The American rider impressed during the first Grand Prix of the season, at Losail, and spoke live with motogp.com about his performance as well as his complicated 2019 season.
What makes a driver click? Probably a set of factors that one day manage to align perfectly to allow him to finally show his potential. Joe Roberts he himself has no explanations, he who is riding for the second consecutive year in the American Racing team. If the coaching of former driver John Hopkins weighed heavily in the balance, the fact is that the young American finally revealed himself to everyone during the Qatar Grand Prix.
“When I came into the World Championship, I wanted to bring the United States back to the top, like my heroes did when I was little”, he told motogp.com. “I'm obviously a competitive person who wants to be the best, whether for myself or for my country. »
However, his world journey had not been a long, quiet river until this 2020 season. Arriving in 2017 as a replacement in the AGR team for only five races, he managed to achieve a top 10 in his first race, despite being started 31st, but then fell back to the bottom of the rankings. Engaged for his first full season in 2018, he scored only five points and finished 27th.
Arriving in the American Racing team last year, he had not achieved better results, having only entered the points twice (with two 14th places) and having finished 28th, far from what he had achieved. 'He was hoping : “Last year I was very slow and often I didn't feel comfortable on the bike. My goal was to fight for the top 10 or at least always finish in the points. I remember writing it in the notepad of my phone, but many advised me not to aim too high straight away, that in Moto2 the fight is decided to the hundredth. »
And then, it clicked. Beginnings appeared during the final pre-season test, in Qatar, which he finished in ninth position, before the American moved up a level during the first Grand Prix of the season. At the forefront from FP1, he confirmed in qualifying with the first pole position of his career, then in the race by finishing just off the podium, his best career result.
“From the first time I set on Friday, I felt that I could do even better and that I could be among the leaders”he said. “Qualifying was incredible, it was like an illusion but no, I was really in pole position. It was incredible. Before the race I imagined lots of situations and possibilities for fights in the last lap to get a podium. I was super happy after the race. Of course I wanted to win but finishing fourth is a great result. I understood that I had everything to aim high. » After such a start to the season, all that remains for Joe Roberts to confirm is when the GPs will resume.
