Donington World Superbike Special – Part 1

Welcome to Motopod, the internet radio show all about motorcycle road racing. This is episode number 736 on your host Richard Jowett Just a quick flying solo spot from me this time because this is the first of a couple of World Superbikes specials that I was Able to record at Donington Park a couple of weeks ago I've split it into two parts simply to avoid having a three hour long show So in this first segment you will be hearing me speaking with Bonovo BMW's Garrett Gerloff and Loris Baz, Moto-X Racing Yamaha's Bradley Ray, Barney Spark Gcattie's Dinolo Petrucci Rocket BMW Motorrad team boss Shawn Muir and GRT Yamaha's Domi Agata I did actually manage to bump into Taz McKenzie and John McPhee Towards the end of the day at the back of the pit garages as well So quick couple of chats from those guys now it must be said that my recording equipment is a little bit rudimentary Apologies for the audio quality in a few places some of the interviews took place in the team hospitality units There is some background chatter thinking of plates and knives and forks and so on my chat with Brad Ray in particular was outside And it was quite windy so there is a little bit of wind buffeting noise I'm afraid and across Donington Park is situated right next to East Midlands Airport So there's fairly constant flights taking off as well So again bit of noise of planes taking off as you all know I'm still finding my feet with this interview business So I tried to ask as many interesting questions as I could a few slightly more pointed direct questions where appropriate Inevitably there was a little bit of repetition in there So apologies if the same question does come up a couple of times and what notable thing is that unlike the recent BSB interviews that I've started to do at the back of the pits or the Superbike I was dealing with the team press officers and in some cases that Involved the press officer sitting in on the interview and listening to the questions and the answers for that matter So yeah, that was a new experience for me But overall great access and as is often said the world superbike paddock a pretty friendly place and thanks in particular Must go to Mikhail Morale from Dorna who was very very helpful to motopod and getting us the access on the Thursday press day Also for Benet from BMW Max from Barney spark racing Yeah, I often motor X racing and Pierre Paulo and Federico from Yamaha as a quick but important the side I was lucky enough yesterday and I'm recording this intro on July the 19th I was lucky yesterday to get a couple of hours of Silverstone circuit where press and happily some podcasters were Invited along to a pre British Grand Prix discussion as part of that I was able to sit and have a chat for about 40 minutes or so with Stuart Pringle Who's the managing director of Silverstone circuit? So given that the British Grand Prix is coming up in a couple of weeks I'm going to get that one edited and launched as soon as possible So probably that will come out before part two of this world superbike special So apologies for the slightly odd timing on some of this But yeah need to get the Silverstone special out as well in part two of my world superbike stuff You're going to be hearing a couple of longer chats now The first of these came from the adventure bike rider festival at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire Which took place back in June and at that event? I was able to sit down for almost an hour and chat with good friend of the show Greg Haynes So thanks to Greg and to Ducati UK for their time and somewhere to sit in the call because it was a roasting hot day That chat actually featured a very brief appearance by Ducati's Chas Davis Who was somebody that we've been trying to get onto the show properly for quite some time So I was actually able to arrange a longer sit-down chat with Chas at the aforementioned Donington Park press day though in the second of the chats in part two You'll hear yeah a longest chat that I had with Chas where we get to discuss what he does for the Aruba IT Ducati team and World Superbike and also touch on some of his career history as well. So once again just to wrap up Thanks to everybody involved.

Thanks to the teams the riders the press officers and dawn of the organizers and Donington Park Thanks also to our new show partner Road Skin Hopefully some of you will have seen some of the photos that we put out on the Instagram feed We're also on threads and Twitter as you will know do please subscribe to us on all of those platforms Because that really helps us show a great deal Please like and subscribe to the show if you haven't done so already and once again We're trying to do more for the show in terms of content We do need your support both in times of subscriber numbers paid supporters If you possibly can all of this is going to help us to grow the show and increase the content So with that being said over to the Donington chats, here we go Hey, what are you Richard here from motopod and delighted to be joined by Garrett Gerloff Action BMW rider in more to put like this year. So Probably almost certainly first time onto the show. I would guess yeah For some of the show for excited to be here a lot of American listeners and we have a guy that goes around No to America's I don't know if you've been counting motor before I've been nothing over here for a little bit too long Probably well, not the pot actually go since 2006 So I reckon it must be probably one of the oldest motorcycle racing podcasts out there They're gonna get in a real again do some more interview work So here we are So get in number four in world superbike after a lot of success in motor America So two-time super sport champion in America multiple super bike winner. Yeah, it's America good two years out of America now So how do you rate this championship in terms of the challenge in the overall competitive nature of the series? Yeah, this championship is for sure a different level than moto America I wouldn't say maybe not overall level, but the amount of guys that are at that high level Is a lot higher over here.

Just as a world championship so it has that draw, you know all the best guys come here for that and I had to learn a lot when I first like came over here to adapt to how these guys ride But it's been a fun journey and I'm glad that I took the chance, you know to come over here because it wasn't like It for sure wasn't a certain thing and I'm glad that I've been able to be here and stay here and have a little bit of success in the meantime The different nature of track obviously these are international level tracks much wider I mean, there's some pretty gnarly tracks in America. Yeah, I like watching most America and it kind of like BSP In terms of some of the tracks there So what was the adaptation like was it a nice surprise or difficult to get your head around much bigger facilities and much wider tracks? Yeah, it was definitely quite a bit different I'm excited being here at Donington because it reminds me of all the tracks back home, you know So you guys here you guys do it, right? But I would say that I've always used all the track kind of things It wasn't that it was just these guys know these tracks like the back of their hands and so they're just always dialed in right away and I did need to learn how to use the more space available So I still use all the track but I wasn't using it all as efficiently as everybody else was so I just had to Really like adapt to that but then we would get places like here. I remember the first time I showed up here I was fastest on the first day Just because it's just a track that is familiar and and reminds me of the tracks back home Yeah, now you have a couple of top ten finishes in the races here last year.

Where does Donington rank on your track? I mean you've kind of asked that question I suppose where does it rank from a World Superbike standpoint on your list of sort of favorites or least favorites? I'm guessing it's pretty high. It's up there I would say it's probably in the top three or top five of my favorite tracks that I that I raced in the World Championships So yeah, I had a podium here a couple years ago. So that was sweet I was really happy about that.

