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►Kent Howerton is a
remarkable competitor for more than the obvious reasons. He does pilot a
motocross bike across nearly any terrain at high speeds—but all the factory pros
are fast. He wins a large number of events—but other riders have won many races
also. Howerton's greatest claim to fame instead may be that he has come back
from the edge of mediocrity and succeeded in rising to the top of the motocross
heap. A quick look back at many past champions of the sport shows a pattern of
success-injurydefeat. The fine balance between skill, desire and confidence is
as easily shattered as a collarbone… and much harder to put back together.
Howerton has done it, and for that alone he is remarkable.
The blond Texan's first trip to the top came on board a Husky
390 in the mid-Seventies. His trademark, fanning the clutch; his destiny,
winning the 1976 500cc National championship. His win was the last title for a
rider on a European mount, an amazing accomplishment in view of the technology
the Japanese factories were building into their bikes even then. Says Howerton,
"If I had been riding a bike like DiStefano, back then when the competition was
so much less, I could have won many more races—maybe as many as Hannah did in
'78."
Suzuki
took a liking to the young man from San Antonio and signed him to its motocross
team in 1977. It was mostly downhill for the next two years. Recalls Suzuki team
manager Mark Blackwell, "Every week Kent had some injury, maybe a sprained ankle
or something, and he just wasn't in shape physically and mentally to overcome
them. We did two things; we got Kent started on a tougher training program and
we got him to realize that desire was important. We told him 'Hey Hannah isn't
unbeatable, you're just as fast as he is but Hannah wants to win so bad.' "
Howerton explains the problems of the '77 and '78 seasons in his own way, "When
you're hurt all the time, you kind of become a little timid and you lose your
confidence. I needed a couple of good finishes to regain my confidence, but I
couldn't get good results until I had my confidence back."
Despite
this classic "Catch 22" problem, Howerton's natural abilities produced a few
promising finishes in the '78 season and helped the former champ return to his
old form in 1979. The final race season of the decade showcased the Rhinestone
Cow boy's return to the winner's circle. The 250cc National championship was a
two-man battle between Hannah and Howerton that went right to the wire, the
defending champ barely holding off Howerton's late season charge. Next Kent
added the 250cc US Grand Prix title to his list of racing credits, making a
stunning last lap charge to do so. The Trans-USA series, held each autumn after
the national and world championships are decided, traditionally combines the
best riders of the world with the toughest tracks in the U.S. to produce the
finest racing in America. The new Champ? Kent Howerton. Howerton closed out the
season on top, winning the final stadium race at Anaheim and then dazzling the
cameras and spectators en route to victory at the inaugural Superbikers event.
Scott
Gillman, Howerton's Suzuki team-ate in 1979, explains the turnaround, "Kent's
got the mental thing—very straightforward, good attitude, and he's really
dedicated. But mostly he's got the psychological advantage because he's been
winning everything—before the race even starts half the guys think they can't
beat him and he thinks he can't be beat." "When you get used to winning," adds
Howerton, "You really get used to it. You always want it and think you' can
always win. The confidence you have in yourself helps very much in racing. I
know I can always finish in the top five even when I'm having an off day."
Today's
top motocross riders all combine skill and talent. All are mounted on potent
race machines. With equal abilities and opportunities for success, what
separates the winner from the losers? Perhaps, as in Howerton's case, it is
merely intangible confidence and desire. As Blackwell sums it, "Kent is very
sure of what he wants and he'll fight all the way to get there. You just know
he's not going to give up."■ |
