From the almost complete Editorial staff of Corsedimoto.com
The former GP team manager is working on an innovative project: racing on the track to improve talent and pleasure, without spending a fortune.
Gianluca Montiron, multi-title team manager of the World Championship and columnist at Corsedimoto, remained silent in the press for a few months, following the activities carried out to unravel the complex Marc VDS case in the top category. But he didn't stay with his hands in his pockets, and he is preparing a resounding surprise for us...
Gianluca, why don’t we read you anymore?
“My involvement in MotoGP would not have allowed me to be impartial and I had to stay away because of my professionalism. This allowed me to work behind the scenes.
How did you see MotoGP from the inside?
“It’s an undisputed Spanish domain, on and off the track. Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Maverick Vinales, Alex Rins vs. Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso. Next year, it will perhaps be better with the arrival of Franco Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia, but the final observation remains the same, we must find a way to counter this domination.
During these months you also followed the Superbike World Championship.
“I saw a small starting grid in Superbike and Supersport, but there is a lot of excitement in 300. »
What do you think of the new regulations introduced by Superbike in 2019?
“It's difficult to follow the rules, they change too often. The rules should be limited to requiring the use of production motorcycles, and imposing a similar selling price so that all manufacturers comply. If a Yamaha R1 with track specifications costs around 24 euros, the same goes for the Ninja, and we can define that the ceiling of the cost of a motorcycle for racing is around 000 euros, as the cost of tires for a season. You can also include the mule without having to change engines during the season: with 30 races, the mileage is between 000/13 kilometers. The maxi road bikes already have power to sell, but if the bikes weren't so good we could live with it, racing would be great anyway. If the annual budget fell below a million, many teams would find a way to race in Superbike again. Either the promoter invests more money in the teams, or costs will have to be reduced.”
Motorcycling needs motorcyclists, but now, in some championships, they are a rare commodity…
“It is only with full grids that competitiveness can be created, starting from the national championships. It's curious to see what's happening in the world, like Tetsuya Harada having fun with the Yamaha R3 on the tracks of Japan. It also happens that Marco Melandri rides the same bike at Castelletto, as do the boys from VR46 or Johann Zarco with the ZF school (Zarco & Fellon): they all use the Yamaha R3. Tetsuya has a lot of fun and still has his own driving style, Melandri trains all day with full gas, and today, unlike in the past, all drivers spend most of their time on the track with a motorcycle. I am passionate and romantic; I decided to do something for young people but I also thought of you, adults. »
What's your idea?
“During the World Sports Legends Award in Monte-Carlo (see photos) I shared my project with the myths of motorcycling: Freddy Spencer, Virginio Ferrari, Max Biaggi, Dr. Claudio Costa, and all encouraged me to move forward . So I spoke to Yamaha Motor Europe about it and found the enthusiasm of a competent working group. Racing is made of people, just like businesses. I left to do something different.”
At this point we are very curious to know what Gianluca Montiron prepared. Enjoy the Yule log, but don’t gain too much weight because the first track meeting is already scheduled for April 21, 2019. Get in shape….
Read the original article on Corsedimoto.com
Editorial staff of Corsedimoto
