Between the Races: Burke David

Remember the Road Racer X subscription contest a couple months back, where AGV gave away a brand-new Face It! helmet, based off the custom lid Valentino Rossi wore at the 2008 Mugello MotoGP? The winner is Texas’ Burke David (yes, those names are in the correct order), who will get a lid like Vale’s except with his own face on the top. Fortunately enough, Burke is also a Rossi fan.

Burke, like many Rossi fans, thinks his Mugello '08 AGV was his best lid ever. -Andrew Northcott photo

RRX: Congratulations.
Burke David: Thanks very much.

Are you a Valentino Rossi fan?
Yeah, actually I am—well, Valentino and Team Texas, with Ben Spies and Colin Edwards.

That’s right, you’re from Texas! It should be a big weekend for you then, between Valentino in Malaysia and Spies trying to land the World Superbike title in Portugal.
Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing both of them.

What did you think when he wore that helmet at Mugello last year?
I thought it was one of the coolest helmets ever. He does a lot of cool stuff, but I think that’s probably the coolest one he’s done so far.

I agree. AGV was nice enough to make one for me. I don’t usually like drawing attention to myself, but this is such a cool inside joke.
Yeah, exactly, exactly.

Will you have the courage to wear around a helmet with your face on it?
Oh, yeah. I just sold my bike and bought a brand-new Streetfighter, so I’m going to ride that thing with this helmet.

Nice! It looks like he put Jorge away again this past weekend.
Yeah, he did, but Lorenzo’s a fighter. I’m sure this weekend will be a showdown much like a couple years ago, where Pedrosa put Hayden into the gravel and Hayden took the title at the next race. I’m sure Lorenzo will be looking to get a win.

What do you predict for the other positions? I guess if Valentino finishes in the top four, he clinches the title.
I forget which rider coined it—I think it was like De Angelis—but he was calling those guys the aliens. Those four—Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner, and Pedrosa—have been in the top four or putting it in the gravel all year, and I don’t see why Valentino should be any different this time. My assumption is he’ll go for the win because he’ll want to put his mark on title number nine and prove that he is the best rider overall. There’s no better way to do that than winning the race and the championship.

That’s a good point, especially because he sometimes struggles a bit at Valencia. He’ll want to get everything handled before he goes to Spain.
Exactly.

If you see this face on a Streetfighter rider's helmet while riding in Texas, chances are he's our contest winner. -Courtesy David

Do you think he’ll keep racing in 2011? There’s been some talk about him going to Ducati after his contract runs out.
I’m sure Marlboro would like to spend a lot of money to get an Italian rider like Rossi going to Ducati. I think his bike has proven it can win, though, and he developed it, so my guess is he’ll be on Yamaha until he retires.

If not, then you’ll have the perfect setup, with a Valentino-inspired helmet and a Ducati.
[Laughs] Yeah, exactly!

Were do you mainly ride your Streetfighter?
Out in the hill country near Austin. It’s incredible—up and down, twisties. It’s great riding out there—absolutely fantastic.

Are you new to Road Racer X?
No, I’ve actually been a subscriber for a while, and I let my subscription lapse when I was overseas. When I came back to town, I renewed it immediately. I’ve been a longtime fan of the magazine, and it’s definitely one of the best ones out there because of the way it covers the racing.

Well, thanks for the subscription. Enjoy your helmet, and enjoy the race this weekend.
Fantastic, I appreciate it. Thank you so much.