FreestyleXtreme Magazine Issue 19 | Page 12

........................................... from the editor ........................................... The Great GOAT Hunt We’re stoked to have Maverick Viñales on our cover this time, head to page 90 to read what he had to say to Michael Laverty. He’s got a huge season ahead of him and we’re looking forward to watching him for years to come. Getting the chance to talk to the most promising up-and- comers is one of the reasons this magazine exists. At the other end of the scale is my personal, three-plus year quest to tick off my personal GOATs (Greatest Of All Time) as FsX Mag interview subjects. In fairness, we’ve been enormously lucky so far, and since we started I’ve been ticking off names like a kid collecting Panini stickers. But for my generation there’s a few names we haven’t quite reached yet. First is Ricky Carmichael. Sixteen titles under his belt and three perfect seasons. I’ve met him a few times but never quite in the circumstances for an interview. If I manage to fit in a trip to the US leg of the MXGP this year, he’ll be my number one priority. My holy grail, however, is Valentino Rossi – and he’s been top of the list from the start. I’ve tried everything, going through sponsors, teams and even asking Michael to try and track him down when he was racing with him in MotoGP. I resorted to chasing after him on foot down the Silverstone pit lane once like a rabid fanboy – it turned out Vale on a 50cc scooter’s still too quick for me. If you have any doubts about my commitment to The Doctor, here’s photographic evidence of how my son would look 24/7 if it wasn’t for my wife’s insistence on silly things like hygiene and how Movistar Yamaha’s colours are somehow “highly inappropriate” for my cousin’s wedding. But that’s the closest I’m gonna get to Vale… for now. Back to the issue at hand, Maverick is joined by our usual range of banging features including Simon Makker sitting down with Dean Wilson and Sam Blenkinsop. Sean Lawless chats with Troy Lee and Alvaro Dal Farra is on hand for a look behind qualifying and competition at the awesome Nitro World Games. And that’s just to name a few! Until next time! Welcome to Issue 19! Of course, another jam- packed issue of action sport awesomeness!