried his hand at a few Supercross races in 2006 aboard the big Honda CRF450R during the hiatus in his West Lites schedule, a short busman’s holiday. To no one’s surprise, he notched up some very commendable results during those four races, while gaining invaluable experience in the process. “It was kind of a last-minute decision, but riding the CRF450R during the Supercross season worked out great,” Laninovich recalls. “My first race was at Daytona, which is as much like an outdoor motocross track as it is a Supercross track; it’s long and sandy, really tough. About 10 days or so before the race I started practicing on the 450, just getting used to it. But I finished ninth in that race and finished one other race in eighth. So I was pretty pleased with that little adventure. That big bike is so much fun and it really suits my style.” That’s the kind of flexibility Laninovich enjoys as a member of the
SoBe No Fear/Samsung/Honda Team, and he’s quick to credit the team for
the many other opportunities that come his way. “I can’t say enough good
things about our team,” Laninovich declares. “Everyone was so supportive
when I was hurt, and it seems like now our crew is working overtime for
me. And it’s so cool being at the test track and also at the races with
Kevin Windham and Jeremy McGrath. They just have so much experience and
are so knowledgeable about riding. They look at things from a very
technical point of view; we can talk about different techniques to use
on different sections of the track, what works and what doesn’t.
Sometimes when I’m struggling, they’ll spot something I’m doing wrong,
and they’ll come over to talk with me about it. Or maybe it’s just a
little piece of advice or encouragement at the races. I can’t believe
how lucky I am to have guys like this around me, guys who are racing
legends! So now all the pieces are in place; I’m ready to win my first
championship.”
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Fortunately
for Laninovich, his family has provided a strong support system for him
along the road to recovery. “My family is just the best,” he says with a
smile. “They are my number-one support system, and they helped so much
as I worked through my knee problem. They are always there for me, and
they’re also my biggest fans; my brother, sisters, mom and dad all go to
my races every time we can make it all work out.”
