MotoGP Exclusive interview with Florian Ferracci (KTM) “We are in good momentum”

It's a whole country that the Grand Prix world discovered last weekend, with the original Buriram circuit and a crowd of passionate and enthusiastic spectators. Florian Ferracci, mechanic for Bradley Smith, was of course on the trip and appreciated this new event on the calendar.

For this first Thai Grand Prix in history, what impressed you the most?

“What impressed me the most was the enthusiasm there was for this Grand Prix. There were many spectators and incredible organization for this first edition. Of course, they are used to Superbikes, but this was on an incredible scale – in terms of the entertainment, the paddock.

“On Friday evening, when we went to the parking lot to collect our car, we heard a lot of noise from the side of the paddock, and in truth there was actually a ring! There was a Thai boxing match, but a championship match. It was organized for the spectators, among many activities. It was something incredible.

“I had already been there for the Superbike two years ago, but for the GP it was on a crazy scale, really crazy. »

Is the attitude of spectators different from that of European spectators?

“There were no whistles when this or that driver got on the podium, or things like that. It's not like sometimes in Europe when Marquez or someone else wins. I think there is a lot more respect.

“Generally speaking, people in Thailand are nice. Not to mention the race, they are friendly and polite. It’s similar to the respect shown by the Japanese, for example. They are a people of kind people. We are well received everywhere. And they are apparently passionate, we realized when we entered a restaurant as a racing team.

“They are passionate about motorcycles. The two-wheeler fleet is enormous, it is incredible to see the number of two-wheelers in the city. »

The thirteenth beat of Bradley Smith on your KTM during free practice was it satisfactory, taking into account that we were racing here for the first time?

“Yes, we were quite happy. We were even very happy at the end of free practice because he was only 0.719 off the best time. So for us it was a very good place.

“In all categories, on this circuit, all the drivers were very close. In Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP, everyone was very close. For us, what is important is to be close to the best time. We were only seven tenths off the fastest time, which showed that the bike, Bradley, the team, everything had progressed. »

Were the February tests very useful?

“Useful? Yes, obviously, it allowed Bradley to discover the circuit. They were also very useful for us to determine a basis for adjustment.

“But since February the bike has changed relatively, in all the teams but perhaps a little more in ours. Many parts have been modified since that time. These tests were therefore moderately useful. It wouldn't have changed much if we hadn't tested in February. »

What results gave hope in the race: Smith's fifteenth place on the grid during qualifying, ahead of his teammate Espargaro Pol and the two Aprilias?

“Talking about it among us in the team, we were hoping for around a twelfth place, something like that. I was thinking eleventh, twelfth or thirteenth. So fifteenth is half a disappointment, but we have to put things into perspective, because when we see the gap for example with the first, over 26 laps of the race, Bradley finished 23 seconds behind. When we see the speed of the leaders and the experience that these manufacturers have accumulated over the years, with this gap we can only be happy.

“KTM is only in its second year of championship in MotoGP and last year we ended the one-minute races at the start of the season. So 23 seconds is pretty good.

“Afterwards, we were a little disappointed because we hoped for a little better. But Bradley really pushed hard to get the point for fifteenth place. At the end of the race, Scott Redding was literally glued to him. I was at the paneling and I wasn't very reassured! But he managed to contain it, he especially didn't want to be overtaken on the last lap. »

How do you see the next three overseas races at Motegi, Phillip Island and Sepang?

“Pretty good because we are in a good dynamic. I hope Pol (Espargaro) will be 100% back, because in Thailand after a few laps his shoulder hurt too much and he couldn't drive as he would have liked. That gives him two weeks to come back and I hope we can place both bikes in the points in Japan. Bradley is in great shape and he wants it. He is fully involved and we are all doing our part to have a good end to the Championship. »

Video: KTM #RC16 #READYTORACE

Photos © Gold and Goose for KTM