Winner of the fourth edition of the Monaco World Sports Legends Award, Loris Capirossi takes stock of a 2019 Moto GP season rich in lessons.
In his long (22 seasons) and fruitful (29 victories, 41 pole positions, 99 podiums) Grand Prix career, Loris Capirossi has amassed a number of trophies and individual awards. Crowned king of his category three times (he won two world crowns in 125 cc and one in 250 cc), the Italian could have "easily" won three additional titles if his refusal to compromise (1993, 1994) and a certain lack of success (2006) had not played (bad) tricks on him while he seemed well on his way to taking the direction of a new world recognition.
But from his (relative) failures of the past, "Capirex" prefers to retain only the positive, focusing all his energy on his life today, the one which sees him roaming the circuits around the world in his new costume as a member of the Grand Prix Safety Commission. Engaged with Dorna (company holding the rights to Moto GP) since the end of his racing career in 2011, the native of Castel San Pietro Terme works day after day to secure a discipline where the danger remains the most great enemy. Accessible and enthusiastic as in his finest hours spent on the handlebars of Aprilia, Honda and other Ducati, the Transalpine has lost none of his passion for a sport to which he has devoted most of his existence.
Rewarded during the fourth edition of the Monaco World Sports Legends Award, the former number 65 took advantage of this distinction to look back on the 2019 Moto GP season, interviewed by journalist Andrea Noviello.
Find the first part on Marc Marquez here
Find the second part on Jorge Lorenzo here
Although a complete neophyte in Moto GP, Fabio Quartararo had a breathtaking first season in the premier category within the Petronas team. Given his immense potential, can the French driver establish himself as Márquez's great rival in the years to come?
Loris Capirossi: “ His season was, quite simply, demonic! Quartararo's talent has literally exploded before everyone's eyes this year. Now Fabio must keep his feet on the ground and remain calm. If he starts to think that he has succeeded, then he risks quickly becoming disillusioned. The road is still long. One thing, however, is certain: Quartararo has enormous talent. If he continues to follow the method he did this season, then he will achieve great things in the future. Fabio is not only a good guy, but he's also a fantastic boy! I like him a lot. Undoubtedly, Fabio could quickly establish himself as a title contender and as one of those capable of breaking Márquez's feet. »
Before this thunderous entry into the big leagues, Quartararo's Grand Prix record was limited to a small victory in Moto 2 and two podiums in Moto 3. Would you have imagined that the Quartararo, so discreet in the lower categories, would transform into a real machine for podiums (7) and pole positions (6) in Moto GP?
« Absolutely not ! No one expected Quartararo to go this strong this year. Clearly, we couldn't have asked more of him. All he needs is victory this season. It often came down to little, but he had the misfortune of running into Márquez each time. Beating Marc in the last corner is really not easy, you know. Fabio has come close to victory several times this year. He is a driver who has grit, character. He is also very young (20 years old Editor’s note), so he can still progress. »
As you have just mentioned, Quartararo came, on several occasions, very close to victory in 2019. In Misano (San Marino) and Buriram (Thailand), Márquez even seems to have done everything possible to prevent “ El Diablo” to achieve his first success in the premier category. Isn't this proof that the Catalan champion is particularly wary of the young Nice native?
(Mouse doubtfully) « We are still talking about a driver who has won eight world championship titles, including six in the premier category. Fabio, for his part, has not yet signed a single victory in MotoGP. Now, Marquez knows full well that Quartararo is a very good driver. In Thailand, Marc took enormous risks to stay in contact with Fabio and to beat him at the end of the race. Quartararo tried to retaliate by braking beautifully (smile) on the last lap, but he did not manage to win that day. Fabio is really good, but to say that next year he will fight for the title against Márquez seems a little premature to me. »
Comments collected by Andrea Noviello
Find the first part on Marc Marquez here
Find the second part on Jorge Lorenzo here
WSLA 2019: a fourth edition on fire
Inaugurated in 2016 with the aim of promoting the ethical and moral values of sport, the Monaco World Sports Legends Award rewarded, in the always sumptuous setting of the Golden Room of the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, the careers of athletes with a legendary trajectory. Honored both for their fabulous competitive record and for their role as an example to new generations, these exceptional athletes were presented with an Oscar during an awards ceremony hosted by the now essential Lorena Baricalla.
Already widely represented at previous WSLAs (Mika Häkkinen, Giacomo Agostini, Carl Fogarty, Michael Doohan, Jacky Ickx, Michèle Mouton, Freddie Spencer, Jutta Kleinschmidt, Dr Claudio Costa, Ayrton Senna) motor sports were once again popular in 2019 since , in addition to three-time motorcycle world champion Loris Capirossi, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Rally-Raid) and Mario Andretti (F1, Indycar, Endurance) were also awarded this year. They join the three other winners of this fourth edition, Ana Gabriela Guevara (Athletics), Connie Henry (founder of the Track Academy association) and Ferenc Puskás (Football).