So that definitely makes it go up higher in the list sure and Do you see your long-term future over in the World Superbike paddock? For sure. Yeah, I want to be here as long as possible. I love the paddock I love the team that I'm with now. I've been having a ton of fun this year and I mean having fun I think it's one of the biggest parts of this and and I've really really enjoyed riding the BMW and also being with the Team and if I can keep that going I want to keep doing it as long as possible, you know Yeah, that segues rather neatly actually to my next question Which is that the this is my personal opinion But the BMW M1000RR kind of feels in superbike form like a bike with a lot of unlocked potential still so Have you found that transition coming from the Yamaha and where's the potential in the package?

In terms of the next couple of seasons that you stay in this team, which hopefully you will Yeah, what do you need to unlock to get the maximum out of the bike? For sure. Great question I definitely think this bike has a ton of potential a ton of potential all the parts that the team uses that the BMW has Are just top top top of the line. I think sometimes there can be Like maybe not all the pieces communicate the best together And so there's some things about this really well and some things that I could do better But it's almost like it's just not as complete of a package as I know it can be And so like one of the things I've been complaining about a little bit is At least the Yamaha with on the electronic side gave me a bit more feeling of what was happening Because they were a bit more raw Whereas the electronics here on the superbike are so refined which is really good for sure Especially if you're on a street guy and you're riding on the street You know like having something that's really refined and you don't know that they're working in the background That's exactly what you want. But on the on the race bike, I need more feel a bit You know, and so I've kind of I have a bit of bad behavior on the BMW just opening the gas too early But just because the bike is communicating that it can because I'm just not getting that feedback You know, I mean, it's just like a bit of insulation But it's hard to tell these guys like hey the electronics are too refined like dumb them down like it was Yeah, yeah, so it's like it's hard to really but I think we're I think we're in a good direction And we're we're going in a good way to try to get the best of both worlds And so I would say that's really where I see a lot of a lot of potential coming from is just Is the electronic side of things and then for sure a bit in the chassis a bit of bit of mid-corner and turning but yeah You've kind of tangent density.

That's right word answer the question that just came to mind Which is we probably just explained why it is that the BMW in stock form is so good Because it's almost dominant and the sort of the super stock championship. So I have been over the last few seasons Yeah Electronics refinement it's part of the reason for that I especially yeah, especially if you're comparing them to other bikes that might not have the same, you know system right away They're not gonna catch the slides as cleanly or as like yeah What they've done is 100% what you want on a like a bike for the street or a bike that you take to the track to a Track occasionally for a track day. Yeah, exactly what you want It's just um when you need that last 5% you need to know exactly what's happening at every millisecond And and just having a bit of insulation between your ass and the rear tire and the throttle Can can just make it to where you just you miss a little bit, you know Yeah, sure and find impressive because I stupid doing the other ten minutes. Yeah You with the bonobo squad again next year because you're already signed for next year. I think is that correct?

You can have to ask BMW about that. Okay That's what it says on the world super bikes website But what are your thoughts on tap rock coming over to the BMW? I mean he has such an extreme riding style Are you excited to see him get onto the bike and see see what that means in terms of bike development and sharing of data And so on the sofa Definitely. I mean for sure He's got to be one of the best if not the most talented riders like I've ever seen I've ever written with and I got to Buy with money. I was also in see all this data and stuff and some of the things you see just don't add up They like don't make sense.

And so I'm really curious to see him come here here is initial comments But I mean, I hope that over the next six months or so That the work that we do on the bike the development that we do really helps to accommodate him even more One of the ways I learned how to ride in world superbike was through him like watching how he rides how aggressive he is On the front brake. I really tried to emulate that as close as I could I can't because I'm not him but yeah That was for sure the direction that I ride and so a lot of the things that we've been trying to Refine on the bike have been in that direction And so I hope that when he gets on the bike it's gonna feel not Super foreign hopefully from the work that we've been able to do to get more in that direction anyway Yeah, yeah, so and last question and what's the? Single biggest thing you've had to check one assuming that you have which you might not have done But if you have to change a particular aspect of the way you ride the bike to adapt to this BMW I Just I gotta be easier on the throttle. So that's one of the things I've been working on It's just even though the bike is like might encourage me to apply more throttle don't that's one of the things that's helped a lot and also There's been a couple of things that haven't been consistent on the geometry But we keep having to change the geometry of the bike to get it to turn better mid-corner And it's kind of strange how it doesn't seem like it feels the same track to track But once we like it was on on day one on Saturday I just couldn't turn in mid-corner like everybody else and so I couldn't be there on the exit and I couldn't be there to Close in and use the bikes top speed to pass in the next braking area Fix that for Sunday and was so so much easier to pass so much easier to be right there on their tire on the exit So that's really what we need to focus more cool Brand new track surface look forward to this. Yeah, really really looking forward to that Call some interesting issues in the VSP rounder this year.

Yeah I'm looking forward to those challenges. We should have best of luck for the weekend and thanks for talking to us. Appreciate it So I'm still in the bonobo action BMW team truck, which is very nice And I'm delighted to be joined by Loris Baz and Laura's bit like Garrett I'm not sure if you've been on to motocad in the past. Maybe not. I'm not sure.

Yeah I'm not sure I guess you've talked to a lot of people. So yeah, I'm not sure. Yeah, I'll keep you welcome And it's nice to have you on so let's get straight into it second year with this team and on the BMW So do you feel like you're making positive progress with the bike or is there a specific area of the bike? Development that from your standpoint is still crucial to work on on to crack. Well, it will be it will look strange if the people read that we are happy with the Development and you see the current situation in the standing but yeah, it's been a minute off here For sure We didn't improve enough during the winter to close the gap to the other and I feel like the gap is even bigger now this Yeah, but I'm personally talking.

