Interviewing the team manager of a rider who has just won a MotoGP race is not that common.
But when the latter goes beyond the simple recounting of the facts to share his past and current emotions, it takes on a whole new dimension, which will not surprise us, in a Marc VDS team where the key word seems to be “family”…
Michael, can you tell us how you experienced this extraordinary Jack Miller race?
Michael Bartholemy: “On the grid, I told the two drivers that with weather conditions like those we had, it was the moment, for a private team, to take its chance, and give its best on a weekend like that. But I also told them to stay on their feet and count on those who were going to make mistakes. This instruction, to stay on your wheels, Jack admitted to me after the finish that he had thought about it during the race. During the first part of the race, when the track started to dry, I think we were a little lower than two or three other drivers, but on the water, I think Petrucci, Miller and Redding were the fastest.
Afterwards, when this big rain came, and they stopped the race, we were 8th and I “Okay, not too bad.” because Crutchlow and another rider had passed us during the dry part, but Miller had caught up with them when it was raining. So for the second race, as it was raining, I said to myself “ok, today we can do it” and we changed the rear tire to a Soft for the second start. »
At that point, were you sure there was going to be a second race?
" No. No, because it was still raining hard, and I told myself it wasn't going to stop. The weather changed throughout the weekend in Assen, but then I said to myself " it's dead . The race is stopped and we will be 8th. »
It was already a great result…
“Yes, that's for sure, especially since both drivers drove well even though we missed qualifying a little. But on the water, normally, we're not too bad.
So when it started again, I only had 5 or 6, it was possible, because there were 2 or 3 people who were a little weak on the water in front of us, and it was certain that during the 12 laps, it didn't It wasn't going to dry completely. Then he got a good start and after the first lap he was 4th. And when Valentino crashed, it put him 3rd. there, I said to myself “ok, the podium is here!” »
The podium, for a private team, is already something fantastic, extraordinary! Then I saw that his pace was really higher than the other two, I said to myself “ok, we can do it”. And when he took the lead, that's the kind of moment where your heart stops beating (laughs). »
But before he passed Marquez, you weren't thinking "stay behind, don't ruin everything"?
" Yes and no. Second, it was perfect. “Stay behind and watch what he does.” But he immediately overtook him and opened up a big gap, sometimes up to 4 tenths in a partial. And Marquez, normally, is not someone who gives up in the last three laps... There, I was only hoping that Jack was exaggerating, and that he was perhaps going too fast while Marquez played it to arrive. Finally, he went to get her, he did everything as he had to do it; it was perfect! »
And those are the tears that come immediately?
" It's sure and certain. I'm in my 26th season in motorcycling, it's my first victory in MotoGP while you sacrifice a lot to your job, you don't have a family life like the others, you're often gone, these are huge budgets that you have to look every year…
It's a difficult season, not like other seasons, some criticize us, etc...
And when that happens, you put your finger in the... to everyone and you tell yourself that you weren't completely stupid for what you did. During the two difficult races, last year in Misano and this year in Assen, we put our driver on the podium each time; that means that the team, the people who work and the choices that were made, all of that wasn't bad, and it rewards you a little for all that stress accumulated over the years. It's all these emotions that come at once.
Today I feel better, I think about the result, whereas yesterday I thought about the people who criticized me, who said I made the wrong choice with the bike, the sponsors who are not happy because we are not present enough on television, etc. It's all that that comes a little. »
And Count Marc van der Straten, how does he experience this?
“Oh, Mr. Count, he’s on cloud nine (laughs). It's normal. I must also say that I didn't have much time to speak with Marc after the race, because after the victory I had to go left and right, but it's certain that today and tomorrow, the whole world is talking about him. We are still the last team to arrive in MotoGP, and apart from Ktm, we will be the last. Winning a race is the goal of all other private teams, and it's rare to achieve it, like Gresini in 2006 with Elias. Marc is proud of that, proud of what he has done, of having his own team that bears his name, and that's normal. »
And Jack?
“We talked a lot and had a little party. He’s sure he’s happy; when you win in MotoGP at 21, it's something! He is delighted and very motivated, but anyway, like Rabat, he always gives 110% every weekend. It never runs at 90% and what I hope is that the next time we have an opportunity like this, we will know how to take it, and I would like us to be in the Top 10 or 12 in the championship for this first year with him. Here, we are 13th, so not too far from that, and until now, we have done what we promised the world to do. »
