Following the presentation of the 2021 colors of the two KTM teams, we attended an exceptional press conference this Friday, February 12.
Exceptional due to the context which prevails at the moment and, as a consequence of the first point, exceptional due to its very unusual length: Hervé Poncharal spoke for almost an hour and a half to satisfy the endless curiosity of the 25 journalists registered for this videoconference.
As usual, we will provide you with the full text of this first substantial chapter of the 2021 season, without the slightest formatting, in several parts, even if it will be very, very long...
Your team name has changed and seems closer to the factory than last year. Can you explain the new relationship you have with KTM?
« In 2021 we are going to be very close to the factory, and what makes me very proud is that KTM presented its 2021 program and team, looking like the same time with the Tech3 team: the factory team and the independent team. They did this by showing that we are four factory bikes, and it doesn't matter if they are run by an independent company or by the KTM factory. So it’s something that I’m very proud of and it’s something that clearly shows that KTM supports all four bikes at the same level. But that doesn't change: this was already the case in 2020! What changes are the colors, and I know that Stefan Pierer and Mr. Trunkenpolz are very, very proud to see a completely factory KTM bike in full iconic KTM colors on the starting grid. But apart from the colors, nothing has really changed: we will have the same support as in 2020 because, honestly, whether it was for Iker or Miguel, we had the same bikes that Pol and Brad had in every session. And when new parts arrived, the four pilots had them together. Sometimes they could have said that compared to the top three, Iker could have waited a bit more, but that wasn't the case. So I think 2021 will be like 2020 and we'll just be a little flashier. »
The MotoGP teams, official and satellite, are in the process of announcing their commitment until 2026. As president of the IRTA, can you detail the work carried out to achieve this?
« 2020 was an excellent championship. Just a year ago, no one knew if we were going to have a championship and we ended up doing 14 races in MotoGP and 15 in Moto2 and Moto3, with some great races and 19 race winners. You all know these statistics. This was possible because many people wanted it, including the media for which I thank you all, but also because our promoter did an excellent job and was always at the helm when we needed to be at bar. Currently, we have prepared for the next five years, which is important to be announced, which is important to show the world that there is continuity and that we keep the same partners, that there is visibility because the factories, teams, federation and promoter work hand in hand, which is the truth and which is even more important when you are going through a big storm. And currently the world is going through a big storm even if it seems a little calmer in 2021 is still very hard. We prepared the calendar and added a few reserve races. You can see that North and South America are delayed at the moment but we managed to keep the same number of races by scheduling two consecutive races in Qatar and responding to our friends in Portimao who told us they were ready and who will be with us also in 2021. We have a solid protocol for Qatar and we are still working on it at the moment but I think the first round will be very safe and we should have a very good start to the championship in Doha. Hopefully, after Doha 2 it should be a little easier in Europe and, at the moment, there is no reason to doubt all the races planned on the calendar, at least in Europe. The rest will be a long time away and we are therefore very optimistic! Of course, the bad news is that there won't be an audience. There is a protocol that is currently being discussed with the promoter and the media, and I believe that things are progressing quite well. Fingers crossed. There are discussions but I don't know who is leading them. I think it's with Carmelo but I'm not in charge of promoter-media relations, but I know the promoter is trying to have something that works with hopefully more access and easier way than in 2020. Honestly, I don't know more than that. »
Let's go back to 2020: what does it mean to you to have achieved two victories after so many years in MotoGP?
« You know it very well: when you want something and you want it very badly, it almost becomes an obsession. When you finally reach it, when you finally get it, when you finally have it, it is deliverance after a long “Stay away to heaven”. But eventually you're in heaven, and I think the longer you waited, the better. We waited a long, long time and, honestly, I thought it was never going to happen (laughs) because I've been there for many, many years and I was willing to accept that I finished second, that I finished third, that to have made podiums, to have been the best independent team and to have had good results, but without having won a race. Then I saw Luccio (Cecchinello) who won a race two years ago, and honestly I was a little jealous. “Wow, that’s really good and they’re a good team!” ". But I didn't feel well. But honestly, the worst feeling, and although I was very happy for KTM, was when I saw Brad win in the Czech Republic. I said to myself “well, we could have made history, we could have brought this very first victory to Stefan Pierer and Mr Trunkenpolz who support us so much, and we didn't do it”. So I was disappointed and sad, but fortunately a few days later we won a race in Austria in front of the KTM management and in front of the Red Bull management, at their own home circuit, and so I was relieved . What I said in Austria is that on days like this you love life, you love your job, you love everyone and you forget all the efforts you made before. You love life and you feel that you can fly. That's the feeling I had. I'm sure you've been in love before and you know that desire to get the relationship you want with the girl you want: when you achieve it, you're in heaven. I felt that. »
How high are your expectations this year with Danilo Petrucci on your team?
« You know, I always said I wanted to stay humble. I don't like people who puff out their chests and think they are the best. OK, we won two races, but like I said before, we're starting from scratch. We are a team among the others on the starting grid and everyone has the same chances. All I know is that we have the passion, we have the fire within and we work with an incredible factory whose slogan "Ready to race" is completely justified. Danilo joins us and Danilo is an incredible boy, very happy and completely passionate. He is ready to take on the challenge. We also have a young Spanish lion who is very eager to show what he can do and we know our bike has already won three races. These are facts, but more than that, I don't want to get ahead of myself: we are on the starting grid, everything is starting from scratch and we are all at the same level. Let's go, let's attack, let's be focused, work together in a beautiful atmosphere, and that's what I want to bring to Danilo: I want him to have the feeling of being wanted, that he is supported, that we will be behind him when it is difficult and we will share the good times when he is in front. But what is important is to act like a family, is to act together as a group where everyone enjoys working with others, because we always talk about the pilots who are our heroes, but behind them is a large group, and the pilot can sense whether the group is united or not. I think when Danilo went to Austria he was able to feel that, and I'm absolutely sure he will feel it when he starts with us in Qatar. »