It's also been really challenging beginning of the year Australia was hard for every BMW that was feeling pretty strong in Indonesia and had a big injury. Yeah, I did manage to not miss any run and come back right after seven weeks But yeah, the injury was really big the foot was all the ligaments of the foot were broken Ligaments between the tibia and the fibula was broken ligament. My knee was broken fibula was broken So it was a big damage and I was I was not able to ride comfortable on the bike and good until Misano Yeah, yeah, yeah, but unfortunately we lost our Senna and then I had a big crash again in our Senna Just because I was tired of the race Barcelona was tough Misano was not perfect, but was better and I think here will be yeah, finally the the first race I'm feeling hundred percent physically since Australia so yeah, it's a that's that's has been challenging and for sure developing the bike in this condition is not easy But yeah, yeah, we need to improve up talking of the bike everywhere You know when you check the standing and the gap we have to the other apart from the top power I think we are the strongest we just need more feeling than the bike more feeling with with the electronic better deceleration of the bike mainly More handling because the bikes quite a bit and change of direction So all all the small details that make the event I think if you talk to everyone they will always say the same we need to improve everything So but for us that the results show what that we need to improve But for sure there is not there is no guys working harder than what the BMW guys does and this team is amazing for that Also, you know, then everyone tries so hard Even if it's frustrating to be in this situation, we all try our hardest to make it work And as you say, I mean, it's the competition here is ferocious. Yeah sure I mean people look at the racing and think it's much easier to do a super bike than a MotoGP But I always say that for me it's harder for Brown to do a super bike than a MotoGP because the most like the bike need to be like Homologated for the road and there is a lot of things you cannot change after that and it's it's all it's not only a strategy Of making a fast bike for many brands. It's also a bike that needs to be homologated So there is this is the compromise you have to think and sometimes you you know the problem But you cannot change because the bike need to be a real logistic for that so it's really hard for Brown to do a Bike it's a lot of department that have to work together And yeah, I mean for sure we will get there If not, that would mean my dad always lied to me because he said hard works pay off We work hard so it will work kind of leads neatly into a question And I know you've spoken I listened to a short interview you did with Greg Haynes on his show a few months ago So I was curious to know you're one of the taller riders in World Superbike So where do you stand on this whole issue of the combined rider and bike weight limit?

I think on the talk that I'm referring to you mentioned that in the past possibly being taller and having more kind of leverage With long arms and legs was an advantage, but maybe less so now because of arrows Well, I think it's some before was more let's say compensate like small rider always had a better top speed and less tired Construction and tall rider were able to break hard and change the weight balance on the bike this is getting less and less because of the Electronic and I have on the bike because the bikes are getting more perfect and you have less really and less So I really stand on for the weight and limit Honestly, I always said so but yeah, you don't have to be stupid and penalize the small one If a rider is 55 56 kilo like it's the case for the lightest of the grid and the second lightest is 66 and we are 80 with Scott that mean 93 with the leather 92 so it's it's almost 30 kilo For me, the main thing is how big is the difference between the first lightest and the second and there is last year was Eugene Second it was 10 kilo heavier. So for me that would be the limit like that The weight would try would be to be close to an average, you know more Maybe even closer to this to the lightest rider than the heaviest But yeah, that will definitely make as a kind of compromise measure Could you see a solution maybe whereby say the lighter riders below a certain weight limit? Let's say couldn't use the softer tires. Oh That would be really shit for the for for the championship because it's not something that 100% sure sometimes we have a big surprise with the tires. Sometimes we really think that you cannot use soft and you can Sometime that would be really unfair in some situation I mean I think one of the good thing that racing has been done in the last 15 20 years has been that to have at least all more or less the same tires That's a that's a big improvement because at the end is the only thing that make a lot of That the biggest difference in you can do whatever you want with the setup at the time the tire will change everything So no no for me, it's more really a question of weight I've read the comments and things that I know like perfect solution can be found but For sure, you must be tried.

It's the case in every category now Apart from MotoGP and Superbike. So yeah This is a compliment by the way, but you're kind of why class is a bit of an old-school Rider racer in terms of your opinions I think so what's your kind of current point of view with regards to the increasing interference that we see from race control on race Results and do you worry a little bit that it's getting harder and harder to race hard? What do you think the times come where they have to step in a bit more to calm the baby? Yeah, I cheat to be honest. I don't like to watch the race anymore I mean everything that made me love racing when I was a child It's been killed at the moment and I think I'm not the only one to have this point of view It's also a lot for the difference that can be done for more or less the same situation the different penalties And there is too many penalties.

I mean, I think even in soccer There is not that much fall as we have now and they're always trying to penalize everything and every stupid thing So yeah, it's I'm totally against that I was so happy when they bring the long lap because at the beginning the long lap was just to be done for the Jumpstart or small penalty, but now they put a long lap for whatever reason and penalty for whatever reason and and for safety and then Sometime is not even safe and it's just different between the penalties and things that are not right. Yeah, I mean Then you can try to talk with them, but they don't listen a lot Yeah, it's it's it's a shame but I think it's gonna change Because I don't see anyone happy with the situation now. I don't see riders happy I don't see the fans happy and I'm not sure promoters and Organization are really happy about the situation later because sometimes If I am give you like stewards give you a penalty for something that the championship will communicate on And make promotion with you know So it's it's just not normal and I think yeah It should just be some bit more to the riders and yeah mistake can be made but yeah penalties for any reason It's not really fair. Yeah, you've been riding at the highest level for many many years I remember seeing you at Silverstone British Superbike. Yeah Yeah Yeah, so I mean huge experience motor America What's the best fight you've ever ridden How to answer this question I mean riding a motor GP was something was It's the top.

I mean, that's why I left super bike and I went in with the GP because I was dream to raid What the GP and is the highest level you can do? So yeah, even if it was definitely not the last version that had motor GP was something something really really nice to ride Yeah, okay And then just quickly because I'm gonna I'm on a time limit here. What are your thoughts ahead of this weekend? So you've got a new track surface that donning. Yeah, maybe tell us a little bit what your expectations are about that I was saying to Garrett a moment ago.

I came to the British Superbike race here a few weeks ago It's very very hot that weekend. Yeah, it certainly created quite a lot of anxiety Let's say with the team about the tire life. Yeah similar expectations Well, you never really know because when the tarmac is new Changed pretty quick until it gets stabilised. So we will see I mean, it's nice to always nice to ride a full new surface surface and There was some famous bump here that for sure disappears. So that will be also strange You know, I like I also like when the tires are getting the when the tracks are getting a bit hold and thing But yeah It would be nice to ride the Ninton especially the first part with a full like a lot of grip and good tarmac So yeah, I'm looking forward to it I tell you as the first race in the big numbers, you know, I feel really strong physically and so yeah I'm happy and I just want to enjoy riding the N 1000 because it's been it's been frustrating Rounds riding injured.

So yeah, just trying to do the best job I can with my guys and yeah, we'll see Okay, so it's rich from motorport again here delighted to be joined this time by Brad Ray Yamaha Moto X racing rider this season on the white ZF one Brad welcome to the show Again, probably a person hasn't been on motorport before I think so welcome to the show nice to have you I hope you the first of many first of all We're starting the lovely hospitality here at Moto X race and then a moderately sunny but slightly breezy Donatee Park It's true. But first question that springs to mind is up into world championship this year How big of a change is it from BSP in terms of like today? For example your commitments and so on is it a big change or? Taking any stride yeah, just taking it in my stride. I mean it's very similar.

