INTERVIEW I ROAD RACER JOE ROBERTS
P100
something that has never been
my strongest point. As far as the
working process is concerned,
he's helping me be a more ma-
ture rider and be stronger at the
end of the race."
Italtrans is managed by
Robertino Pietri, the former
MotoAmerica rider based in the
USA. But aside from the Vene-
zuelan, the squad is fully Italian.
Does this even inhibit communi-
cation inside the box?
"Giovanni, his English isn't the
best as far as fully communicat-
ing," Roberts said. "But with
bike stuff he understands what
I'm saying. And he can repeat
enough that I understand what
he's saying. Anytime there is
miscommunication Robertino
is there. He helps fill the void.
Obviously Robertino speaks
perfect English and lives in
America. I wouldn't say that's an
issue, really."
For 2021, Roberts decided to
relocate to Aljezur in the south of
Portugal while racing in Europe.
Before he had lived alone in
Barcelona. Then through 2020's
crazy, compact Covid-hit sched-
ule he had no base to speak of.
Surrounding himself with a small
group of people has given him a
more stable environment, which,
in turn, helps him on track.
"I wasn't really living anywhere,
man. I was just floating around
like the wind, never settling
MotoGP, man,
can mess with
so much of your
head. Yeah, I had
the opportunity
to go [to Aprilia].
But it wasn't the
right time. And to
go that late in the
season wouldn't
have been cool to
my team now.