MotoGP Silverstone – Moto3 Riders

Motopod, proudly supported by Road Skin, a UK label specializing in protective outerwear for motorcyclists. Modern biker clothing that you can wear all day long and engineered to save your skin. For the road, for life, visit roadskin.co.uk Hello and welcome to Motopod, the internet radio show all about motorcycle road racing. This is Rich, wishing you all a very happy 2025 on behalf of myself and Jim and the wider Motopod backroom. Hoping everybody had great Christmases and New Year breaks etc.

It's around about a month since Jim brought you his chat with Michael Gouges, which I hope everybody enjoyed. Sorry for the radio silence since then, it's going to be about a month since Jim put that show out. But this is going to be episode number 794. To be honest, with the 2024 season being as hectic as it was, it's been good to have a few weeks off, so hopefully that's fine with everybody. As I've been promising and teasing for what seems like or actually is months, this is the collection of interviews that I collected all the way back in August of 2024 at the Silverstone Moto GP round.

Now I've focused on the Moto3 riders with this particular show. Following this one, I've got a few interviews to put on a separate show on the Moto2 side of things. So that one will feature Senna Aegis, Sergio Garcia and Tony Arbolino. But in terms of today's little collection, we have David Alonso, Jacob Rolston, Ethan Otola and Joel Kelso. Now I did deliberate if it was actually too long since I recorded these to actually put them out, but having listened back through and done a bit more editing on them, I decided there's still some pretty good content in there.

Even though the championship moved on, the championships were decided, people have moved from Moto3 to Moto2 in some cases, etc. But nevertheless, there's still some good stuff in there, I think. So hopefully people will enjoy what the riders have to say. In terms of David Alonso, as is often the case with these sorts of chats, they happen in garages or hospitality areas. And in the case of David Alonso, Jacob Rolston and Ethan Otola, I actually recorded them on the Thursday.

So there's a fair bit of setup going on. So again, apologies if there's some clinking and clanking and banging and crashing in the background. In terms of David Alonso, well, we've spoken about him an awful lot on the show. As you'll hear, David is a very thoughtful young chap, has a very wise head on very young shoulders, as exemplified by what he says about his approach. Clearly, he's trying to keep himself calm.

But it's quite obvious to everybody, as we've spoken about a great deal on the show, that he's destined for big things. But obviously, Moto2 this year is going to be a big challenge. And we're all really interested to see how that one's going to go. After David, we have quite a long chat with Jacob Rolston from Australia. Again, really great insight into a young rider that's come from the other side of the world, established himself in Europe and had a really strong rookie campaign.

Jacob actually finished 15th in the standings at the end of the season. It's worth just pointing out, and Jim and I will probably touch on it when we have our first show of 2025. But we heard the news a day or so ago that Jacob had had a bit of a spill in a training accident. I'm not sure exactly of the details, but he has damaged some vertebrae in his neck by the sounds of it. I don't think he's in mortal danger.

But obviously, it's a difficult and unwanted start to the season for him. So we wish Jacob a speedy recovery. These guys do have a habit of bouncing back very quickly. So, yeah, hopefully Jacob will be back on his Moto3 bike in the Tech3 team fairly soon. We then have a quick chat with Ivan Ortole.

Again, interesting to note that Ivan actually says that Silverstone is not one of his more favored tracks, albeit he goes pretty well there. And it would indeed prove to be the case for those that can recall the Silverstone weekend that Ivan actually won the race from David Alonso with Colin Vea in third place. Although he was somewhat close to David Alonso at the Silverstone stage of last year's championship, as we know, David went on to a string of just unbelievable results really. And Alonso would eventually take the championship by somewhat bewildering 165 points. Like David Alonso, Ivan Ortole does move up to Moto2 as well this year.

So again, lots to focus on to see how those guys progress on into the middleweight class. To finish up, we have another quick catch up with Joel Calso. People will remember that Jim spoke with Joel a couple of times at the Cota weekend at the early stages of the 2024 season. So it was kind of cool to catch up with Joel again. A little highlight from the talk with him.

Well, interesting his thoughts on the potential of Liberty coming into the sport. As things stand, as I record this little intro piece, which is being done on the 23rd of January, the Liberty deal still isn't across the line. In fact, it's been delayed for some weeks or months, I think, whilst it goes through further scrutiny in terms of European competition law. I think most people think it's going to happen. But obviously, the longer it goes on, the less clear that is.

But all we can do is just wait and watch this space, I guess. So there we go. As I say, I apologize profusely. Having recorded this stuff at Silverstone back in August, I promptly went on holiday for two weeks and then landed myself back in a Mire at work. So one thing or another, with the season going on and the normal shows with Jim, it just became a bit of an impossibility really to squeeze these ones in as well as getting all of the editing done.

So apologies that these are so delayed. This wouldn't normally be the case, but every cloud has a silver lining. So if nothing else, this is providing a little bit of decent infill, I hope, whilst we've got the winter break going on. Unbelievably, we're not much more than a month away from things really starting to get going again. So there's not too much time to fill in.