I think once you get to a certain level in any championship you boys look stuff to do and Yeah for me, it's been quite quiet obviously coming in to the world super bikes just doing European rounds Just by the fighting my time sort of thing So I haven't had a massive amounts to do obviously my home round this weekend A little bit more to do for the press and for the team. So but honestly, it's been a nice It's been a nice sort of entry into world super bikes with the Moto X team and with Yamaha feel like they've been very good to me We're taking it in our stride. We're just taking it race by race Making some good progress the results on paper probably fantastic, but For me I'm looking at the gap between The top rider and the progress that we're making throughout every weekend and we're starting to show good progress and get to where we need to be So I'm hoping this weekend we've come to track that I know very well Because the previous tracks haven't been to for many many years and a lot of them have never been to a superbike Yes, it's always hard to cram in everything into one race weekend I Mention that you're on the European rounds only this year So possibly couldn't ask this question But was that sort of a contractual or a financing kind of decision or was it more intended to just ease you into the world? Championship no, I think it's something to do with Dorna and the travel and all things like that for going to the flyways Obviously cost a lot of money for the championship to do that So Yeah, this year was only only the Europeans that I think the team I've definitely got the budget for me to do the full season but yeah, only Europeans for me this year, which Obviously as a rider you want to be out there in every race possible As it's my first year at Superbike I felt like it wasn't a massive issue to not do the full season Nice to come in Speed and then hopefully next year will do the full year and now we know there's a vast difference in the electronics package between The young half that you're basically on the same bike last year But obviously this be rules are very very different to world superbike So just how different is the spec on the world superbike compared to what you were running last year on your title winning? Yeah, quite a lot the the electronics package is a lot different mo techs quite I wouldn't say basic but there's only a line you can go to and you can't change too much with the with the Electronics on the bike obviously no traction control no anti-wheelie Nothing like that.

You've got basic sort of engine brake strategies on there. Whereas this bike is There's a lot more advanced you can do corner by corner engine braking Different throttle maps you've got traction control your anti-wheelie. So everything like that Takes a lot of time to set up over a race weekend For me after being in BSP for so many years on no electronics That was the biggest thing to sort of transfer over not so much Getting used to the traction control So right into that quite well, but understanding How much traction I need how much engine brake? I need the torque maps the anti-wheelie making sure it all sort of works together and in line and don't hold your back So that's all the stuff that I've been learning the first few rounds I missed a few tests at the start of the year To not get me up to speed as fast as I should have been but yeah It's just just all part of the big learning condition This whole kind of I mean that being said when I've seen you in the BSP pits over the last few seasons I mean you guys always sat behind a monitor studying data I wouldn't say even in BSP because I mean BSP is the best national Super Way but do you enjoy the kind of the data aspects of it is it something you kind of genuinely do get invested in and Obviously it's in your interest to from a performance point of view But do you think oh Christ another I was sat in front of a bloody laptop again? No, no for me that's part part parcel if you can you can go go behind the laptop Obviously the team the team will look through they have a look We've got reference laps from hot rep from long telly from previous riders.

So we've got all the records now So if you can go and sit there for half hour in the evening Have a look for a lap see where you're losing time. Maybe see we gain in time Understand how they're breaking understand where they get on the throttle things like that that you can translate over to yourself And if you find you two or three temps that could be the difference between have you seen top racks great breaking data Yeah, I've seen I've seen I see like the telly's yeah It's weird because obviously on day you look anything up we're not really doing much different but the lap times quite a big difference, so it's just a Just a massive learning learning for me. So what is this for you now on this bike? It's around three or four around four for me. Okay, so Is that one now that you're getting to know the bike and up to the team and stuff?

Is there one particular aspect of the 2023? That you're focusing on in particular in terms of the bike development or adaptation to yours at a riding style thing I mean, where's the thought what's the priority list looking like for me? It's still Still just understanding the front of the bike a little bit more Chassis and the geometry is a lot different to what we run in BSB. So Understanding that trying to get some feeling with the bike still we made a big step in Mizano felt quite comfortable I And we're just we're just making making steps to the bike So I'm changing the way I'm riding to sort of suit the bike as it is But they're also changing the pipe to sort of we're but we're basically trying to meet in the middle Yeah, keep the way I ride the riding style with the faster flowing but also Understand that I need to tap the brakes a bit more So it's just trying to trying to get that relationship with the bike together and get it to click Yeah, but you say there's a compromise at the end of the day Yeah, yeah, so as you said home around that you feel a lot of pressure in it or you just looking forward to it No, I'm not nice weather I'm actually looking forward to it. I feel like we can do a good job I need to do a lot of work tomorrow in the free practices to understand a lot, especially with new surface and But it's just gonna be nice to go out and go straight out and be up to pace And not worry about learning learning the lines learning the tracks trying to follow people trying to do this So that's gonna be quite important.

Just go straight out and get up to speed No pressure from me. I'm not fighting for a championship So I just want to come here enjoy enjoy the week And hopefully we can make a step into the top 10 this weekend be nice And of course you did win on the full GP circuit in October. I think in BSP last year Yeah, so you got I don't know if that's recently reasonably helpful or whether it's completely irrelevant now given Change of machinery and stuff. Yeah, what's the realistic expectation? Maybe you set yourself a goal for the weekend or just go out and enjoy it and learn as much as you can Yeah, just enjoy it.

Just enjoy it. I just want to see progress I just want to see that we make good steps forward and we're closing that gap to the front I'd like to jump I'd like to Like to be up to the top 10 being that mix because in Miss Anna I went too far away from the top 10 The pace I had was a million miles away from being in that top 10 group So I feel like here we get to qualify and that's gonna be very important. We'll get a good jump and if I can stay in there As a typical armchair warrior, but you know given your devastating corner speed and technique and your knowledge of this place I was thinking you know the top 10 probably in beyond, you know, the parents of realistic possibilities I think from from about six down to 12 13 for our mat that the pace isn't a big big change to be honest Yeah, qualified is what makes it difficult to make the end roads in the race But I feel if I could get good qualified maybe the first three or four rows here Get good jump And presumably that will help with the grass next year. I mean, do you know what the plans are for next year? Yeah Yeah, just just I'm just going through the through the process still got a lot to learn so A lot going on for Yamaha at the minute with the move top rack Well look Brad we wish you the best of luck for the three races Hopefully it doesn't stay quite as windy as this Haven't seen the forecast we've got planes going over as well Usual Don and some background sound but yeah, very best of luck for the weekend very much and Well, we'll hope to catch up with you at some point later in the year.

