BTG Part II: The Fans Want To Know - Kim Morrell Edition

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Kim Morrell is back for more.After a truly memorable 2010 season, one in which Morrell became the first woman to win an ADRL World Championship, the quickest and fastest woman on two wheels saw her fan base grow by leaps and bounds.So, why not let the fans ask the questions? In an innovative feature the ADRL introduced last month, we had her fans pose some questions in the latest “Beyond The Guardwall” segment.With so many great questions, we split it up into two BTG pieces. Part I appeared yesterday (below), which means it is now time for Part II. Our first question comes from Cathy Belcher, who does some ADRL racing of her own in the Pro Extreme class.Actually, she has two questions. The first is, “What inspired you to race motorcycles?”Kim Morrell: I always, always, always loved the bikes. I’ve always had a thing for them, maybe because there were no girls out there riding and racing motorcycles, but I’ve always had a thing for bikes. I’m just fascinated by it and that I can do it. When I got on my first bike, it came so natural, it was like I belonged there and I just took it from there.Here’s the second one from Cathy: “Is that the only thing you have ever raced?”Morrell: I used to race a ‘72 Chevy truck that ran in the 9s and it was the most consistent truck you could ever imagine. That’s where I started. I ran that for a year and then I went over to the bike. No matter how much I was in that truck, I always looked over at the bikes. It was almost like it was a magnet. Once I went down the track the first time on the bike - I went 145 miles per hour in the 9.20s - I said let’s do it again.Tom Coon gets the next question, asking, “Do you think your motor would have done better than the (career-best) 4.02 (Morrell ran in Ennis in October)?”Morrell: I absolutely think it would have. I think the motor would have done a 3.98 or a 3.99. I definitely think that bike would have hit a 3-second pass if everything had gone right.My original motor, it would have done that in a heartbeat. Phillip Haynes wants to know, “What is next for 2011? A new world record, maybe?”Morrell: In 2011, I definitely want to go out there defending what I won and go after the goals I have. I want to put a little more heart into racing and get some more sponsors to back me up. I’m just getting some backing now and if I get the backing I need, there’s no telling what I could do in 2011. I’m talking to some people right now, and hopefully we will get the sponsor we need and we won’t have to worry about it anymore. Once you get the backing, there can be a lot of surprises. I would love to turn this into a career. Saby Racing has a good one, asking Morrell, “Did you ever think you would be a World Champion today?Morrell: Honestly, the way it happened, I didn’t expect it, so I guess it was unexpected. I knew I wanted it, but it goes back to hoping to win something and reality. You could wake up every day and say you hope to wish to do it but actually doing it is a lot harder. It’s one thing to say it, but to do it, I didn’t realize I had the strength. Realistically, with Ashley and I in the finals, his history this year was amazing. He is the one I targeted, but to win that race, yeah, it was unexpected a little. In my heart, I wanted to be champion, but in my head, realistically, I knew it was going to be tough.It all came together. Every time I see the belt, I replay that moment. It’s a pretty neat feeling.Lastly, Kim Morrell has a question for herself. Yes, you read that right, so here goes: “This is the question I would like to answer in the open because it’s the No. 1 question I get asked. You’re so little, how do you hang on?”Morrell: Here’s my answer - I don’t have a clue (laughs). I don’t know how it works. I don’t work out, I’m not on a diet. So, there you go. I don’t know how to answer it, but it gets brought up to me constantly.The answer is I don’t have a clue. It doesn’t feel like I’m hanging on for dear life. It works, I guess. Maybe it’s aerodynamics (laughs).(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

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