Q: How's it going Kyle?
A: Great.

Q: This is the first time in many years that there's been 3 weeks off between nationals. What have you been up to since Budd's Creek?
A: I've been trying to relax a little. We took a trip to the River. Last Monday and Tuesday I rode Mammoth and hung out with some of my sponsors. This week its back to business as usual-riding my practice bike 3 days, Mountain biking two.

Q: Let's go back to the beginning of this season. How did you wind up riding a CR450 for Moto X3?
A: It's simple, I tried one. In fact I was all set to ride YZ426s again this year. Already had the bikes and everything. Once I road the Honda, I knew it suited my style better and naturally thought I would have better results if I road one. The team had no objection, so DGY replaced the YZ426s with CR450s.

Q: Can you elaborate on why you liked it better?
A: Its lighter, I like the way it corners, it just makes me feel very comfortable.

Q: What kind of things do you have Allen Brown, your mechanic, do to set up your bike specifically for you? For example, RC likes his bike set up really low in the rear.
A: I guess the most unusual thing we do to the bike is raise the left footpeg to compensate for my left leg, which is shorter, than my right. I broke my left leg a long time ago. Other than that, we run Tag triple clamps with 22mm of offset, and a Kyle Lewis Signature Handlebar.

Q: You finished 12th in SX this year. Are you happy or disappointed with this result?
A: I'm so bummed. As a result of a high-speed crash while practicing, I started the season with mid and lower back problems and both of my shoulders were hurt. On a positive note, I got progressively stronger as the season wore on and I felt really good towards the end.

Q: I remember you looked really good at Vegas.
A: Yah, I was riding really well by then, but I got food poisoning that weekend and faded back in the main. I don't really consider myself a supercross rider so I tend to ride a little tighter indoors.

Q: Glad you mentioned outdoors. You lead part of the second moto at Hangtown in the pouring rain. Got fourth overall at Southwick and finished third in the second moto at Budd's Creek. Which of these results is your most memorable?
A: They all have been fun. I don't feel any one of them is any better than the others. Ask me again if I win one!

Q: A lot of people, including myself, feel you've been on fire as of late. How do you view your performance since Glen Helen?
A: I can't complain. It's really where I expected to be. I wouldn't be out there if I couldn't be competitive.

Q: Right on. Lets switch the subject a little. The controversy of 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke seems to have died down a little. The 2-strokes are still winning when it counts and now there are two manufacturers with competitive models. Do you feel the bike is an advantage for you?
A: Only in that I'm really good at throttle control so the smooth four stroke power suits my riding style better than the explosive power of a 2-stroke. It may not be the answer for everyone.

Q: I've been a motocross fan for quite some time now and I remember how you went from being a privateer in the US to the Japanese National Champion (twice if my memory serves me)…and now to your ride with Moto X3. How is this team different from your Japanese factory Suzuki ride?
A: Riding for a factory team, even in a foreign country, spoiled me. You get the best equipment and everything is taken care of so all you do is show up and ride this one of a kind bike.
Here we ride production bikes and I help manage the team so I have a lot more responsibility and things to worry about. I'm not complaining though, it's that much more gratifying when I do well. It's my team and its great to be in control of my own destiny.

Q: Kyle, you are 31 years old now, right? How much longer do you see yourself racing? What's next?
A: When I can no longer ride the way I expect to, I'll stop. I have no set time frame in mind. I think I'd like to manage a race team full time and work with younger riders. Perhaps gain enough experience to manage a factory team like Honda some day, kind of like the way Kehoe did it.

Q: You and your teammate Larry Ward have taken bikes off the show room floor and with the help of your sponsors have put them in the top 5 against some of the best riders in the world and you're both thirty something! How does that make you feel? What's your secret?
A: It's our race team, the whole package. First of all the sponsors are great, they make the motor, suspension, and brakes as good as any production based bike can get. My mechanic works so hard to keep the bike perfect, that it motivates me to achieve the best result I can. It's just a solid race effort. And at the end of the day, I'm still making a living riding my motorcycle.

Q: Any last words to wrap things up?
A: Thanks to all our sponsors (Moto XXX, DGY, O'Neal, Atomic 22, WBR, HJC, Maxima, Factory Connection, Tag Metals, Yoshimura, Wiseco, Works Connection, Sun Star, Sidi boots, Smith, Epitaph, Fat Wreck Cords, Nitro, Etnies, RK chains, Excel, Twin Air, N-style, SMP, Maxxis, Hinson, Motion Pro, Braking, Nutec fuel, O'gio bags, Cycra plastic, Fuel Gloves, MX Generation, Daniels Insurance, Ride Engineering and Metal Tec) that keep this circus on the road.