But as I say, this will be followed by a Moto 2 show. And then I did record a few other bits and pieces with other people that I bumped into in the Silverstone pit lane and paddock area. So I may put that one out as well. Jim and I are planning to have a catch up to talk about all the news. Lots of team launches going on at the moment.

Big controversy, of course, around the KTM situation. We'll know a little bit more about that, I think, tomorrow. Well, Superbikes are out testing in Haereth at the moment. And yes, the MotoGP guys will be out testing before very much longer as well. So there's plenty to look forward to.

It's going to be an unbelievably busy year again. Having recharged the batteries a little bit, Jim and I are ready to get going with all of this stuff again. Jim will be at Cota. I still have aspirations to get along to Bruneau if time and funds will allow. And obviously there'll be a smattering of all Superbike, British Superbike, MotoAmerica stuff in there as well.

So, yeah, another busy year ahead. For now, let's just concentrate on getting these long overdue Silverstone shows out. Starting off with David Alonso. OK, David Alonso. Hi.

Aspart team, CF Moto Racing. David, a very, very warm welcome onto MotoPod for the first time. It's a huge pleasure to speak with you and thank you for doing it in English because I know this is something you're working on very hard. Can we start by talking about your background a little bit? Your mother is Colombian, I believe.

Your father is Spanish. Exactly. You're on the right. You were born in Spain, but you race proudly under the Colombian flag. Tell us about your decision to do it that way.

Yeah, I have a little bit mixed Colombia and Spanish. I went. We started with this idea, I think like 2020, some years ago, with the team, with the family. I wanted to represent my mother's flag and that was the main reason. And well, now I think it is good for me, for the county, for the championship that it's another different nationality racing.

Because it's nice when you see different nationalities racing between each other and see different flags. And was it nicer for you not to be another Spanish considered rider? I mean, you are Spanish. You were born in Spain, but you like to race. Yeah, I was born in Spain, in Madrid.

Your father was OK with the decision. Your mother was very happy, I guess. Yeah, no problem, because at the end, the main thing is the person and the rider. So no problem. Now, when I'm looking at your junior career, it's very hard not to talk about you as the word is prodigy.

I don't know. Maybe it's an English word you don't know, almost like a child genius. OK, that's the English word. Tell us a little bit about your childhood and how the two wheeled racing began for you. Is it something from your father?

Is he a passionate motorbike racing fan? Yeah. How did it happen for you? Strange, because it came to me like alone. I mean, no one in my family had the relationship with the competition.

OK. The only relationship my father had was a bike for making some routes on the weekend. Like the style of Harley Davidson, that type of bike. Cruising. Yeah, cruising.

And then when we put the bikes on the TV, I remember I watched it and they catch my interest. So for Christmas, for birthday, instead of ask for a bowl, I ask always for two wheels. Like something with wheels. And that's a little by little I get more and more toys with two wheels. And then at five years old, I take my first fuel bike.

Gotcha. And I have to ask you, which was the rider that caught your attention the most? I'm guessing in MotoGP was it Lorenzo or somebody like this or Rossi? Yeah, well, the rider I really, it caught more my interest is Amar Marquet. But I remember also Stoner and Pedrosa.

Yeah, that guy's so fun. Now, you won the European Talent Cup in 2020 and then the Red Bull Rookie MotoGP Cup in 2021. You did some substitute rides filling in in Aspar in 2021. And then 2023, you became full time in the team and finishing third in the championship. This year, you're leading the championship by, let's be honest, a very significant 58 point margin.

So how do you feel about your career to date and how are you managing to keep your feet on the ground? Yeah, well, the nice thing of this is that all my career is with Aspar team. They are like my second family, the family around there that I go around the world with them. So it's nice because since 2018, I grew up with them. They teach me for being first like a person, a good person and then a rider.

And with my career, I'm happy with it because obviously some, they are a little bit challenged, but on the global it's going up, a little step by step, getting more competitive. I'm happy because I could win the Spanish Championship, European, the rookies and here in the World Championship also doing good things. But still a lot ahead, still a lot for improve and we need to keep going and keep working. Obviously you have a long career ahead of you in different classes in the future, but you obviously have a very kind of level way that you manage your emotions, it seems to me. Is it something you think about a lot or is it just natural that that's just your mentality, your personality, let's say?

Honestly, we are working a lot on my mindset or on the emotions. For example, last year we were working more inside the track, I mean to improve my style, to improve my speed. But this year I'm working more outside the track for work on my emotion, my ego. I don't know if in English it's the same word, my ego and all that kind of things that is not like riding a style. It's not directly working on the bike, but it's very important because it influences a lot our weekend.

And I'm working on it because it's hard because you think you have the control, but then you realize that you need to work on it. This year we are really focused on that. And I guess this is one benefit of living within the same team for a long period of time. Yeah, that helps a lot. You grow up together and people can understand what you need.

