Monaco - The last race in Valencia has not only closed the 2012 season last Moto GP 800cc, not only marked the thunderous salute to the great Marco Simoncelli, but on that Sunday in Valencia Loris Capirossi , the child prodigy, the son of the school of Italian motorcycling of other times, he wore his helmet, climbed on his Ducati Desmosedici GP11 and after the checkered flag for the last time he greeted the MotoGP World Championship after 23 years of living without a maximum, after 3 world titles Nuremberg (and perhaps as many missed by a whisker) so storing long-lived career as never until now had been able to do.
We interviewed him long after that last race in Valencia to find out the folds of his expressions and small uncertainties inevitable pain of what was happening but with a clear awareness of being able to do the right thing at the right time. A difficult time to stop running, especially for a fighter like Loris, who has made the World Championship where he tied their homes and their lives since as a teenager.
If he wanted, would not have made much effort to find a competitive bike in Superbike or even stay in MotoGP, but the future of Loris from today will be far from the curb and the brawl circuit, and even closer to the world of the circus live MotoGP races other side of the wall, putting his enormous experience to the other drivers. With him, we retraced many of the important stages of his career discovering it still sorry for some events as they occurred just over a week ago.
Sometimes they burn a few more second places in the race or in the world in many positions for which they would give an arm and maybe even more, but Loris has always had the mentality of winning mentality that allowed him to win the World 125 at first year of involvement with a company that rocked the historic heart and made a miracle millions of motorcycle enthusiasts. But let's start with the questions:
Loris how did your career?
- I started in the Honda brand, then stayed in the brand Gilera then the Italian Championship and then European and World. I grew up with 2 stroke engines, as a mixture to be clear, and I love the two days: I'm not against evolution, however, the two-stroke motorcycle is another thing. At home I have a small collection. I love the two times I'm not against evolution, however, the two-stroke motorcycle is another thing: MotoGP today 250cv but there is the smell and the sound of two times. I have several at the home of two-stroke bike I bought them or the ones I took of my world: I have an RD 500 and RD 350 as various other road bikes, plus those of GP. The 125 and 250 which won the World Cup. The 250 is the real GP bike, I do remember the first time in the heart of riding a 250 was a real leap forward compared to the 125 and I was euphoric when I felt I was haunted (there was also a cartoon Capirex with 250 beds after the first test - ed)
In these 20 years the world has changed a lot of the world or the atmosphere in the pits?
- We have changed many things have got some great sponsors that 'shocked the paddock. Before everything was easier, now the paddocks are armored before there were more tents and everything was open.
What advice to young people who start running?
- I tell them to stay calm, because many children are burned after the first good results in the minor categories are projected into the world where you do not have time to grow. I did the first 2 brand, then Italian, then the European Championship. Before I get to experience the world of 3 seasons behind.
During your long career, what are the drivers who have impressed you the most or you had to sweat more than usual?
- Surely Gresini Cadalora Romboni and that was my arch-rival since the brand, then surely also Biaggi and Valentino Reds.
In recent years a lot but you also have won several little things to complain about, we say that the yarn is not always smoothly for you?
- I have won 3 world but I could win maybe 5 or 6 if the misfortune had not played against, but the races are made so and this is part of the game. That's 250 in 1993 I lost my errors, as well as the following year but we also did the luck did not help like when first I broke my arm in the standings to get a podium Waldman overcoming that infuses even needed. In 2006, the Ducati MotoGP I was encouraged, I was stronger I was ahead in the standings, but the ugly incident with Gibernau took me those points which in fact failed at year end.
A rider like you definitely have the passion with which tracks over the years have established a special relationship is not it?
- This without a doubt, we must begin by Phillip Island course, no coincidence that in 1990 they won my first World Championship. Then in 1999 in Assen, Valentino and I them we overtook 5 times until the last lap, I had the better end of the last corner, but none of them wanted to lose. Very nice also the victory in 500 at Mugello in 2000, and the first victory for Ducati in Barcelona and the race at Motegi in 2007.
Such as accidents and fractures alter the responses of a pilot and the approach to the races?
- It depends on what one wants and desires: nobody forces you to run, do it only if you have the strength and willingness to bite the bullet. I have always been strong against the pain. Who do you see for the After Rossi? The future will be difficult, Simoncelli was the best successor to Smith, it seems to me strong for the rest Iannone: is growing well but after I see him a few Italian drivers on the horizon. Missing school, and thus lack the generations of parts.
At the beginning of your experience in 500 you moved for a long time at the home of Rainey at his ranch to learn English but also and above all to learn driving sideways?
