WSBK – Interview Michael van der Mark: I have to get my first victory! – Used YAMAHA

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Interview Michael van der Mark: I have to get my first victory !

WSBK - Interview Michael van der Mark: I have to get my first victory! - Used YAMAHA

World Supersport winner in 2014 with the Ten Kate team, Michael van der Mark has arguably one of the best handlebars in the Superbike World Championship. Like Jonathan Rea, this pure Honda product has decided to go to the enemy: he will drive a factory Yamaha R1 in 2017 ! MNC Interview.

Site: You were a bit like the new Jonathan Rea at Honda. The new Fireblade is coming this year, but you preferred to jump on the R1. Why ?
Michael van der Mark: It was a personal choice, after so many years in the Ten Kate team I wanted new challenges. I knew then that the new Fireblade was coming but I wanted to do something else. We had a lot of very good results, but also a lot of problems. This complicates things, it is not always easy to be 100% focused. That’s why I changed teams. It’s good for me. And then I knew the potential of the R1 was great. It all happened at the right time.

MNC: Getting your ten kate team is still your best memory in competition ?
M. VDM. : Yes of course ! Getting a world title was my goal, something I had been working for since the start of my career. But beside my coronation in Supersport, I would also place my two victories at the 8 Hours of Suzuka … These are my best memories..

WSBK - Interview Michael van der Mark: I have to get my first victory! - Used YAMAHA

MNC: You finished 4th on an old motorcycle and in a team that you knew perfectly well. Can you do even better in your first year with a new bike and within a new team? ?
M. VDM. : It’s hard to say. My fourth place was a very good result, but if you look closely the gap to third was way too high. So if we finish 5th rather than 4th in 2017, but closer to the Top 3, that would already be a huge accomplishment..

MNC: On the other hand, do you think you will be able to get your first WSBK victory this year ?
M. VDM. : But I have to get this first victory! (Laughs) It’s been two years since I finished first. Last year at Assen, I should have already won, rather than crashed. I really want to win…

MNC: Your are over, there are only two days of testing left at Phillip Island. You feel ready ?
M. VDM. : Yes I feel ready. We trained well, we did four test days in Europe, luckily all in good conditions. It will be nice to have two test days before the weekend at Phillip Island. It’s a circuit that I like a lot and which should match our bike very well. I will take advantage of the two days to adapt myself a little more to the machine. But I think I’m ready.

WSBK - Interview Michael van der Mark: I have to get my first victory! - Used YAMAHA

MNC: What do you think of the Crossplane ?
M. VDM. : I thought I was going to adapt more easily! The power is both so smooth and ubiquitous … With the Honda, I always had to stay high in the laps. This is no longer the case with the Crossplane. It’s quite strange actually. Power comes in smoothly, which is a very good point for the longevity of the tires..

MNC: And how do you like the chassis of your Yamaha ?
M. VDM. : This is the main asset of the motorcycle. It is so easy to use! From the end of my first ride on the R1, I felt the difference. It’s really his strong point.

MNC: Last year Alex and Sylvain suffered big injuries. Do you think this is due to the youth of the bike and the project? It does not pose a problem ?
M. VDM. : I think the expectations were too high. Like any good rider, they attacked, but last year the bike was not at the top level and I think that’s why they attacked so hard, and crashed so hard too. The bike has progressed well for this new year, we have a lot of support from Yamaha which is essential. Although the pressure remains the same we benefit from a more competitive bike so I hope I don’t hurt myself.

WSBK - Interview Michael van der Mark: I have to get my first victory! - Used YAMAHA

MNC: What do you think about the Sunday race ?
M. VDM. : What I’m wondering is if we get a watch for the Sunday pole too ?! After all, we do win one on Saturday after the Superpole…

MNC: Good question, indeed …
M. VDM. : No, but kidding aside, they try to make the races more interesting. We cannot say if it is good or not at the moment. We will have to wait one or two weekends to decide. We will have to test. The organizers at least have the merit of trying something to spice up the races, which is good.

MNC: We saw a funny photo of you, as a young boy, on Rossi’s M1 … it’s still your dream ?
M. VDM. : To be honest, it was after taking this photo that I told my father that I wanted to ride a motorcycle. I was 11, it was for the Dutch TT and I sat on this "replica" of Valentino’s M1. So I told my dad that I wanted to compete. It would be so good to come full circle, to ride this bike that started it all…

MNC: We wish you … Incidentally, that would free a factory R1 for Lucas Mahias! Good start to the season anyway…
M. VDM. : Thank you !

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