It helps a lot because the people here on the Asparteam know me very well. We don't need to talk, they just look at my face and they say, now he's serious or now he's angry. So that's a good point because we know very well each other. Let's talk a little bit about Silverstone. You won here last year, so I assume you're quite a big fan of the track.

I mean, it's a long track, it's a fast track. I guess you like it for that reason. Six kilometers. What are you looking forward to about this weekend? I mean, anything in particular, just winning again, hopefully?

I mean, this track, the last year I win, but it's a track that I struggled a little bit and I need to work on it. Also, it's a long track, so there are a lot of corners. You don't do so many laps because it's very long, so you need to be focused on the weekend. And then we came from three weeks rest, so we need to get little by little the speed again, the championship speed that we forget in these three weeks. So yeah, this weekend is like calm and try to do my best, but it doesn't mean anything that the year before I won here, that doesn't mean anything.

Obviously you have the Pirelli tire this year, so are you looking forward to the Pirelli on this track? I mean, the Pirelli seems to give more feel. Yeah, the Pirelli seems to be faster on all the tracks, some more, some less, but it has a good performance with the new tire for a qualified lap. So let's see here how also the grip house gets down for the race. Yeah.

Now, David, you're, in my opinion, a little bit unusual Moto3 rider because you have this incredible ability to always be fast in the front group, but not getting into trouble through the first main part of the race, let's say, and then right at the very end, making some incredible moves and then winning the race. So is this something that you're thinking about a lot during the race? Is it something you're making the tactic in your mind as you're watching the race and the riders around you, or is it just something that comes natural for you? Yeah, I work in different areas and that's one of them also. I try to go on the race, but not only race, I try to think up on the bike and try to think on the last laps, on the strategy, the best strategy for the last laps.

And I try to think also on my rivals who are stronger, where they have problems, where they have problems, or try to be as best as possible. So yeah, I try to think up on the bike. And I'll have to watch the time, of course, as always. We kind of talked about this a moment ago, but tell us a little bit about your relationship with Senor Martinez. Obviously, he's kind of like a second father for you, and we were talking about this family, but what's the relationship?

Yeah, he had a lot of experience, I think 40 years on the world championship, and so many. So yeah, he's like the father of all of us, because he has a really good thing, that he's a boss, really wants to be there. I mean, he feels the races, he has a lot of experience. And do you ask him for advice? I mean, do you have that kind of relationship where he tells you things and you ask him things?

Yeah, and then he can give us a lot of advice because he has a lot of experience. So he's always there at the box for giving us the last advice. And then on the bad moments, he gives us the opportunity for relief and for growing up again. So on the bad moments, he's a team that supports you a lot. Final question.

We've said that you have a very big lead at the moment in the championship, but still 11 races, I think. 11, still too much. A long, long way to go in the championship, so not putting any pressure. Obviously, you are going to want to move up to Moto2, I guess, particularly if you win the championship this year. So I'm not asking for any secrets, but what does the next two or three years in your mind, what does it look like in terms of the progression?

Yeah, well, when I was little, I always had a dream that is not to reach MotoGP. My dream is to win in each category, Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP. So that's my main goal, to get close. Yeah, make the full set. Yeah, the full set.

So without any hurry. Now I'm in Moto3. We will give our best for the championship and then let's see. I have a theory in my mind that says David Alonso goes to Moto2 next year, spends two years in Moto2, and then he's in MotoGP for the new regulations, the new technical regulations in 2027. It's a nice plan, huh?

Looks good. Looks good. And it will be good. That's a way, a fast way that we never know. We just need to go like, yeah, leave the present and go step by step.

David, it's been a great pleasure to talk to you. I mean, you're a fantastic rider. It's really interesting to watch your career. So I'm hoping we'll have an opportunity to talk with you again. Yeah, for sure.

Not this weekend, but in the coming race, maybe next year. And best of luck this weekend. Thanks so much. Nice to meet you. Thank you.

All right. So I'm sat here in the Gas Gas Tech3 hospitality unit with Jacob Rolston. Jacob, welcome onto MotoPod. Another first time person on today. Let's start off by jumping into your 2024 Moto3 season today.

So from the outside, looking in, it looks to be an incredibly solid start with, I think, four top 10 finishes that you've had and only one DNF so far or retirement. So how do you see it? How's the year from your point of view? I see it relatively good. A lot better than I was expecting, to be completely honest.

OK. What were you expecting? I was expecting to be, yeah, getting 15th, 14th, just around the getting a few points. Not to be making kind of the big leaps that I have, to be honest. Not to talk up too much, but...

Well, it's a results-based business, isn't it? Yeah, I am. I am. I'm proud of how I kind of handled the first half of the season. Of course, it's still a long way to go, but with the team now, I feel completely at home.

In Qatar, there was a small miss-up just with non-communication, just with the exit in qualifying. And ever since then, there hasn't been any issues, which is fabulous. And I'm feeling really kind of every time I leave the track, I'm really happy. Even if it's not the best riding during the day, the team's still kind of picking me up in a good mood and making me feel really at home here in this team. Excellent.

