Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Loris Capirossi: Fast Vet Marlboro Ducati's Loris Capirossi is not only the longest-serving rider in the MotoGP paddock, he's also one of the most likeable. The ltalian, who tumed 33 the day before the start of the Qatar GP weekend, opened the season with a win in Jerez, the first-ever season-open- ing vidory for Ducati and Bridgestone, and for Capirossi in the premier class. cn: How big a confid€nc€ boost was th€ J€P€z winP loriscapirossi; I think, for us, it's a great moment in Jerez. I think that's past. lt's tYvo week ago. We don't think about that. We have to think about that race, we have to put all our focus in that race, and we want to think race by race. And Ithinkwe are for sure in a good moment for us. The bike is quite good. We will see vr'hat happens. We will see to make better and better every race. I think for us i5 one of the most imporhnt seasons because it s the last season for l0@cc. cn: Oo gou think Honda will dominat€ n€d g€arP loriscapircssi: I don't think so. Ducati went out only in 2003 and werybody had one more year experience and our bike immediately is good like the top bike with one lqr5 year of experience. cn: How will thE impnov€d D€smos€dici work in Oatar? loriscapirosri: I'm thinkinSthis bike, the balance is a little bit better than last year. We have a lot of new things, and the enSine system - the engine is a little bit smoother compared to last year. I think the package is a little bit better. But I say an),ways, this bike is more high-perform- ance, but anyway sometimes is more dif- ficult to find a good setting, When we go to the new track and immediateb/ the bike is quick, it is easy. I think we find in the last test, and the last race, a good balance in the bike. and we try to have the same one in every race. cn: Who do gou think mad€ th€ bigg€st step in th€ wint€n Ducati or Bridg€ston€P loriscapirossi: I say, both the same, but I think Bridgestone a little bit bigger than our bike. Our bike make a good step, but Bridgestone make a little bit bigger than our bike, We know we have a lot of improvements on last year'r bike, because in the test inJerez in November, especially. ln January in the test in Sepang, we compare both bikes,2005 and 2006, for understanding. And we see the 2006 is better. But it's not really big step, but the feeling is better. cn: What did gou l€ann in JGn€z that is th€ biggcst improv€m€nt tor Bnidg€ston€P loriscapirossi: I think the Bridgestone guys are working a lot for the endurance. And now we have the good performance tire for the whole race, not only for half race. This is after half-sea- son last year, we make this improve- ment, and we continue tq improve more and more. I'm thinking we're working really well to improve that tire. To have the constant tire for a race. cn: W€r€ gou suPprisEd Dani P€dtosa was so clos€ to gouP loriscapir.ossi: ln every interview I do during the winter test, always I say Pedrosa is stron& because when I follow him, not in the track, butthe data, the lap time, I see he's strong. I think he's the future guy for the MotoGB because he's coming strong in the first race - he fin- ished second. This is not so easy to beat him. I think he's coming really strong. tlerrrry Rdl ,}.rol',,s I I a Geoff Aaron: Goin For lO I D Geoff Aaron kicked ofl the 2006 AMr''/ NATC National Trials Championship season with a pair of wins at the opening round of the series in Arizona. The delending National champ is in his lSth year of National competition making him the elder statesman of the tour, and with the Arizona wins and a win this past weekend in Oklahoma the 33-year-old upped his career National win total to 72. Aaron also established himself as the front-runner for this year's title - a title that, it he should win it, would be his loth National titl€. furon is dso one of the biggest promoters of the spon of tri- als and spends virtual, every weekend doing his extreme riding show at various venues around the country ln Oklahoma, Aaron spoke about his longevity in the sport and what it is that keeps him motivated. cn: You havE b€€n known as a slow start€n in th€ past, but Uou cam€ out strong in Arizona with a pair of wins. geofiaaron: Yeah, this is a Sreat start for us this year. The series is kind of shon this year, so I wanted to come out and be strong right off the bat. I have been riding a lot with Brent and Bruce LeRiche and I think that helped me a lot fo. the first event. cn: You hav€ b€En succ€ssful in this sport for a v€rg long time. What do gou think k€€ps gou motivatEd to win? geofaaronr I try to stay motivated by iug- gling diflerent evenB around. We do a lot of ditrerent things. We have been doing demos for Freestyle Motocross, we do a lot of demos for Red Bull. and then I do a lot of competitions, The Fact that we are breaking it down into differert events every rareekend keeps me pumped up. cn: Talk about goun compang €xtr€m€ Riding €ntcntainm€nt and Uour' shows a littl€ bit. Seofaaron: We have a 3S-foot demo trailer that Red Bull helped me build that folds out into a ramp show lt is part trick riding and stunt riding, but also exhibits hard-core trials skills. cn: You just madE th€ mov€ from Southern CalifoPnia to Colorado. Whg did gou r€locat€P geoffaaron: Well, one reason was to be a little more centrally located, because now we rravel to the East Coast as much as the west Coast, Aso, we have built a second demo trailer under my ERE banner, and I am working with team rider Keith Wineland, who lives in Colorado Springs. Also my new mechanic and minder Zack Clement is from Colorado. I have lived on the East Coast and I have lived on the West Coast, and I've alwap enjoyed the mountain atmosphere in Colorado, and that is what lured me there. cn: ls lt hand to switch g€ers and go from a show to a com- p€titionP geofiaaron: lt js definitely a different mindset. Riding in front of 10,000 peoph in a stadium is a lot different than con- centrating on ridinS up a triple step in Arizona. But, I have been dqing this sport a long time and I enioy all aspects of it- I iust have to put myself in the ri8ht frame of mind for each event. cn: You hav€ a charrc€ to win a loth National tifl€ this g€an which no on€ has com€ clos€ to doing, What do uou think about that2 geoffaaron: This has been going on a long time and a lot of people thougk that I would have gotten knocked off by now or lort interest. But, kause I have b€en able to juSgle all of these things I have been able to stay pumped about the sport and been able to stay on my bike. Moetly, I am just glad to be doing what I love to do. cn: What do gou attribut€ gour dominBncE in trials toP geoffaaron: There is a lot to uials and you obviously have to have the skills to make the obstacles, but you also have to be strong rnentally. I think tl|d is probably where it is at now for me, there are a lot of riders who can perform, but I have been able to perform under pres:ure bet- ter than some of the other riders. Shaa lvloore trHHT RtIEIf,'3 ffiIETM: 14 APRIL I9,2006 CYCLE NEWS jJ'r&t \ t I

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