Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1499843
INTERVIEW I BONOVO ACTION BMW'S GARRETT GERLOFF P94 and others, all previous race and world title winners. "They're a really good group of guys in the team," says Gerloff. "Also, the engineers that I'm working with in BMW, they have such a good vibe and the atmosphere is really good. Everybody is super passion- ate, they want to win badly, and they're not winning, so they're giving everything to everybody. They're trying to put as many pieces out on the board to see who can move up. So, that's been really nice. There's also the expectation of the [Bonovo] team, there's no expectation to win, basically, which I haven't really had because when I was here racing in the U.S. and stuff, I always had that pressure to win because it was a top team." Perhaps his spectacular rookie season in 2020 was a false dawn? "I had some good results, for sure," he says. "I was on the podium the first year, which was awesome. I couldn't have done it without that team and my crew chief. Then it got to a place where even though I wasn't get - ting all the same support and stuff, the team was expecting the same results. It just got a bit frustrating, in a way, and difficult for sure. "So, now I'm relaxed. I can see that BMW really appreciates having me and that's just awe - some to feel." G erloff has made a bit of a name for not just his on- track exploits but in front of the camera. His You- Tube videos, produced by Andorran flatmate Brad Schwartzrock, have been a resounding suc- cess, showing his life in WorldSBK and giving fans access to areas they'd never see. "YouTube is a weird world because when it started off the amount of reach and the amount of traffic that we got initially was insane. I was like, "This is easy, man," Gerloff says. "Lately it's been kind of tough to get views and whatnot. Even when I was over doing auto - graphs at the Alpinestars truck [at COTA], half the people that were there had been watching the YouTube channel. It was super cool to hear them say that. They seemed excited about it. So, it's nice to see that there's actually a connection that's kind of developing. I have a lot of fun do - ing it. I tried to set it up to where I don't have to focus on it whatsoever. So, I have Brad who's do- ing the video filming and everything. "I just want to use it as a way to give more exposure to myself, but also the people that sup - port me and for them to see their name out there more. Also, I kind of want it to be like a project of awareness for road rac- ing and World Superbike. That's what Jonathan Rea has been doing for a while, and his videos are really good. Scott Red - ding has also dabbled in it. Maybe I can do something. My life feels like it's all over the place and interesting I guess, in a way. So hopefully the people out there like it and it's giving me a new platform for promotion." HAVE YOU WATCHED HIS YOUTUBE VIDEOS?