So let's talk a little bit about your path into the MotoGP palette then. So I was doing a little bit of research and I was talking to Senna Aegis earlier on, and like him, you've come through the Asia Talent Cup. Which maybe is a little bit of a surprise that there's so many Australians coming through that series. Obviously, it makes sense when you think about it. Then you had some stints in the European Talent Cup, Red Bull Rookies, and then on to the FIM Junior GP World Championship.

So this is your first full season, of course, in the full Moto3 system with the legendary Tech3 squad. So tell us about this journey from growing up in Australia as a young lad all the way to being in a World Championship. Yeah, quite a relatively quick and not too quick. It's been kind of really serious since 2021. I did, as you said, the Asia Talent Cup in 2019 and I think my best was a fifth in that.

So it was quite a good season and then surprisingly I didn't get a second year selected for that. But no, we had a look at some options and one came up to race in the European Talent Cup. So we went for it. It was probably a year earlier than we had planned. But no, we thought why not?

So Mum and I moved over here and my dad and my sister stayed at home. And yeah, we arrived straight into COVID and all of that. Difficult times. Yeah, difficult times. It was Mum and I stuck in a hotel room for 105 days, which is difficult.

But looking at it from now, it was good memories. Mum and I still have a very loving relationship, which is awesome because it was a typical time for her to be away from dad and her daughter as well. Luckily my sister's four years older than me, so she's turning 23 on Wednesday. So it was good at least she was a bit older and it kind of made it kind of separation a little bit easier. It kind of shines a light on the level of sacrifice that goes into getting you guys to where you are.

I think many people realise that the Europeans, they kind of have to leave for the weekend, where us it's 10 months of the year, 11 months of the year. So it is very sacrificing. You basically have to sacrifice everything and not just the rider. It's my mum as well, to be away from her family. And yeah, it is a big change, but no, we'd have to be done to survive in this sport and to make it.

Because Spain and Italy as well, but more so Spain is where you have to be. I said the European Talent Cup in 2020 and 2021. I did quite a good season once it got underway in 2020. I think with one or two top 10 finishes and then in 2021 I was able to get a win and two podiums. With that, at that time it was the kind of the CEB Spanish Championship.

So it had the Moto3 Junior Championship at that time and then the European Talent Cup. And then in 2022 it changed to Junior GP, Junior GP All Championship. And I moved up to race in that with Aspire Junior Team, which was the championship to be into. That's the one you had to be in. And at that time I got selected to race in the Ripper All Peaks Cup as well.

Which, yeah, 2022 I think was probably the hardest year I've ever had racing. A lot hasn't been a long journey. But yeah, it was just difficult in a new team and having quite a lot of struggles with the new, kind of adapting to a new bike and all those kind of situations. But yeah, it was good that I was able to, I think at the end of the season I got a top 10 finishing in both. Which then I was able to get another year in the Ripper All Peaks Cup and as well Junior GP with the same team.

And I came into the season a lot more prepared than really the year before. We kind of threw everything at it because 2023 is the year if I want to make it to World Championship. If not then another year in Junior GP, it might be a stretch to then make it to World Championship. But no, we just focused on the year ahead and each race at a time. And yeah, Dad did a lot of research and a lot of planning kind of on what we could do when we came back in February.

We spent Christmas and we used it at home in the show. So yeah, I felt a lot more prepared going into the season. And yeah, both second round in both championships, I was able to get a podium. Second place in both, which was super, super nice. And yeah, that kind of got the ball rolling a little bit.

Yeah, I kind of got a lot more confidence in myself. I knew that that wasn't enough. Of course, I was able to get some good qualifying in the Ripper Rookies Cup and then as well two other podiums. And as well in Junior GP was able to get another one or two, I believe. So yeah, I kind of just was quite consistent.

And I think that that's what I kind of got the attention of some people. And Aston last year approached her there, the Rookies hospitality. And I said, just let you know, I'm looking for a World Championship right next year. Thinking nothing of it. And yeah, it was, yeah, I think just kind of showing the confidence and just going to ask kind of helped in the...

Made an impression. Yeah, it wasn't until really, really late that I knew that I had a seat. It was with Zano. So just basically before the flyaways that I was probably just going to do another year in Junior GP and maybe a third year in Ripper Rookies Cup. And we had some offers and some teams that were available, but we weren't able to afford it.

And yeah, luckily this opportunity came around to kind of as a full factory rider. One of the best motor three teams. Yeah, for sure. What a place to be. To be a part of the Rebel KM family, but to be a part of that program and to have their support backing me.

Yeah, to have the trust in Herve and as well all the PM ability bosses and Rebel bosses as well is really major. And I was very, to be completely honest, I finished the Rookies race and it wasn't a very good race in the Sunday morning at Zano. And I was very upset just because I couldn't do it. I couldn't get a better result. And Mum had actually found out that night that I'd been offered a seat and yeah, then I was able to get told then.

