De Marianna Giannoni / Corsedimoto.com
Manuel Poggiali won two world championships during a dazzling career that was eclipsed too soon. Now he will try to win as coach of Bastianini and Di Giannantonio.
Manuel Poggiali looks to the future. He focuses on his job as coach of the MotoGP riders of the Gresini team and aims high with Enea Bastianini et Fabio DiGiannantonio. He lives motorcycling as a profession but above all as a passion. He has no regrets, and in fact he is very happy with what he did as a pilot.
Manuel Poggiali, what is your exact role in the Gresini team?
« I'm Bastianini and Di Giannantonio's track assistant, so I go see them on the circuit, I analyze the times, the data, the videos... I follow them both during the tests as well as before and after the tests. »
Bastianini performed very well during winter testing…
« Yes, he rode very well, but I am also happy with Di Giannantonio, who did an excellent job, despite stopping due to food poisoning. We have consolidated our performances and now we must reproduce them at the Grands Prix. I don't make predictions but I live day by day. We have to try to perform well in testing and be consistent in the race. I have great confidence in these guys: they have great qualities and a lot of potential to discover. I am convinced that if they work in the right way, with desire and determination, the results will come.
»
How do you see the post-Valentino Rossi era?
« When a driver who has won nine world titles retires, you miss him, but it's physiological, it's an evolution and not an end. We have a lot of strong riders, including Italians, and we hope that the new Italian riders can express themselves at the top. »
A prediction: who will win the MotoGP world champion title in 2022?
« As a sportsman, I hope that Marc Márquez can once again become the driver that everyone knows. For the rest, I hope the title goes to an Italian rider on an Italian bike. »
Now let's take a step back. Let's take a look at your past. Your career was short but intense…
« In 1997 I became Italian minimoto champion, in 1999 I was already in the 125 world championship and in 2001 I became world champion with Gilera. Everything happened so fast. Just as I was about to flourish as a pilot, my father passed away and his absence had a big impact. I had to roll up my sleeves for everything and I was still a kid. I know where I started from, the sacrifices I made, I sweated a lot to achieve each goal. Then in 2002, I lost the world title, more because of the lack of merit of our team than because of Arnaud Vincent, even if I have a lot of respect and affection for him. In 2003 I won the world title on my 250 debut and the following year Aprilia basically went bankrupt. I was very young: I did not have the maturity and lucidity necessary to manage this situation in the best possible way.
»
Is there a stone you would like to remove from your shoe?
« From time to time, there are people who call me a “missed talent”, who see the glass half empty instead of half full. Well, I would like to tell these people to take a good look at what I have done and what I have earned in just a few years. I am very happy and proud of what I have accomplished as a driver. Then things took a different turn than one might have hoped. Of course, I could have won more, but I have good memories. »
Are your children motorcycle enthusiasts?
« No, they don't like motorcycles, maybe because they see it as something negative, something that alienates their father, and I'm sorry for that. I'm often away from home, but it's my work and my passion. When I'm home, I try to be very present. »
You were the first and only rider from the Republic of San Marino to become world motorcycle champion. Could Luca Bernardi become your heir?
« Luca has the characteristics to become an important driver. It depends on him and the circumstances. I believe he can do very well. »
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