WSBK – Interview Sylvain Barrier (WSBK): we will be able to do very good races –

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Interview Sylvain Barrier (WSBK): we can do some great races

WSBK - Interview Sylvain Barrier (WSBK): we will be able to do very good races -

A few days before the last WSBK tests and one week before the opening of the 29th Superbike World Championship, Sylvain Barrier gives Site an update on his preparation and delivers his opinion – decided! – on the new racing format. Interview.

After the pilots, those of the World Superbike have an appointment on the other side of the world, in Australia, to participate Monday and Tuesday in the last winter tests. And it is from next weekend, on this same Phillip Island track, that the will begin, to be followed all year in detail on MNC !

Contacted by Site, Sylvain Barrier was kind – the professionalism and the courage – to answer our questions. The n ° 20 of the Kawasaki Pedercini team takes stock…

Site: Hello Sylvain! First of all how are you ?
Sylvain Barrier: I am very well thank you ! I’m already in Phillip Island because Monday and Tuesday we have the last tests before the opening of the championship the following weekend.

MNC: You had a trying year 2015 (separation with BMW after two WSBK events, then a shoulder injury that spoils your STK1000 and CIV seasons on the Yamaha) … You were still able to have fun and learn ?
S. B .: Yes, it’s true that 2015 was a really, really tough year, both mentally and physically. I couldn’t really "learn", no, on the other hand I was able to see for myself that the Yamaha R1 is a very good bike. And what I was also able to discover is that even having torn tendons and muscles, the body compensates enormously.

MNC: You also worked for Michelin last year. What were you doing exactly ?
S. B .:I was a development pilot for the Hypersport and Moto GP "Competition" ranges .

MNC: What have you learned from this work ?
S. B .: I learned a lot from the tires of course, but above all I noticed that Michelin is a big family and that they are always there even when things don’t go well. I learned to analyze the sensations one has when riding a motorcycle, and to describe them clearly using very precise "technical" vocabulary. You also have to be very regular and constant when driving, while keeping a good speed to use the tires as much as possible..

MNC: Fortunately, the 2016 season is looking better for you! What do you think of your new Kawasaki ?
S. B .: The first feeling with the bike was very good. Now, I am still on the lookout. Above all, I don’t want to have false hopes and ultimately lose all the energy that I have provided to get back to where I am now. It is really very hard mentally. On the other hand, I remain convinced that with the team and the bike, we will be able to have very good races..

MNC: What are the differences between BMW 4-cylinder, Yamaha Crossplane and Kawasaki 4-cylinder ?
S. B .: There is a big story between the BMW and me. I knew it inside out because the S1000RR was my bike for five consecutive seasons. It’s a machine with a lot of character and I had to be firm with it to be able to take it where I wanted. On the engine side, it was very aggressive. The R1 was quite the opposite! Its engine was smoother than anything I had driven before and its chassis was very easy. The ZX-10R, chassis side, is flexible and at the same time precise. You feel that the electronics are really fine and that they have worked a lot for years with this system. At the moment, I have driven the 2015 engines so I cannot say what the 2016 engines are worth yet..

MNC: In your opinion, what most determines the success of a pilot between his machine, his team, his motivation, the manufacturer’s involvement, the support of his relatives and the support of his sponsors? ?
S. B .: In order, I would say the team, the manufacturer and the bike. Motivation comes with it, automatically. The loved ones are always with you and then a positive spiral takes place. Results come by themselves and sponsors come in to support you more.

MNC: You set the 15th stopwatch in the last winter tests. Does this position match your current rank ?
S. B .: Not at all. It’s just that I still had the original chassis. And we were only able to complete 40 laps in two days because of electronic problems. To tell you how much: at one point, the throttle grip was stuck at 40%! At the moment, I assure you that you are really not being smart … You shit on it, even! So for me the results of this test mean nothing.

MNC: What do you think of the 9th time of the 2015 world champion, Jonathan Rea?
S. B .: It’s already a very good performance. The world of motorcycles is a very difficult environment. All those who finished beyond ninth place are almost no longer in the SBK category today. There is really a big lack of sponsors, including for me: this year I have to pay to be able to ride.

MNC: Rea dominated a lot last season. What makes him so strong ?
S. B .: As we said before, the team, the bike, the manufacturer, his family and his sponsors.

MNC: At the end of the season though, it was Chaz Davies who scored more points. Is he the real favorite for 2016 ?
S. B .: Yes, for sure he will be there this year. But there will be others with him !

MNC: "JR" told us that even before he finished his very first ride on the ZX-10R at, he knew he could fight for the title. According to you, he tells it to himself a little or not at all ?
S. B .: No, I do not think so. It’s just that when the feeling passes between the bike, the rider and the team, nothing can stop them.

MNC: And you, how did you feel when you completed your first lap at the controls of the Ninja? What did you conclude ?
S. B .: I realized that this bike was really fine and that there had been a lot of work done on it, especially on the electronics. Even though I rubbed my hands a bit telling myself that I could have a great year, I remain careful not to get a slap in the face. I might have a hard time getting up.

MNC: What do you hope for 2016 ?
S. B .: I already hope to find pleasure in riding a good bike. Afterwards, the results will come on their own.

MNC: Do you have a lot of work to do during these last official tests in Australia? ?
S. B .: Verry much ! It would have taken two more two-day sessions to be really on point, or rather to be serene, especially with all the little problems that we may have encountered this winter..

MNC: You will still be ready for the first Australian race ?
S. B .: Not far from here ! For me, we’ll be ready in Aragon, and again…

MNC: From this year, the first rounds will take place on Saturday, after the Superpole. What do you think ?
S. B .: For me it’s bullshit, because it eats me up all weekend. On Friday, there are twice an hour and if you fall only once, your weekend is grated because on Saturday there are 15 minutes which do not count for qualifying, then the two phases of Superpole. So it’s dead to finish fine-tuning your settings because immediately after, there is the first race! Sunday is the 15-minute warm-up and the second race. Personally, I preferred it when there were two races on Sunday, you could make a little difference on the physical side.

MNC: This gives the mechanics more time to fine-tune the settings … or rebuild the bike after a possible fall !
S. B .: No, you tweak nothing at all. And for falls, it was enough to allow two complete motorcycles per rider to sweep this problem.

MNC: The weather conditions could be very different. Or on the contrary closer, because the races will take place at the same times and no longer early in the morning then in the afternoon. Is it better ?
S. B .: On the contrary, this is what differentiated "before" the WSBK from the Moto GP. With two races on Sunday, a lot of different things could happen.

MNC: Another novelty in 2016, the Superstock 600 pilots will join those of the Supersport in European events. Is this a good format ?
S. B .: I think so.

MNC: Do you think the STK1000 could – or should – ride with you? This would facilitate access to wild cards, no ?
S. B .: In my opinion, the STK1000 can easily play between 17th and 12th place. Then there is always the last second which costs millions of development on motorcycles. Remember that two years ago they introduced an Evo category. But it didn’t last.

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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