But it was a bit difficult because I had to act disappointed that I wasn't getting a third year in Rookies Cup. Because I wasn't able to announce that I had a seat in here and it was about a month and a bit that I had to keep it to myself. And I got a lot of rumors that I was going to different teams and blah, blah, blah. But no, at the end it was a very big moment for my Mum and Dad, I think the most. Because of, yeah, to kind of take the weight off that it's kind of going into World Championship now.

It's a bit off the previous years. I've always had to pay to race because it's difficult for an Aussie or to race over here and to now have the kind of the weight off the shoulders that takes a couple of hours off. They can start to go and enjoy it a bit more. Yeah, a little bit of pressure. Now I feel a lot more pressure than kind of the second half of the season, but I still don't feel too much because I know my role is the second rider to continue to help Danny to win the World Championship.

And that was the goal in Qatar at the first round. So yeah, it's still kind of, it hasn't really sunk in that I'm just kind of in the World Championship, I think, because I was human rookies cup. It kind of made the transition a bit easier. But I'm sure Philip Armand is going to change that completely. I'm always amazed by you young guys.

I mean, you are young guys, obviously, you know, just how you cope with this transition. Because I mean, you guys, you Australians are a long, you couldn't really get much further away from home than you are. I asked this to Senna earlier because I'm always kind of curious about whether having a few other fellow Aussies in the pit lane is something you like in terms of camaraderie and that sort of commonality of background or do you just kind of keep yourself to yourself or do you got your family here with you this weekend? So how is it for you? Yeah, it's Senna and I kind of, he started about 10 months before me on the road and we kind of grew up racing road together.

Kind of my last two years of flat track, we became really close mates with him and yeah, with their family and we kind of just lost the friendship a little bit when we came over here because kind of all racing for the same spot. And it's normal. I think it's the same with anyone in any country. That does happen. But last year when he was filing for the Moto2 European Championship and kind of me, Junior GPO Championship, it kind of got us closer.

And it's good to kind of have that friendship back that there's, of course, when I'm moving up to Moto2, it's probably not going to be... Loves her off again. Yeah, yeah, which is... But that's racing. It's racing.

But for sure to have Jonathan, his dad in and Senna here as well, takes a lot of kind of stress as well that mum has someone that she's known for years to be here. And to have people that we've known for a while is really nice as well. We both have our own friendships and relationships in the paddock as well. So it's not all that we're meeting each other. But no, it's good that we're able to generally sometimes with corn training together and it's nice to still have that friendship there.

But of course, at the end of the day, we're both as well as all Aziz and everyone here, we're racing for the same prize at the end of the day. So no, it's nice to have him here. You mentioned that you set your ambitions fairly realistically at the beginning of the season and obviously surpassed your expectations as you admitted earlier on. Quite understandably when you look at the results. So you're 12th in the standings at the moment.

Having kind of perhaps reset your expectations a little bit as we go into the second half of the season, there's 11 races and we've had nine so far. But what are the expectations? What's going to make you happy at the end of this season? Are you thinking that perhaps a top 10 just about in the standings at the end of the year is possible? I think Philip Ireland would be good.

That's for sure, I'd love that and the only thing that would be a better place in the world to do it than at your home GP. Especially at Philip Ireland. Yeah, but no, basically the plan is still the same as the start of the year to be rookie of the year. The goal has switched a little bit to where I think I will be kind of positioning. I do think it is possible to get a podium or two throughout the rest of this season.

But no, I've got to stay around it. I'm still a rookie in this class and I've still got a lot to learn. But no, just to continue getting the Q2 qualifiers, which is probably the biggest annoying part of my season so far, is that I couldn't get any ascent. It's viciously competitive out there, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And to disappointingly get that DNF in Saturning after probably my best race to date. But shit happens. Part of the process. Yeah, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and it's Moto3 as well. I don't think anyone can kind of predict a result of a Moto3 race and congrats to them if they ever have because it's...

Yeah, normally I'm watching it through my fingers like this, you know, the Moto3 race. Just to finish the season with a couple of podiums would be amazing. The main goal is to rookie the year. That is what I really want to fight for and have to my name. I think my name would be good and I think I'm 10 points behind Vicarious now where I was only a few the previous round.

So yeah, I've got a bit of work to do. What about Silverstone? I mean, I'm guessing you've raced there a few times in the rookies. No, no, no, I've never been here. Oh really?

Okay, so you've never raced at Silverstone before. Okay, so talk a little bit about what's the process that you go through when you're approaching a brand new track then? Yeah, it's difficult to do kind of a lot of like in-car racing and then they have the simulators and everything like that. But we don't have the technology to at the moment they have some simulators, but I find that they're not quite up to date. So it's a lot of basically visual learning, watching a bunch of races, watching a bunch of onboards, looking over the data and those type of things.

And kind of like the track walk that we have later today, it's really taking it in kind of the layout. And when you kind of lean on the team in terms of data, in terms of the initial setup of the bike when you go out tomorrow morning, or do you have some ideas in terms of what you want? They've got years and years of experience and information. So it's basically relying on them to have a decent setup for the first session whenever it's a new track. They all know my crew chief I've had for the last two years.