Maybe at a BSP round I guess you get along to a few BSP rounds Yeah, all right. Well cheers mate and all the best. Cheers Hi everyone, it's Richard Motopod again here and well really delighted to say managed to grab a quick chat with the legend Danilo Petrucci Barney Spark Racing team on the Panigale before are this year So I was trying to remember you have a very long famous career, but did you race at Donington Park before? Yeah, my first time was here in 2008 okay in a super stock six hundred last time that the year after in 2009, but I think I was just Some some months older than 18 years Is it is it relevant or you approach this weekend? Yeah, let's say I know the shape of the track but since I don't remember so much and I don't think it will be useful a lot because between a stock 600 and Superbike is quite quite different.

But anyway, we try to do our best Is there a particular section of the track that you remember? Yeah, the first part is really really nice, but I think all the day I remember this was one of my favorite track. I was so sad when they they Decide to not coming here anymore. And anyway happy to be back and especially can't wait to To go with the super bike in the first corner down Prana curves. Yeah Yeah must be really exciting So Daneli you had a long very very successful career you spent ten full seasons in MotoGP and surprised a lot of people by doing the Decca as we were just talking and then spending the season in Moto America Yeah, so where does all this motivation and desire to keep racing hard come from?

You know After I decide to quit MotoGP because I was not any more competitive as I wanted Especially my my sides In MotoGP Was a problem is still a problem and I decide to To do the biggest wish and go to to race the Dakar, but because I was really really Tired of everything and so I decided I want to do I have this chance. I want to do something really different and And We came with with this idea then the Dakar I found again the The will to to to race to go racing and also last year in USA The let's say less pressure more more fun and like this I decide okay If I want to to go racing I want to try one last time in a world championship and thanks to Barney Barney Give me this opportunity coming home I said I can't quit my my carrier without trying at least one year in Superbike in World Superbike and And here I am for sure it's tough because you know, it's not Just the race weekend. It's what's what's behind Training every day and when you are young and fully fit nothing scares you because you you can eat whatever you want you can sleep or not you can you go training and feel anything but then after 27 28 year of age Things start to change and you know, there are always some small problems some small things, but then I Recognize when I'm at home my all I even like to watch races at home but after one week two weeks, I am tired and they say I'm Sunday can can be like this on the sofa. I Want to go racing and for this reason I'm here cool. So you're taking the championship so far Yeah going into this round What's your overall impression of the progress so far in 2023 on the Barney it has been quite quite tough because I expected to be Faster, but not faster to adapt myself easier to this Bike because I thought racing with this with the same bike last year in USA was Helping me a bit but in fact it's like having two different bikes because In USA we they race with the Dallop here with Pirelli both Great tires but very different and especially At the beginning of this season.

I was focusing myself on certain areas For example the corner exit the traction, but in fact We made a lot of changes but on the lap time nothing came and I saw I Needed to change a lot of things and a lot of up and downs I'm not happy about the results So we are getting but I think we are On a good path we can we can grow up still this season And I think we have the potential for fight to for the top five Check the results and you were seventh in the final race in Mizano. Yeah, so what are your expectations coming into this weekend? I mean we have a new track surface here. Yeah, I know is possibly not relevant for you because you haven't raised it for many I heard a lot of comments about the This track was really really tough for the car in the past, but now has been resurfaced so I think it's a Small help for our bike and I think maybe the things are getting easier but Yeah, let's see. It's quite new.

I want to make some progress in me sign. Oh, we started in full position I was doing good till the the bad crash and in Sunday morning Yeah, I crash also on Saturday afternoon when I was fourth with top rack fighting for the podium, but I was happy about this progress, but I Want to see if we can stay there more or less all the races Fascinating to sit next to competitive people, you know, only winning is acceptable So finally because I know I can't take up too much time here But there's one of the well most experienced but one of the tallest riders in the series I was talking with Loris earlier on so I was just asking him about this whole debate an argument that we have here about the Combined bike and rider. Yeah wait. So do you have a particular strong opinion about this? Yeah, I think must be fair to have let's say more Similar weight for sure.

It's not Let's say our fault. I mean Loris and me but also on the bautista side is not this fault that is is short good light. Yeah, and For me I have like 8% of fat I can go No, no more I mean I tried in my my past during MotoGP because it has been always a problem and it's still a problem because you know 99% of the rider are really short and light and for me also this progress to adapt myself it's always it's even on the On the team side is difficult to adapt the bike to myself. Yeah, so for me Must be fair to let's say put at least More riders on the same same level. I must say that for example Regarding a heaviest rider like me or every rider like me Loris or Scott our bike can go Down as weight.

I mean for us things remain like like they are now Yeah, it's just maybe the bike of Alvaro that will be Will be heavier but from our side doesn't change anything Loris gave an interesting perspective which I hadn't thought before which was It used to be said that the taller riders maybe had a small advantage by having longer legs and arms to move the bike Whereas obviously the smaller guys had a weight advantage in terms of acceleration and so on But he's saying that now with the electronics being so good with the aerodynamics making the bikes so good You don't necessarily need to move around. Yeah Yeah, exactly. For example, I I can I'm in the same opinion because if I jump on for example or a Panigale before a stock bike a standard bike I can get in into it. I mean it's more for I mean we are over we are 1 meter 80 Loris maybe also 90 is almost 2 meters long But the bikes now are smaller and smaller and smaller Yeah, and for for me one of the problem is get into the bike. I I need to have a special handlebar special foot pegs a special seat, I mean it's quite different and Sincerely, I don't see any particular disadvantage for short and light riders at the moment maybe just that On the rain on the rain for sure, maybe be a little bit heavier it helps sometimes yeah, but It's not I mean, it's not it's not a rule.

It doesn't rain very often. No This year never just the first race in Australia never tried that the bike the Pirelli wet tires And we go directly into the race then after that never put a Rain tire on the bike and at Philip Island of all places for the first time Yeah It's not really the best place to understand how the how the tire works, especially in the in the race in the first race of the season, but we can control this and Yeah, I don't know if this rule is going to Okay, let's Next year. I don't know for sure. Yeah must be fair to put let's say more Equity more stability to to everyone I mean it's I Think I wait more than 30 kilos more than yes I'm a third more than it's quite a lot Yeah, if you carry that that thing that is no no 10 kilos more. It's already heavy Yeah, put three is a it's quite high on the bike.

