Tuesday Conversation: Miguel Duhamel

Eight-time AMA Pro national champ Miguel Duhamel’s been absent from this year’s U.S. series since putting in a Daytona 200 ride aboard a Pascal Picotte-backed Suzuki, but he hasn’t been far from many RRX readers’ minds. Turns out that although the Canadian’s been dabbling in four-wheeled sports lately, he’s still trying to arrange a 2010 two-wheeled return.

RRX: We’ve had a lot of readers asking about you lately, wondering what you’ve been up to since Daytona.
Miguel Duhamel: Well, just keeping an eye on what’s going on in racing and trying to get a deal together for next year. I’d love to come back and go for another championship, win some more races, and of course try to win Daytona. Besides that, I’m just trying to stay busy. I’ve done some NASCAR racing up in Canada, and I’m going to do another one in two weeks. I’m definitely pressing to see if I can get myself a good deal for next year, 2010.

Talk a little more about those Canadian NASCAR races.
You know, NASCAR is definitely different racing … kind of similar skills, but different attitude. It’s a learning process, but I’m doing better every time I go out. I’ve only raced a few times, though. I raced two years ago at Mosport and got eleventh, then I did an oval last year in a car that wasn’t really ready to go racing, and that was a learning experience. I did the same race this year at the beginning of the season and I finished tenth. I ran as high as fifth, but got spun around. That’s a fun feeling on the racetrack, let me tell you.

Have you been doing any motorcycle riding lately?
Not lately. I’ve been doing a little bicycling like I usually do, just trying to stay in shape and get myself a home for next year. I’d love to go riding more often, but unfortunately the opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet.

Speaking of bicycling, last year you did the 24 Hours of Moab with some of the AMA riders. Do you plan on returning this year?
I would love to go up to Moab. Every time I talk to Ben [Bostrom] and the guys, they’re like, “We’ve got to do it again,” and I think we will. Last year was quite a challenge. I didn’t really know the course was going to be that technical and long, so it was an eye-opening experience. You know, it was below freezing most of the night, and one of my teammates got sick while the other one fell asleep. I came into the truck at 3:30 in the morning and I couldn’t get anybody going. I almost went back out but I figured I would put in the same effort as those guys, but I did do four laps myself, as well as those of my teammates. I had a lot of fun, so I hope to do it again this year.

How does it feel not to be racing regularly, and what’s your day-to-day life like now?
Well, I like to try to adapt to whatever the situation is, and right now there is just nothing to be done. The market is down and a lot of companies are struggling. I’m not pleased about it; I’d rather be racing. I’m in great shape, my body is working terrifically, [and] I’d like to be on the racetrack rather than on the golf course, the bicycle, or in the gym. I’d rather be doing what I’ve done all my life. I stay a little detached from it, because some of the things are a little frustrating when I see it. I just try to do the best I can with what I’ve got here.

You mentioned trying to set up a ride for next year. Is there anything shaping up yet?
It’s a little too early, but hopefully we’ll be able to generate some interest. Obviously, the series contains more than five or seven riders, but after those I think I should be a top candidate to ride any motorcycle out there. But that’s the way the egg rolls, so hopefully we can talk to some people this year and put a deal together for next year.

Which class are you more interested in, Daytona SportBike or American Superbike?
I’ve always multi-classed, racing a lot of different classes during my career, so I wouldn’t be against maybe doing them both. Definitely the reason I say that is because I’d like to get another shot at the Daytona 200 and go out there and try to win that. And then American Superbike has Ben Bostrom and Larry Pegram racing, it seems to be the more prestigious class, so I’d like to be able to participate in that. If I only get a ride in American Superbike, then I would work on a side deal to do the Daytona 200 at least.

What do you think about the new rules package put in place this year by AMA Pro Racing?
I’ve only been keeping one eye on the series (laughs).  I think one thing that looks good is that in the Superbike class the racing seems to have gotten more competitive, so whatever they did there seems to be okay. They just raced Topeka, which is the racetrack that I had my first win on—on a very dated Yoshimura Suzuki bike back then; I beat Doug Chandler and Scott Russell. I don’t know, it seems like they’re doing a good job, but like I said, I’m just keeping one eye on it.

Anything you’d like to add?
I’d like to say a big thanks to all the fans and people that still have me in the back of their minds. I wish I was out there, and it means a lot when I hear that people are actually wondering what I’m doing while I’m not racing. I’m happy to do this interview for them, and hopefully I’ll see them all next year.