He understands me, which is good. And it's relatively a base setup that we have throughout each round and each track. So yeah, just to go out and to get a good base lead, just to do laps. I just like to do laps and then the track and kind of adapt myself to the bike and not play around too much. When I'm not on pace yet is the most important thing for me.

And finally, because I'm conscious of the time, I'm meant to be talking to her very shortly, although he probably is in deep conversation somewhere else. I've seen him for 30 seconds today. He's a busy guy. He's an incredible character. I mean, what is it like to have Monsieur Ponchard as your team boss?

I mean, obviously you've alluded to the fact that you approached him very bravely and obviously left an impression on him. But yeah, I mean, what's the relationship like with her though? He's quite the character. Yeah, it's a really, really good relationship that I have. It kind of feels like he's my French father a little bit.

He's made it, mum and I really, really at home. And then when my dad has been here as well, he's made him feel at home. And I didn't realize that he talks to dad quite regularly on the race weekends, which is, I think, really, really good and really, really kind for my father to be hard to cross the road and to have the time to do that. But I really like him as a team boss. He's firmly has to be firm and kind of funny and a character when he the rest of the time.

But no, he keeps us riders really, really focused. Fit on the ground to help to kind of manage. For me at least. I feel like he's doing that. I'm not sure with the other boys, but no, he's produced plenty of great riders throughout the year.

So I don't think there's a more experienced old man in the paddock to... Deeply, deeply knowledgeable man. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And no, it's nice. He calls me regularly in the off weeks to just always check up.

And it's I think something like that is hopefully a long relationship that I'm able to keep building. It's a really interesting insight into how a young lad like yourself gets on in a what would you call it melting pot that is the Moto3 World Championship. Super aggressive, super competitive, lot of pressure. But as I say, you guys always amazed me how kind of steady and down to earth you are and supported by great teams. So it's been fascinating to talk to you obviously with a little bit of time heated as always at these events.

But thank you very much indeed for talking to us and hopefully have a chance to talk to you again at some point in the years to come and see how you get on through your career. But great to have you on and wish you the best of luck at Silverstone because one of the world's great tracks, I'm a little bit biased, obviously, is a brick. But yeah, I hope you enjoy it. I'm excited to get on the bike. Thanks a lot.

Right, well, here we are. File an interview of the day and delighted to say I'm joined today by Ivan Otole, MT Helmets MSI rider. Ivan, welcome to MotoPod. Great to speak with you. Welcome to the UK.

I guess this is feeling a little unusual with this heat and sunshine for you in the UK. Yeah, we are not getting used to it a little bit to this weather. But anyway, happy to be here also with this weather because in Spain it's too hot now. To be with this weather is good for us. So this is cooler for you.

It's hot for us and cool for you. Yeah. OK, so let's start by talking a bit about the 2024 season today. You're a solid second position in the championship at this point. You had a magnificent win in Assen.

How do you sum up your season so far? I think that the season is going really well. It's true that we made little mistakes and bigs, for example, in Qatar. It was not a bad mistake, but it was a race for being on the podium. And also, for example, in America, we crashed and it was a race for being also on the podium and to take a lot of good points.

But anyway, we are really competitive and we are really consistent race by race. Yeah. Now, I was having a little look at your history online. So I see that like many of your competitors in this championship, you've been on a motor free machine for several years. You came through the European talent cut, the Red Bull rookies, TV, Moto3 Junior Championship and then into full world championship Moto3.

Most of that time you've been on a KTM. This year, obviously, you're in the MT Omnits MSI squad, having your best year performance of your career. So have you found something with the KTM that's unlocked more performance for you this year? Or is it just a little bit of a surprise? Yeah, I think it's all.

It's experience. Also, yeah, the most important is experience. I grew up, I improved a lot from that years. And now it's true that I feel in the, how I say, my prime, in my best moment now in my career. So now just try to give my best race by race and try to keep this performance.

Yeah. And how have you found the switch to the Pirelli tire this year? Because obviously you've been in Moto3 for some time, so you have a lot of experience on the Dunlop previously. So what is your feeling on the Pirellis? Yeah, it's different than Dunlop.

It's true that Dunlop was not so fast, like no more fast than Pirelli's. But the tires keep safe for the race, more or less in the same pace. So no drop? No, not too much drop. Pirelli is really, really fast in one lap, but then four or five laps, you feel a lot of drop and you have to manage really, really good the tire.

And from a kind of race tactics point of view, is that a change that you quite like, the need to manage the tires and to choose when you push? Is that something that, again, with your experience, maybe that's a good thing for you? Yeah, I think it's a good thing for me. Yeah, it's true that with the Pirelli you need strategy with the tires because it changes a lot from one compound of tire, hard or soft. And it depends on the feeling you have with the vibe for the race with the tire.