- That was a very important experience in my life, I Wayne moved to America in October 95 at his ranch a few steps from Laguna Seca I was six months with the other American riders like Kenny Roberts, and Chandler, and in that time I did a lot of experience. My career has been long, I had several moments that gave me a lot and I have certainly bored. The first experience was in 500 sensational then other times there was no electronics or technology now, remember that Kewin Schwantz retired and be on track at Mugello with him was spectacular. There were riders like Criville, Itho and Abe, along with other samples and have just moved me to go inside with them. The 500 was very difficult and the error was always around the corner. In the race it was difficult to handle the tires and the bike but I was almost always before trial.
In 2001 you were third in the championship with Honda Pons team of 500 just behind the two Honda official. In the MotoGP 2002 season came on the track and you bear it in an epic with less than half of course?
- The 2001 season was a very beautiful, with great prizes always spectacular. We had a bike but despite all of the old year was a season full of satisfaction. In 2002 I had a motorcycle unsuitable to the situation, but nevertheless we managed to get 2 times on the podium, was a miracle because I remember that we had in a straight line in less than 25km of MotoGP.
You brought the Ducati debut, and after the first difficulties you have failed to be competitive. Now according to you what happens at Ducati them?
- I arrived at Ducati in a positive period, both for them and for me that I could do what I wanted technically, they followed me and so I have directed the development in full. Ducati has always been difficult I adapted a motorcycle and driving force being able to be pretty fast. Then the 800 was more difficult, especially for managing electronic intervened so much consumption. With which I have not adapted, did not feel mine anymore. Stoner instead blew the bike that is very well suited to his style a little nervous and similar to that used in the 250. From there, the racing department has begun to follow his directions and not mine, but sometimes a little too far and were not always in the right direction, so the bike has become increasingly difficult to use (even for him) and now that road no longer has paid off.
As you can see the races in a few years? The CRT will replace the MotoGP?
- The economic difficulties have drawn a furrow deep and influence today and even more in the future technical choices that take place and will take place in Moto GP. Today there are high operating costs and decreased budgets. I hope it's just a moment, and that soon things will return as before. But every year the bikes, tires and electronics evolve and make progress in the bikes, so I think will be right to set limits sooner or later all this, especially the development of engines and electronics to limit the costs. The CRT does not have chances of competitiveness against the official Moto GP, but who knows if in the future could really be replaced by the MotoGP formula CRT. At the bottom of the public does not care that the bikes do 300 or 350 km / h, but wants to see good races and many riders in front to fight.
What Simoncelli was a blow to everyone, and you have his number on the course with the fairing in Valencia.
- With Mark for me was a colleague, friend and sometimes I have also seen a bit 'like a father in him. His death brought an incredible void in my heart and my soul, I was friends with Mark and have been close to his passing in MotoGP. What has happened to me seems like a bad dream and I wake up early. It was a great guy, spontaneous and genuine fun with everyone. The motorcycle had a huge loss, had a long future ahead, and full of satisfaction. With his father Paul I have a fantastic relationship, now is an unnatural situation for him. For example, I am a father of a little 'fine for years and my son is the most important thing in my life. If I think something bad, I always hope for me and not him.
Do you think you can still do something for the active safety of the pilots? You can think of to use small hand guards to protect the sides of the handlebar levers, or use some sort of soft collar that combines the hump to the helmet to the neck, leaving the possibility of moving but still protects as it is now used in the cross than in other disciplines?
- We are already working to fit on all bikes and bows of the hand guards to protect the brake lever so that ii can not be fit handlebars. We are already well advanced and evaluate various technical solutions and materials and will soon be required on racing bikes. Increase protection for the neck instead is more difficult: Many companies are working on it but it is a shock like that of Mark I think that would do just a protective collar. Cross does not bring into the hull should not be out of the bike with all the upper body during the turn, the riders we need a different and broader mobility in the cross.
At this point in your career or do you think you'll be in Monte Carlo to return to Italy?
- I made a lifestyle choice to come here 18 years ago in Monte Carlo and the rest for the future related to this choice, my son has friends living here and studying Here I have a business here in Monaco, but are still very attached to my land and Italy.
We welcome Loris always waiting to see him on track to continue to follow his passion and not yet definitely give that world to which he has so much and do not forget her very easily. Loris it will not come from around the World Championship, but will remain within the Dorna as a security consultant to the track and certainly in this role will demonstrate the genuine passion that distinguished him in many years.
source: motoblog.it