Yeah Exactly We we we can't use for sure the same setup is completely different and it's yeah, it has been tough Till until now. Well, I think I've probably used my 10 or 15 minutes So Danilo, we wish you the best of luck for this weekend Hopefully things will go well and you'll enjoy being back at the park Thank you for talking to us on motopod and yeah, we'll hopefully talk to you again. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you very much I Am very pleased to say I've just managed to doorstep sure me a boss of SMR racing BMW Sean what do you make of 2023 so far?

with injuries and things going on but That's a question I've been asked a few times over the last few weeks. Yeah I It's been a challenge we have to we have to be honest with ourselves and You know, we we have a fantastic lineup of riders That's not just ourselves. It's the Bonovo team as well. Yep coming out of Philip island was Was quite underwhelming from honest with you a lot of work We did over winter didn't come to fruition in terms of on-track performance Which was quite surprising to us because we thought it would react differently to that. Yeah Once we're in Australia, we're already at Indonesia because it's back-to-back So we didn't react couldn't react to that.

Yeah We come away with Mediocre top 10 finishes for Scott's Mike. Yeah a big accident which Probably people didn't realize he actually fractured a bone in his wrist at that time So that hurt him coming back into the first round in Europe doesn't seem to have small legs No, it was it was a big enough one You know, he went into Assen Assen He got injured and we have to replace him with Tom Scott's the sole operator the sole rider, you know the story evolves from there It's it's been a real real struggle and we have to stand up and look at ourselves and see what we can do better And and we're doing that we've done that and you know, we we've got to summarize the season so far has been It's quite difficult for us But we don't share the difficulties we look forward and this time last year We turned our season around at Donington and we went forward and went from strength to strength this way around. Yeah Yeah, step change last year. It was it was so I mean that that is the that is our That is our outlook and can you give the listeners some insight into perhaps? What would your opinion?

Why is the stock bike is so good and so dominant? Whereas the superbike is just a bit of a struggle The bike with all the unlock potential except feels at the minute. Yeah, the stock bike is is a fantastic bike There's no doubt about that I mean, I think what we would say is that if you were to compare bike for bike you compare in what's happening in? AMA which is some fantastic results by the BMW Titan that can run at the weekend Yeah, and what Josh and Leon are doing in British Superbikes, of course, they're the same chassis. They are the same DNA is the same but we are at a different level, you know, and I think I've got to be quick to point that out You know what what happens in this part of the place that we're operating this part of here is completely different to domestic championship races So yeah with that in mind, I Quite right.

Yeah, there are it is the BMW M 1000 rr But the championship rules and regulations are operated differently So I can't kind of make parallels to it Yeah, I'm gonna try and ask this question as carefully as I can because I appreciate you know There's only so much you can say in a certain way but one of the things that we've spoken about often on the discussion on the on the podcast me and my co's Jip is If you take a team like G Katie for example where you might say motorcycles are more kind of core to the DNA Well, it's BMW you kind of think of it as more of a car company But I mean looking around you can see that there's no shortage of effort going into this as you say Fantastic line of riders big signing for next year So is there something that the company itself at the sort of corporate level understands as a missing ingredient? Or was it no, not at all. I can answer that clearly there is a you've got to ask yourself this project started in 2019 I Can ask you the same question when did Ducati Kawasaki and Yamaha start their world superbike project? Yeah And when you say that you'll ask you'll answer that with well Ducati been here for 25 years Kawasaki have been here for 13 years and Yamaha have been here for about nine years So you could say we played a little bit of catch-up What you do see and I'm glad you pointed it out is that there is a huge amount of effort Going on in the paddock. Yeah from what BMW motor out of doing very quickly from 19 to 21 They developed a satellite team.

So overnight almost we now are for world superbike riders I think I think without Trying to divert away from from from your question, you know, we we are and as a lot of energy going on behind the scenes and I think the the forward to two-wheel isn't just You know doesn't isn't just just to kind of what's going on within the group I mean more to add in its own right is probably the biggest two-wheeled manufacturer out there in terms of And for us moving forwards You know, I can only I can only confirm and I think you'd probably see in the press that when the CEO and the president Motorad stands up and makes a long-term commitment to two-wheel motorsports. I Find that I find that really solid solid backing We just need to turn that that support and that energy into on track performance. Yeah I won't I don't really want to go into talking about riders and signings at the moment but I think the only comment I will make is that The quality of the riders that we have and our ambition to sign the riders Is testament to the energy that we're putting behind the project? Yeah. Yeah, I mean the question is made purely on the basis that nobody More than me and we all want BMW to really do well in this in the championship Yeah, once it needs it.

Yeah, I mean, you know, we can see that there's one team out there dominating at the moment Yeah, it's sort of shake that order up a little bit So I mean I got asked to somebody question off Dave there, you know You got a look back and you know when when Jonathan was winning six on the spin, you know I couldn't buy away and then the one rider comes along and he takes the glory and then you have Ducati, you know with Chaz for year on year on year. Mr. Number two and all of a sudden now it's it's you know It's been a change of guard, you know We want to change the next card if we can and that's that's the ambition isn't it? And I mean you see this all through the annals of history most of you get one dominant team You do a driver whatever but it doesn't last forever Your point is a great one I guess we should reinforce that you guys are starting from This project really I mean We started in 19 and we all said at the point 19 was a year too early You should really have been 20 because we started with standard engines standard chassis and that's when we were on the back foot in 19 so if you look at it 20 21 22 and We talk about a covid outbreak and we talk about all sorts of things. Okay, I'm not here to sell a sub story But I am here to do is try this align the facts and say, you know, let's compare apples for apples And let's not forget.

I mean Scott did get a podium. I think in race one last year They got a podium here got a podium in most Mikey and Mike at Portimão win Yeah, yeah, it's it's you know, it's it's there. Of course, it's it's not enough. But you know Honda haven't had the same, you know Kawasaki having their drive bar and run now from where they normally are Yeah now it's a time for us to make that step and of course it's always the case that you improve your bike But everybody else does the same thing as well. So I mean, I mean this championship is like ferociously competitive So yeah, and that's why you're here.

That's why BMW are here. Correct. Well, I think given that that was a little impromptu Sure, no, it's great to talk to you and no really valuable insight I think for the because we did talk about this a lot on the show Yeah You know because we're really trying to follow what super bike a bit more now as well There's all the motor GP stuff as well and yeah, really looking forward to seeing BMW back on the box. Brilliant anytime Thanks a lot. Thank you Okay, so yeah delighted to be joined on MotoPod by Tommy Agata Tommy.