Also you have to stay really focused on the drop of the tire because if you push too much at the beginning, at the end of the race, you don't have tire to push. And so I'm assuming it's not the case that if you push them a little too hard and they drop, if you relax for a few laps, do they come back better again or is the drop permanent? It doesn't come back. The thing is to push at the beginning to try to cut the group, be as less as possible. Then in the middle of the race, try to stay at a good pace, not to stress too much the tire and the last laps push again until the limit.

Push like hell. Davide Anzio is currently 58. Davide Anzio is currently 58 points ahead in the championship, but you've just had the summer break. So with some time, three, four weeks, or four weeks, I think, to reflect on your year so far, what's your kind of state of mind and your main objective as we start up this second part of the season? Do you go full attack or?

Yeah, my objective. No, my objective and my dream is to fight for the World Championship and I will give my best and I will try to do it until the last race. Now focus race by race. What I said before, try to give my best in the race, race by race, and let's see what can be the result. I will focus on the races to take my dream or my objective.

Just talking about the summer break, what does that look like for you? Did you take a short holiday or have you been training? What kind of things did you do? For sure, I take one week doing nothing at home because I like to stay at home because when you are travelling all the time, when you come back to my country, to home, I want to stay calm and relax at home. Sleep in your own bed for a change?

Yeah, I'm in my bedroom also sleeping and to be with my family also. And then focus again with the training and to the races. And what kind of training are we talking about? Are you in the gym every day or on a bike on the track? Yeah, two of them, gym and bike.

Interesting, okay. And I noticed that for this year, I think I have this right, you've joined Lando Norris' Quadrant Athlete Programme. Talk us through how that came around and what does taking part in that programme, what does that kind of do or mean for you in the future, do you think? It's a really, really good opportunity, I think. What is it?

It was very clear for me. Yeah, it's like, it starts with the eSports team, gaming. Like online gaming you mean? Yeah, online gaming also and of competition of video games. And they move it to content creation like for the media.

They do videos with YouTubers, for YouTube also, they do merch with clothes and merchandising. And they do last year, for this year, they make a new programme, it's called Quadrant Athletes. And there's two guys, one girl and me with motorbike. And yeah, we just make videos or they take our images to, it's like great content creation for internet. Okay, interesting.

And so, because obviously we know that Lando is a huge motorcycle racing fan, kind of has a tribute Rossi crash arm in design in Formula One. So how did you get involved with that programme? Did they approach you or how did it actually happen that you become part of the... Ah, how it happened. Last year it arrived an email to our, it arrived an email, something of Quadrant or Lando Norris.

And we send it to the manager and my manager, Manats, and it was really an important thing. Interesting, okay. I'm interested to see in the future what that becomes more and more. Yeah, it's a really good opportunity because being together with Lando, all the team, all his team Quadrant, and to take this opportunity for show us to all the people is... So it increases your profile.

Yeah, it increases my profile and it's really good for me and for also my sponsors. Yeah, interesting. And just to finish up, you had a fourth place finish here at Silverstone last year. Where does the Silverstone track rank for you in terms of your favourite tracks or maybe even least favourite tracks? I mean, what kind of result do you hope to achieve here this weekend?

Yeah, as always I will try to win because we are in a point of the championship that we have to cut points from the first, right, from the first. But yeah, Silverstone is a track, it's not the most I like, but it's really good for me. I like riding here and it's like... What is it in particular maybe that makes it not one of your favourites? Not my favourite, but I go fast.

I don't know why, but I go fast. It's not one of my favourites, but yeah, it's like a particular because a lot of fast corners and also slopes and I have fun here. Well, I mustn't keep you any longer. It's the end of the day. It's five o'clock.

It's been a long, hot Thursday day of champions here at Silverstone. Thank you for talking with us. It's a great pleasure to meet you and good luck in the second half of this season in your dream to chase the championship. And in particular, good luck this weekend. Hope you have a good result at Silverstone and yeah, all the best for the future.

Thank you. Cheers. Alright, so it's five o'clock, just coming up on Saturday at Silverstone and delighted to have Joel Calzo back on the show just a short few months after you spoke with my colleague Jim Mcnau in Circuit of the Americas. So Joel, it's been a bloody good day today, third in practice this morning and then third in qualifying. So front row start.

Tell us about finding the groove this weekend and obviously today in particular. Yeah, it's been an overall quite good weekend. We're obviously on the front row. We just found a boost of confidence this morning, a bit more comfortable with the bike and then the results just came along. Can you pinpoint what the confidence came from in terms of the bike?

Yeah, we just made a little setup change and then just riding more confident and at this track it really makes a big difference just committing to all the corners. And yeah, that's where we found the time and it's been, yeah, obviously a great weekend so far. Now, just going back a little bit because I did a little bit of research and we were kind of planning to talk with you back in Kotor today. So 2019 you dipped your toe into several series as I saw European CV, sorry, European Cup, Moto3, Super Sport 300 as well. Was the plan simply to find a competitive seat in Europe or was the goal always Moto3?

