The 2022 season was another cracker for Repsol Honda. Once again, you won all the titles up for grabs, taking your tally to 32 world titles. Are you already thinking ahead to this season?
Yes. Certainly we have already started working towards 2023. We had a short break in November to get some rest and in December we started both the fitness preparation as well as the preparation for the bike.
What have you worked on in the pre-season?
We are at a time when things are going very well and when you improve, it is hard to improve at everything. That is to say: sometimes you improve on a point that you need, but you lose something you already had. That puts you into a tricky situation. Sometimes there are some things that the rider can make up for with his riding, but other times less so. We try to make the bike as consistent as possible and it’s up to the rider to do the rest, but sometimes it’s not just about power: it’s about how to handle the bike.
Have you had to do a lot of work on the bike?
Well, last year I competed on two different bikes in the indoor and outdoor championships. I’m happy because we were a bit daring in X-Trial and it really paid off, winning the first four rounds with the new bike. Then, in the outdoor, it didn’t feel so right, so we took a small step back and I think that’s the way forward: where I can’t make it, the bike can, and when the bike can’t make it, then I can. We had an amazing year; everything went very well but it wasn’t our best year. It’s difficult to keep up that high motivation.
You say it wasn’t the best year because you didn’t manage to win all the trials?
It’s hard to have a perfect season, but there have been some years when we have managed it. To repeat a perfect season is super difficult: you have to win everything. I am ultra-competitive, but also realistic. I’m very clear about things: it’s been a very good year, we worked very hard, we did things well, but it wasn’t our best season.
What grade would you give yourself for 2022?
I would never give myself a 10 because you can always improve. The 2022 season was, for me, a seven or eight. The team, a 10. They’ve worked hard. They did a great job. They have done everything I could possibly have asked of them and I’m very grateful for that support. They put a lot of effort into it and have kept up the motivation. This was the first year with [team minder] Carles [Barneda] and also with Fuji [2004 world champ Takahisa Fujinami] as team manager and it went very well. I am very happy and I think we are going to get better.
It was also your first year with Gabriel Marcelli as teammate. How was that?
I get on really well with Gabriel. He is a very easy-going guy and has a great character. Having a teammate like him is very positive. He has a very high level. I have helped him as much as I could, and I think he is a rider with a great future. I see him doing better on the bike than is reflected in his results. At the end of the season he was doing more than was expected of him – and, besides, being in this team is not easy.
Part of your methodology is to train a lot and constantly improve.
It’s a very complicated thing. And because I’m very demanding, I know I can improve. Even the good seasons we’ve had could have been improved upon. Anything that can be improved on the bike could help me to take a step forward. As far as the riding part goes, I think I am close to my limit, but if we improve on the bike we can keep moving ahead.
In terms of competition, in addition to your rival of the last 16 years, Adam Raga, in 2022 you also had Jaime Busto and Matteo Grattarola.
I think there are two or three very important points: there is a group with more top riders than other years, with five riders who can win trials or be on the podium. Also, the trials are easier, so more people are in the fight and more things could happen. At the moment, this has benefited us because being more regular than others has given us a title with a big points advantage. And when we haven’t won, we’ve finished runner-up. With seven wins and three second places it is a super all-round championship, and those who have finished second and third in several trials have ended up off the podium. This gives you more peace of mind in the championship.
So does the ‘easier’ trials lead to more equality and a greater number of rivals in the battle?
It’s partly normal because it’s more even – but this is entertainment and you have to put on a show. There have been easy trials, with few marks, and others that have been less easy. I think the level of the riders is so high among the frontrunners that it guarantees that points are scored. If the level was any lower, there would not be a show for the spectators.
Let’s talk about 2023. It looks like there will be a few more trials than in 2022, and in X-Trial a split series with a few more events. What’s your take on it all?
This comes after a few years with just a few events, so having eight indoor trials and 12 outdoor races is already good. It’s important to have more dates in the calendar for both titles. It is also true that we would like to hold one competition and, once that is all over, start another one. If we don’t finish the indoor title and start the outdoor one, it’s not the best thing, but if instead of having just four events there are going to be eight, then so be it! Let’s go!
