Interview:
Bill Ballance - Wins 9th GNCC Pro ATV Championship
- Cont.
ATVriders.com:
Last year when you did an interview with ATVriders.com
you said you were going to relax a little
bit this season. What happened with that?
Bill Ballance:
(Laughing) I think that’s what I started
out doing at the beginning of the season.
After having issues and falling behind a little,
I realized I wasn’t having as much fun
relaxing as I thought I would. That kind of
sparked a flame in me and I really wanted
to get back in there and pick up the pace.
As much as I tried to have fun with it, I
guess I’m just too competitive.
 |
 |
|
Yamaha's
Bill Ballance claimed his 1st Win of
the season at Loretta Lynn's, which
sparked a fire, and Ballance would go
on to win three straight races to take
over the points lead from KTM's Adam
McGill
|
ATVriders.com:
There have been rumors as to whether or not
you’ll be debuting the new YFZ450R at
the Ironman round of the GNCC. What can you
tell us about that?
Bill Ballance:
I’m hoping so, but I don’t know
how likely it’s going to be. We still
need a few things for the YFZ450R, like some
of the under protection and the IMS gas tank,
which we are hoping to get this week. Hopefully
it comes together for us. If we do get it
this week, it’s possible I could be
on it for the final round. We have the engine
running really good and the suspension dialed
in. If not, I will definitely be racing the
new Yamaha YFZ450R at the GBC Heartland Challenge
with Brandon Sommers.
ATVriders.com:
Are you excited about racing in the GBC Heartland
Challenge?
Bill Ballance:
I’m really looking forward to that.
I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.
 |
 |
| In
2004, Bill Ballance raced the at 12
Hours of ATV America in Iowa with his
brother, Brandon Ballance, and good
friend, Johnny Gallagher, the trio claimed
the 2nd spot in a tight race with Borich,
Natalie, and Smiley.
|
ATVriders.com:
You have a fondness for the team style races.
Do you have any plans of doing any other team
races next year?
Bill Ballance:
Next year we’re going to try to make
an effort and get a team together to do the
Pont de Vaux race in France. We also plan
to do the Heartland Challenge again next year.
We really hope that the event catches on and
becomes one of the premiere annual events
in the U.S. I think it’s going to be
a great event and I’d really like to
see more people here in the states get involved
and race in it, and maybe even some racers
from other countries as well.
|
|
Bill
Ballance will make his racing debut
on the 2009 Yamaha YFZ450R at the 10
Hour Heartland Challenge on November
8th in Carlisle, Iowa
|
ATVriders.com:
Getting back to the new YFZ450R, what are
some of the significant differences that you’ve
noticed between it and the older models?
Bill Ballance:
There’s quite a bit, actually. The first
thing you notice when you get on the quad
is that it’s a lot more comfortable.
The seat, pegs and bars are in a better position
and the seat up by the gas tank is a lot narrower.
It feels like you’re sitting down in
the unit more. Besides that, there’s
a lot of handling differences. The front end
is just light-years better. The fuel injection
system also makes a big difference. We added
an exhaust pipe and did some fuel mapping
and now with just that being done, the horsepower
is at the same level as my fully built race
bikes. The fuel injection also makes it seem
so much more effortless to ride. The power
is always there. There’s no hesitation
and it’s smooth and controllable. I’m
really looking forward to getting on the track
with it.
ATVriders.com:
Besides the fuel mapping and pipe, what other
changes have you made to your set up?
Bill Ballance:The
quad that we’ve been testing on, we
put some narrower a-arms on it for the cross-country
style racing. We put different suspension
on it and did some changes with the linkage.
We added a steering stabilizer and some things
like that. Basically all the things you would
need to do to get it ready for racing. I spent
five years working on the older model YFZ,
testing and trying new things, and after only
two weeks on this new bike, I already feel
more comfortable on it than I do on the old
one.
ATVriders.com:
Do you think that being on the new quad will
give you an advantage next year?
Bill Ballance:
I’ve been in this sport for a long time
and I’m just jazzed about this quad.
I can’t think of any bike that I have
ever been on that I can think of that I liked
better than the new Yamaha. The steering,
the suspension, the power, the cornering;
I really can’t think of anything on
this bike that isn’t better than anything
else I have ever road in all aspects.