Goal has always been the ride to MotoGP so we did the junior categories in the Junior Moto3 Championship and we were successful there with five race wins and then we stepped up to World Championship following that. And never looked back since? Yeah, exactly. So you made it into the Moto3 full time I guess it was in 2021. This is your fourth season.

Showed improvement every single year from there. Next year you're moving over to the Angelou Semptier team who I believe you rode for in the Italian Championship. Correct. So tell us about that kind of decision. I'm not looking for digging on Boei Motorsport who you're with currently.

Yeah, no, really looking forward to next year's proscrapes. I really gel with Alessandro Tanucci, the team owner of MTA Level Up. And yeah, they were the first one this year that showed a bit of interest and then we had a few extra talks and we ended up crossing the line super early because it was the last time last year so I wanted to get everything locked away and focus on for the rest of this season. So that was the idea behind it, get locked away, really believe in MTA Level Up and like I said, a good relationship with Tanucci so I think we can do a great season next year together and hopefully there'll be the stepping stone up in the Moto2. So was the anxiety sort of to get signed early then as you said because of that stress of last year and having to wait around a bit?

Nah, not even that. It's just a matter of factors that play into it that I don't want to touch too much into. No, no, no, I'm not digging for dirt. Yeah, like I said, I felt comfortable with them and when they put me their final offer I was happy with the contract and we went ahead with that. Just go for it sort of job.

That's it. You had a really strong start this season, eighth in Qatar and then you had a couple of fifth places in Portugal and Spain I think it was. Between then and now it's been a bit trickier in terms of results. So just general competitors versus the field or did you go somewhere in the wrong direction on bike setup or how do you sort of sum it up? Having had the summer break to think things through a bit.

Yeah, yeah, we went through a little bit of a rough patch last, I think it was three, four races wasn't it? So yeah, we just we went a little bit the wrong direction in the setup and my riding style for this new bike this year and the new tyres and we just couldn't gel. We were there reasonably in the points obviously but not where we should be where we are today, you know, in the front row and should be fighting for the podium each week. It was just a dip in form but that happens in a 22 race season so hopefully it's upwards from now and we can only bring our own good results. Well you're on the right track as far as this weekend goes.

Exactly. Now Joel you're one of the smaller stature riders although most people in Moto3 are on the smaller side of course. I mean there's a couple of outliers I suppose like Veja for example but where do you see your future? Do you see yourself specialising in the smaller bike class or would you like to get up to Moto2? No for sure Moto2, MotoGP out there.

I'm the same height as Marquez, same height as Pedroza. You can make it work so Joel Garcia right now is also not a tall stature and is leading the Moto2 World Championship so I think you have your benefits as a small rider but you also have your benefits as a tall rider but you can mix and you can make anything work if you put your mind to it. Where do you stand on, maybe not the controversy around Moto3 but there's some talk about increasing the engine capacity, making the bikes a bit bigger to spread the field a little bit. I mean where do you sort of come down on this from a, I guess from a safety standpoint because you're the one that's in the middle of this mixing it. Yeah I agree I mean it could be great like I mean I am hoping to do a really good season next year to step up to Moto2 and really that's because the Moto2 is more of whoever the fastest is wins because of the bigger engine and the slipstream doesn't matter as much.

But I mean Moto3 is one of the best classes to watch for the fans and stuff so of course it's really good for them and finally that's what brings this sport to a big hole you know it's a MotoGP. Moto3 battles and stuff like that is the key point of it so yeah if they want bigger engine I don't see any downsides to it but obviously yeah Moto3 is always good battles and that's what we're here to watch. And I was wondering where do you stand on this potential with Liberty coming in? I mean it's a big opportunity for riders because social media presence, having a personality, getting yourself out there has big potential benefits financial amongst other things for riders so where are you excited about it? Yeah for sure.

Are you excited about it? I think the prospect of actually bringing Liberty in is really good for the sport it brings in a lot more budget into the MotoGP. I think it's going to be also really beneficial for riders outside of Europe like myself from Australia as an exposure point of view and sponsor point of view from other countries. I think there can only be great things that can come from it. Interesting and very briefly Silverstone I didn't check back on your past results here as a track I mean is it one you like?

Tricky sections or favourite sections of the track? Yeah well I only came here last year because the first year I was injured so I only came here last year and it wasn't bad I stayed with the front group qualified for the FP5 I think so always just been a quite decent track for me I think. The Aussies also love fast corners and you know faster track like Phillip Island so it takes a lot of confidence in these corners I think that's where we really shine compared to like a little bit hard breaking tighter tracks so yeah I'm really enjoying my time at the moment here. Podium possible tomorrow? I bloody hope so mate I bloody hope so.

Well Joel appreciate your time it's the end of the day and everyone's got to get on so I've got to drive home for a couple of hours so wish you the best of luck for the race tomorrow I'll be in the stands cheering you on and wish you a safe ride, successful ride and yeah so you get on the podium. Appreciate it mate really thank you. Cheers mate.