WSBK – MNC Interview: Barrier with Yamaha in STK1000 and CIV! –

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MNC interview: Barrier with Yamaha in STK1000 and CIV !

WSBK - MNC Interview: Barrier with Yamaha in STK1000 and CIV! -

Officially separated from the BMW Italia team the day before yesterday, Sylvain Barrier was quick to find a handlebar, and a good one: that of the new Yamaha R1 that he will drive in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup and in the Italian Superbike (CIV). Interview.

Officially separated from the BMW Italia team the day before yesterday, Sylvain Barrier was quick to find a handlebar, and a good one: that of the new Yamaha R1 that he will drive in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup and in the Italian Superbike (CIV). Interview.

Site: Can you tell us how Ayrton Badovini came to after two events 2015 ?
Sylvain Barrier: In fact, the BMW team and I agreed that with the bike it was no better than that and the results weren’t good. Personally, I wasn’t interested in making 14th places, and neither did they. For them, the problem was more with the rider than with the motorcycle. According to them, their bike can be between 8 … not even, between 6 and 4 !

MNC: And according to you ?
S.B .: I told them it was impossible. This bike, at the moment, can grab a maximum 8th place.

MNC: It is this difference in judgment that led to your separation ?
S.B .: In part. Le also played a lot. He was my number one supporter, but the boss changed and everything went nuts … After the exactly why, the how, even I have no idea. What exactly are they accusing me of? Personally, I had warned them from the start that the first two races of the championship abroad would be really tough but that afterwards, as soon as we got back to Europe, it would really go on its own. And then the rules changed, there were a lot of things that could be okay … But Badovini found himself on the sidelines.

MNC: Yes, he had to ride with the BMW JR Racing team !
S.B .: Here. I think BMW Italia put a lot of pressure on BMW Germany to change drivers. Basically anyway, I had the impression that they no longer trusted me. But it’s impossible to ride in a team that no longer trusts you. We then managed to find an agreement, about a week ago, since I actually came back from Thailand..

MNC: Did you find another handlebar ?
S.B .: I’m going to start a new adventure, maybe a little less folkloric than what I was doing now but which can really, but really be not bad in the end…

MNC: And your new mount will be ?…
S.B .: It will be a Yamaha R1 prepared by G.M Racing team, in Superstock 1000 and in Italian CIV championship. And if the results are good, it is planned to go up in World Superbike with Yamaha next year.

MNC: You’re getting ready ?!
S.B .: Yes, but I don’t know if Guarnoni has a Superbike plan. In any case, the good thing is that in the Italian championship I have the support of Michelin. It’s great ! It’s only them who "deal" for me.

MNC: And the fact that the World Superbike is played on Pirelli is not a problem ?
S.B .: No, because Pirelli is the Superstock organized by the Dorna. The MotoGP that rides on Dunlop and Bridgestone is also the Dorna … If I need to ride on such and such a circuit, I ask Dorna and they will allow me because it’s on Michelin cars and on another motorbike. So no, there is no big problem or difference. Well, of course, on the tire side, but after 3 or 6 laps it’s good, you managed to get the feeling back, you’re in the bath and off you go !

MNC: The Superstock starts this weekend in Aragon. But when the CIV begins ?
S.B .: The week immediately after Assen, April 26.

MNC: You will be able to play the entire season so, like everyone else !
S.B .: Yes. There’s just one thing, and that’s that I’m going to Aragon without having a single R1 turn. Even the position adjustments on the bike were not made. Everything was done at the last minute and it’s the first time for me. I’ve been in the BMW for five years and now I’m changing, boom, directly in the race … It’s going to make me weird !

MNC: Sure … But it’s still satisfying for you, it’s true that it’s a great project !
S.B .: The thing is that in the World Superbike, a motorcycle that allows you to finish in the Top 6, there are not 10,000! All the pilots have signed, all the pilots are in place. I don’t want to wait for someone to get hurt to take their place. There might not even be the opportunity. I was in talks with Ducati to take Davide’s place (Giugliano, injured since the Phillip Island tests) but they already had their driver from the English championship … uh no, not English sorry.

MNC: Spanish pilot Xavi Fores, IDM champion !
S.B .: Yes, Drills! So he’s the one they picked because he won the championship for them last year. It’s normal. Anyway, wishing harm to another pilot is not my view of things! I would rather be ahead in Superstock and do everything to win races rather than finish 10th or 14th in Superbike.

MNC: Superstock 1000 and CIV … It’ll make you a busy schedule ?!
S.B .: Yes. Fortunately, there is no date match. There I have three racing weekends in a row, a week of rest, again three weekends of races, a week of rest, three weekends of racing … And then I have almost a month and a half , two quiet months … Before starting over! But it will be nice. I’m coming to the Michelin family and it’s really good because they are really great, they have the esteem of the drivers. It’s like Yamaha: you feel like it’s a company with racing in its blood. At BMW, there are only two of them developing the bike, and that’s insufficient, whereas when I speak with Andrea Dosoli, there is all the staff behind. I am excited to begin !

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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