Exclusive interview: Moto3 review and first Moto2 impressions for Jules Danilo

Jules Danilo has just had a rather frustrating fourth season in Moto3 and has decided to move up to the higher category within the SAG team.

He certainly has the handlebars, as evidenced by his fifth place at Assen and his numerous appearances in the leading group. Just like he has the physique and the head…
But so far he has not been able to make it onto the podium.

Relatively marginalized in an Italian team entirely dedicated to Romano Fenati, and starting to be big for Moto3, the French rider gives us an uncompromising assessment of his last season in the small category before sharing with us his first impressions of Moto2…

Jules, can you summarize for us your assessment of your career in Moto3?

“The results of my career in Moto3? There were a few highlights, but this year I was expecting something different. Overall, it was pretty hard. I didn't have a lot of support from the team, so I felt a bit alone with everyone. »

During the last interview we did (see here), you had just found settings after starting with those of Fenati at the start of the season…

“In fact, Fenati was running with very different settings from mine. And I had to start getting interested in that, because I wasn't moving forward and they weren't helping me. So I had to try to understand a little bit what was going on and I think we found something. But it wasn't the real solution, it was a bit in between, between what we should have and what Fenati had. His size means that he still has a very different bike. I'm twice his size and it's not as easy as that. Pedrosa does not have the same settings as Márquez…
Then, at the end of the season, we really found something on the bike, and at Phillip Island, instantly, I was super fast. And I think that if I had been able to work on this basis all year, we would have arrived at something else at the end of the year. That's for sure ! But I missed opportunities, like at Assen: with one corner to go, I was on the podium! If I had been able to do races like that every weekend, I think that in the end I would have got into a rhythm and I would have been able to make it happen. I also missed an opportunity at Phillip Island where I was really fast all weekend. But I set the best time in the race and had a blast the next lap! In Malaysia too, and I think there were still a lot of mistakes on my part, and that's a point on which I really need to work for the future. »

So it was a frustrating year where you weren't able to achieve what you thought you could do...

" Yes. I think I would have liked to be more consistent and manage to get a podium. I haven't come very far, but now we're at a stage where the bike is starting to feel really small for me. I had to really make a lot of effort on the physical side and on my weight side. And every year it got tighter and tighter. So, unless I had the certainty of being truly surrounded by a 100% motivated team on both sides of the garage, and that is very important, I would not continue in Moto3. After three quarters of the season, I understood that it was going to be complicated to have these certainties, and I did not want to repeat a year like I had, because for my part I am investing 100%: I'm in Spain, I train every day, I ride alone, etc. It's still a lot of sacrifices, and behind it, it didn't work out. So at one point I felt a little discouraged. However, in Moto2, I had a very good opportunity. It's definitely a step forward, but I think I will be more comfortable and faster on this bike, after a little time to adapt. »

So, what are your first impressions of this Moto2?

“First impressions were pretty good. Afterwards, I had never ridden a 4 cylinder in my life, maybe smashing it for 40 laps with someone who lent me their motorbike. And so, everything changes, the engine, the weight, etc. It's much heavier and you have to anticipate the turns. It took me a little while to figure it out in Jerez. When we arrived in Valencia, things were getting better and better but I had a little problem with the engine on the first day. As a result, I lost a lot of time, and then, on the second day, I started to understand the bike and work on my riding. We didn't watch any telemetry and it was just up to me to ride. Frankly, I'm happy with the progress we've made. Of course, the gap is still a little big because I'm at 2,3 seconds, but it's still correct. The team was happy with the work because I had an old bike and an old engine. I really wanted to put myself in a condition where I only work on my riding, and not destroy a new bike on the first day. It's also a very, very tight category, 1/10 equals five places, and that's normal since the bikes are very similar, with the same engines and just different chassis. There is a little work but I am already much more motivated than last year at this time. I think that, already, if we find 1,3 seconds during the winter, that will be good. »

Thanks Jules! We wish you the best for your rookie year in Moto2!