Welcome on to the show I think probably you haven't been on MotoPod for an interview before but I'm not certain about that. Can you recall? Hello everyone for sure. I don't know if I was already there There is always a few interviews when we have the race weekend so Yeah happy to be inside Tommy the thing is fair to say you've been the revelation of the 2023 season so far Which is you know, that's a real compliment. I'm paying to you I mean it shouldn't perhaps come as such a big surprise your double world super sport champion Moto e champion.

So How do you kind of sum up the championship at this stage versus your expectations at the beginning of the year? Yeah, it was very hard decision sure to To make the move also to superbike because you never know if it's Good good direction for you for sure. It's always the goal to be The moving up to the highest category, but I was also unsure to go to a new team Let's say the bike have A lot of power a lot of electronics. So in the winter I was really nervous to see where I am because yeah, you never know I just I just could trust by by myself that I was winning many races in the last few years and That I already complete with many of the superbike riders also in the past, yeah, and I was Yeah faster than them sometimes so Yeah, when we make the first try test I I could already show some good potential and Yeah, I think we we impressed with the first qualifying of the year in in philipp island with a front row start, so we had a couple of good races and Yeah, a couple of bad luck with two-time crashed out in the sprint race and some small technical technical problems, but Yeah, overall we are in a good position And is it exceeding what you expected or I mean obviously you will back yourself in terms of your talent Yeah, let's say okay my goal was to be around top ten in the first part But then try to be better also. So now it's coming the second part So I would like to be a little bit better around top six more consistently and Yeah, also try to be the best rookie to be the best in in the tender brighter and Also, I want to try to be the best Yamaha.

Yeah, of course So you've spent a large chunk of your career on middleweight machinery so ten seasons in moto 2 and then to title winning seasons in world super score How has it been adapting to the bigger bike with the electronics and the actual weight and so on is a big challenge or What's such a big deal? most big challenge because let's say the 600 is like Difficult to say but like a bicycle Really like Okay, you you need a lot of force to ride it and you need to have the concentration and the condition to You need to be fit but The superbike have so much power You you cannot believe this is in every gear the bike is pulling and you need to Break down the power with the electronics In the first three years you never have the full power because you could not put it on the ground Yeah, it will start to spin or it start to really so you need to manage with your technician to modify and Yeah, I need it also to change a little bit my way for training Also, the the weekend is much more hard because you have one practice more you have one sprint race more So on Monday or Sunday night, I'm already dead. So Yeah, have you got to increase kind of your torso Mass in terms of muscle is that the change to the training? I changed just the way of training by By not changing too much gaining weight because also I'm always higher in the weight with 69 kilo it's already quite high compared to Some of the writer like about this story now that they are only like 55. So Yeah, but it helps the first two races was really difficult because also my preparation time from I winning the championship at sorry the 25 November 2022.

Yeah, and The first race was at 25 February so no Was very very short so I was good after the two races to have again like one mounds break to really prepare me physically and Yeah, it's nice and yeah, you could also see I know I Arm pump surgery because I had it in the past sometimes but not that often But now this year I struggle nearly every race with it and just as a kind of Related question. I haven't been on the moto e-bike for the last couple of years, which is a big heavy But has that been in any way been useful? From a preparation point of view towards the superbike or it's so different that it's not really relevant Of course every every race you do you you take always some experience for sure it helps but The bike is completely different Now you run both of the races I think in what super sport here last season It's Donatan a particular favorite track of yours and any particular section of the track that you really like I just run two laps and they did the fantastic job with the new Surface. Yeah It looks very nice. I hear that.

It's also really grippy The weather looks also fantastic Yeah, so I'm more than happy and motivated to start I did my first season in one to five at 2007 Here in Donington and then we went to Silverstone So last year was my first time back here in Donington winning Fastest lap pole position. So it was a perfect weekend. Yeah, I like the track is a little bit old-school with Up and downs heartbreaking some chicane not as much as Green part, you know like How you say the Yes, yeah here is just track or grass What's your opinion on the whole thing? Sorry, this is all my questions, but I'm gonna ask you this now you mentioned that what is your opinion about Being one millimeter over a line and then getting a penalty for that Do you think it's too much too much penalty too many rules? You want to just race and you know, if you go off the track a little bit, you know Maybe it's not such a big advantage anywhere.

Yeah, it's I know you have to be a little careful how you answer these. Yeah, I mean It's a couple of riders I was talking to Laura so for example, he made his opinion For me, I like much more the tracks like here or also Australia, Phillip Island. Yeah, there is trucks that it's Racetrack Tarmac then it's coming the white line the curbs the grass So all writers know when you go over the curbs You need to If you go to the grass with full throttle you will highside so This is the penalty already. It's already the penalty for sure It's more dangerous when you touch the grass you will slide away But it's also something that when you arrive to a point There you need to pick up the bike or you need to close the throttle but now in this moment every track has 50 meters of runoff area and all the all the green parts So you see many times already in Moto3 they use all the they don't even close the throttle Do you think it's almost? Doing something worse, which is kind of encouraging Risktaking in some cases you think it has the opposite effect of what it's there to do.

No for sure It's it's more safe. That's clear. That's clear, but it takes a lot of Effort to to watch to control and also to these guys who watch at home and then Some people get a long lap penalty or a track limit running taste They start to not understand the rules and yeah, the stranger rules also is with this Penalty what you get now when you want to overtake a rider. It's The whole point of racing. Yeah It's completely Getting out of my As we mentioned earlier on you spent a lot of time in the MotoGP paddock Yeah, so you've been here for what three four years?

Third year. What's your general impression between the world superbike paddock compared with the MotoGP paddock? Is it because you often hear people say it's a friendlier? Less pressurized, you know place to be here. Is that kind of your experience?

Yeah, it it is like this a little bit. It's more a little bit friendlier and Yeah, we are let's say it's also very professional I Think it's just the people is a little bit more friendly, you know, you can speak with with a Honda Mechanic or you can go to the not a team and you know in the MotoGP sometimes when they See you with another team. They already get jealous or nearly tell you hey, don't don't speak with them You know, so and also few people's you see them for ten years and they not even say hello And you see them more than your family So yeah, sometimes was not so easy to understand But I'm really happy where I am now and should I miss also the MotoGP better Although you had a couple of rides or one ride Just test test Testing how was that experience? Yeah, it was fantastic It was like four or five years ago when I spoke to some journalists and I say I want to To ride one time MotoGP. It's in my goal and my dream.

