Antonio CairoliAfter 10 rounds of this years World MX2 championship and two Grands Prix held in Italy it is obvious that Antonio Cairoli is taking the sport to another level in his home country. Last weekend in Faenza Cairoli couldn't beat his main rival Christophe Pourcel, although he still leads the MX2 championship and looks likely to take the championship won by Pourcel last year. We sat down with the 2005 World MX2 champion and asked him about some important parts of his season so far.
Q: Your legend in Italy continues to grow. Do you feel more famous in Italy?
Antonio Cairoli: In Italy is it very good for me. I am one of the most famous sportsman. Many, many people talk to me, they never had motocross before, and now they have motocross in the newspapers. I can't get extra sponsors, but Yamaha are really helping me, and of course industry sponsors are also doing well with me. I am so happy about this. Motocross is a good sport for action. I am friends with some of the MotoGP riders and I watch that sometimes. I don't like Formula One that much, I dont like Football and those guys make too much money for what they do. They make too much money and don't play hard enough.
Q: What else has helped you reach the level you are now on?
Antonio Cairoli: This winter I didn't have any injuries or anything like that. In my head I feel very strong and I know I can win this year. Because I made small mistakes last year and I lost three motos, so I had three nil points. I feel good, I didn't care if everyone was talking about Pourcel last year, I know that he didn't win the championship, I lost it. I was quicker than him most of the time, but I lost too many points because if stupid mistakes.
Q: You seem to really have a big advantage over defending World MX2 champion Christophe Pourcel at the moment. Were you surprised that he didn't have the speed to race with you in Mantova?
Antonio Cairoli: I don't think about Pourcel, I just think about winning all the races and not losing points like I did last year. Second race I looked back and saw him, I waited for him to come to me, because in the first few laps he is always really fast. I was expecting him to catch me, but I then saw that he couldn't catch me.
Q: The Italian public really made it a nice weekend. So many people and so many calling your name. The fans were crazy for you, it's like you are a rock star in Italy.
Antonio Cairoli: The Italian fans are really good. I could hear them all the way around the circuit. They helped me get even more motivated. For me riding in front of the people, and knowing that most of them wanted me to win, that is a special feeling for a rider. Motocross seems to be getting more popular in Italy, and I hope that will make my work nicer, I really enjoy having the people willing me on.
Q: How did you feel after your win in Spain? I mean it was in Spain in 2006 that you really lost your championship.
Cairoli: I was happy because I showed to the other riders that I can come back after a bad start, I couldn't do that before. I am not getting good starts because I was practising on the sand tracks.
Q: What about that first moto, you really made a lot of ground on Pourcel in just one lap, where did that speed come from?
Cairoli: I could see him and I wanted to push harder. I waited at the beginning of the race, but my condition is so good. I didn't have an injury in the off season, so my condition is great. The track was one lined, and very difficult, I got tired from the first moto an I passed Christophe, so he passed me back. The second heat there were more lines and I could ride better and I enjoyed it more.
Q: Are you quicker than Pourcel in all out speed?
Cairoli: I was faster than him (Pourcel) last year, but I made too many mistakes. I won more heats than him last year and still lost the championship, I dont want to do that again. This year I will be more consistent. I passed him easily many times this year. In Valkenswaard I passed him and won the race and in Spain I passed him and made 12 seconds on him. Maybe he has to think a little. This year I am a little stronger than last year. I know I am stronger than him, but I am just thinking about the championship, I am not thinking about Christophe or anyone else. Author: Geoff Meyer
Photo: Massimo Zanzani