23 THROTTLE MADNESS 

The KX 250 is Kawasaki’s mid-level motocross bike, sandwiched between the top-of-the-line KX 450F and the entry-level KX 100. This quarter-litre motorcycle packs a 249cc DOHC 4-valve liquid-cooled engine which Kawasaki has tuned for high-rpm performance, and the powerband extends way into the over-rev. The powerplant works in conjunction with a 5-speed transmission. 

The aluminium perimeter frame is suspended on 48mm inverted front forks and a Uni-Trak monoshock at the rear. 270mm front and 240mm rear petal discs handle braking responsibilities. Knobby tyres are wrapped on the 21-inch front and 19-inch rear spoke wheels. The fuel tank can hold 6.4 litres of juice, and the bike tips the scales at 104.5kg, kerb.

Driving a motorcycle is like flying. All your senses are alive. When I ride through Beverly Hills in the early morning, and all the sprinklers have turned off, the scents that wash over me are just heavenly. Being House is like flying, too. You're free of the gravity of what people think.   

Balance, or drivability, and the ability to accelerate while cornering are more important than maximum cornering power - every time. Until you reach teh top levels of professional motor racing you will achieve more results by optimizing the package that you have than by redesigning it.     

There's a lot of dangerous sports. You know, my opinion, football is the most dangerous sport there is. After that I'll give it to probably boxing. Then there's some other extreme sports out there, motocross where you're really risking your neck every time you go out there and do it.     

To be a racing driver it's essential you have very good eyesight, and that's especially relevant at night. Your senses are heightened, you're travelling over 200mph, you need to focus on that 110-metre braking point and you have to have absolute faith and commitment in your driving.     

Even in motocross, youre struggling to see people pass each other anymore. There seems to be one line in motocross.