They they smile at me or laugh up about me and Then last year was was coming the Opportunity from a factory Bike that I can write. Yeah, this this bike and Yeah, I was for this few laps. I did I was not so bad and with top rep moving across to BMW Next year and you having such a good year first year in one super bike any talks going on about what you might do next year Yeah, sure my my brother and manager speak with with different option different teams and sure I'm happy where I am now and Yeah, I think I want to stay again with Yamaha and I don't know if it's possible to go to the factory team or not, but My my crew is well and I feel confident so It's not always better maybe to go to the factory team No, so but as a rider you want always to go to the factory team, but we will see I just concentrate to the weekend now and then two weeks break and then maybe we know already more little bit again Yeah And in terms of this weekend and as you say there's a new track surface here Which is I guess not a big problem for you because you didn't ride the super bike there before But do you have any kind of goals or realistic expectations for this weekend given that you won both races in super sport last year Yeah, I want to ride a 125 lap time I think then I'm I think I'm not so bad Depends how fast the track is, but I think the lap record is 126 zero. So No, I don't know the lap times but Sure, if I can be again in the top two rows for the qualifying For the starting it would be a good starting point and then 23 laps I'm ready for it. And yeah, can't wait to ride full gas.

Yeah Last question Cheeky question What's it like being a multiple world champion native to a country where motorsport is illegal? Now not anymore is it changing yeah They removed road racing You can race again Because this was since 1955 Yes disaster, so are you kind of recognized and appreciated in Switzerland then for your achievements or because obviously motorsport Okay, it's changing them which is nice to hear but it's probably not top of the we have a lot of Motorsport fans a lot of motorbike riders on the street no racetracks and Yeah, I need to give attention also what they say, okay We we get some how you say like say don't only know not seven only like like events that you are they are They special one-off things. Yeah Yeah But What I can say like the Swiss television they didn't show any one second of my supersport world champion, so this is very Frustrating because every normal people want to watch the race in the Swiss television because they don't really buy the Login for the world superbike on the internet, you know, so this was very Yeah strange and frustrating that they not not even show some highlights about this Okay. Well don't end it on a on an unhappy note. We're very appreciated Well, we wish you the very best of luck for the weekend We have three strong races and yeah, let's see how you feel on finish on Sunday night Yeah So I've just stood with Taz McKenzie British Superbike champion and now running in 600.

Yeah, well to support in the challenging year But how things going from your perspective? Because I know you've been waiting for some parts to sort of help out on the engine power side of things Yeah, I'm in the any sort of sign of progress there. Um Yeah, it's obviously been a tough start to the a lot tougher than nothing not just myself, but all of the team expected It's it's difficult because we're the only two bikes on the on the track so Electronics wise and even engine side. It's it's not so easy, but everyone's trying the hardest away from the track to make it better from the outside, maybe it looks like we've Just got to a point where it's not improving But they're just trying really hard to find different directions to kind of find that extra little bit out the bike really So I don't think we're so far away now this weekend I think might be a little bit of a struggle still but hopefully going forward It will be making some steps and have you been looking forward to this weekend obviously home around and yeah You know, but just about as well as anybody. Yeah exactly So I think that side of it will be positive and really enjoyable for myself I love riding here anyway, no matter what bike it is obviously, I'd like to come a little bit more competitive and Give something there for the British fans to cheer about but with the way the situation is at the moment It's just the way it is and we just have to keep on grinding keep working through and keep smiling and hopefully Yeah, I'm into HRC at the end of the day so I mean, you know, it's not going to be what resources we're trying is it?

No, no How is it kind of how well how did you approach this is it kind of a multi-year kind of project in your mind? Because obviously you've stepped off Yeah, a recent title winning bike in BSB. Yeah to come here and sort of yeah try on the world stage and fair play to you Yeah, I think that's great Yeah, 100% and the whole idea is to go back to superbike more than anything It's not riding the 600 was more just to try and get a foot in the door and be in this paddock. Yeah The goal is to try and be back in superbike next year. I've tested a little bit on a superbike already this year so hopefully Can just kind of build some experience of riding a CBR and then There's nothing sorted at all, but the plan is to try and move forward and be in the superbike Championship next year.

Yeah Well, I'm super John McFean I'm having a little bit of a bounty at the end of the day John It's nice to meet you. So how you finding super sport? 600 after many many years successfully in Moto3. Yeah, I really enjoying the change It's kind of been the fresh air that I needed to the stage of my career I'm at and just enjoying a bigger bike obviously complete changes scenery with the paddock and the whole atmosphere here But it's all been really positive. Yeah, the team is their first year So they're kind of finding their feet as well as me finding my feet in a bigger bike But I think we've had some weekends that I can be really happy with and then Definitely been some trying weekends where I'm just still trying to learn and make the Adaptation onto a bigger bike but slowly but surely we're getting there in retrospect was Philip Island a bit too much too soon It was nice to For a brand new team that literally had started fully started about two weeks before we arrived in Philip Island It was a big achievement to be there so yeah, I just shows that obviously We can do it when everything's great.

We got lucky with the weather, but I still had to ride the thing Yeah It's just when you're in dry conditions and you're at tracks that people have been to before we're kind of finding our feet and finding Our way whereas they've all got a set and they've been using for years. So super sport There's not that much you can really change in terms of bike and package It's just finding that kind of base that works for you and then going from there We've had a lot of teeth and issues along the way which yeah, they can only happen once once they're ironed out I think we'll be a lot closer. Yeah, and from a physical preparation standpoint, obviously It's quite a different bike to what you've been riding for years and years and years I mean what you had to adapt in terms of your training regime and stuff to try and accommodate the sort of the I guess more Power for one thing. Yeah, see more weight for sure The main things being the minimum weight rule in super sport where they've been so high I've been the same weight now for the last 10 years and what was really about to always Yeah, I put five kilos on now from what we three to now but still we're under the minimum weight so I'm having to do a bit more heavy gym work and eat a lot more trying to keep the weight on but Yeah, there's only so much weight I can have naturally. So I'm having to eat way more than I usually do Just last month.

I know you must get on but have you raced Donnington Park before? Once once the last time I raced here was 2009. Okay I actually came in a track day about three weeks ago. So I thought it's my home race I need to actually know which way it goes to come in. Yeah, yeah Yeah, gonna be all new for me really this weekend.

Well, hope the best for you. Thank you very much Coming good strong racers and nice to meet you. Cheers, thanks a lot mate.