Santi Hernández is Marc Márquez's track engineer at the Repsol Honda Team, and his Grand Prix experience dates back to his collaboration with Álex Crivillé.
When Marc Márquez gets off his bike and sits in the corner of the Repsol Honda Team box, the first person he speaks to is Santi Hernández. His track engineer, since his time in Moto2, has already been champion in the premier category with Álex Crivillé, with whom he worked as a suspension technician. After a spectacular start to the season in Qatar, Hernández reviews the first round of the year and explains how the category has evolved.
Many know you as Marc Márquez's track engineer, but others may remember your collaboration with Álex Crivillé as a suspension technician. What do you remember about that time? What was it like for a young man in his twenties to work for the Repsol Honda Team?
“I remember it with great pleasure. As a child, motorcycles surrounded me at home, and having the chance to work for a team like Repsol Honda, with a rider who has always been an idol for me, means that the first feeling and the first memory I have is of 'to be very nervous, like a fan living a dream. I remember it like that.”
The team is celebrating its 25th anniversary and one of the highlights was the first Spanish 500cc World Champion. What was it like working with Crivillé in 1999?
“I experienced many good moments, but one of them, which I remember as very positive, was working with Álex Crivillé: A great driver and, above all, a great person. I remember how well he treated us, how he worked, and above all how he made you feel like you were part of the group. Being able to be part of this team that paved the way for the rest of the riders in MotoGP makes me very proud.”
Do you miss anything from that era? Has the way of working changed?
“Yes, that has changed. Everything has evolved. Before, there was rivalry, but not so much interest. There was friendship between the mechanics, the teams and the riders, and it wasn't really a rivalry. Today, everything has become so professional that the atmosphere is no longer the same. It was more friendly before, compared to today where everyone only thinks about the goal, which is to win.”
What do you think has changed the most? The championship itself, or the technology and the bikes?
“I think the championship and the technology have changed a lot, for the better. The championship has created a product that, at present, is enviable. It has grown and professionalized in such a way that, for those who love motorcycle racing, it is incredible. On the technical side, things have changed a lot; 22 years ago, there were many things that were unthinkable to control. Especially in terms of safety, the championship and the technology have changed for the better.”
You started working with Marc Márquez in Moto2 in 2011. In which area has he changed the most? Where could he improve?
“Marc surprised me from the first day I worked with him, because of a comment he made about the bike and how he expressed himself. I always say the same thing: Marc surprises me every day. It's not my place to tell him what needs to be improved. He is a driver who constantly learns and is able to remove things from his mistakes. Sometimes I learn more from him than he does from me, and that’s good too.”
How many times a week do you talk to each other outside of the circuit?
“Normally we talk once a week, but in the team WhatsApp group there are messages almost every day. The communication we have is good and friendly. It’s also good to talk about things other than motorcycles.”
How long has it been since you watched the start of a race? Is it out of superstition or nervousness?
“Superstition. It dates back to 1999, when I started working with Álex Crivillé. I don't know why it happened, but I missed the start and he won the race. So since then, I haven’t looked at the start anymore.”
After the race in Qatar, Marc Márquez said that the Honda engine gave him second place. How has the new bike improved?
“As Marc said, the new engine allowed us to have a better top speed and better acceleration, which were the points where we had suffered the most in recent years. We are closer to Ducati now and we have overtaken other manufacturers, and that is important. It's very interesting, because when you can gain time in a straight line, you don't have to take more risks in other places on the track. It's "free" time, because everyone knows how to open the throttle, and you don't have to risk having to recover time when braking. This is one of the big areas that Honda has improved. We have to congratulate the engineers for the effort they put in, because there are a lot of people working behind the scenes, who sometimes don't sleep so that we can get a result.”
After the winter and Marc's difficulties at Sepang, did you expect him to finish second and 23 thousandths from victory?
“Marc already went through a difficult period when he had his accident in 2011, where he spent a lot of time without racing while we didn't know if he was going to recover from this injury. He surprised everyone by winning the first race in Qatar the following year. I was very cautious when I was asked what level Marc would reach in the first race but, inside, I had no doubt that he could fight for victory. Marc shows us every day that he is a fighter and that he thrives in the face of adversity. I knew Marc could run a good race.”
The gap between the Top 5 drivers in Qatar was 0,6 seconds. Do you think the World Championship will be more difficult than ever this year?
" Yes. Every year it gets more and more difficult. Every year there are drivers with more experience, as well as young talents who arrive and learn quickly. Even though sometimes you might think it looks easy, winning the World Championship is very difficult, because things are very close. The important thing is to be regular and know how to play your cards well, without rushing.”
Last year we saw many races that broke records for close gaps. How do you explain that things are equalizing?
“This is how the championship is organized. Keep in mind that the tires are the same and most teams have the same suspension, brakes and electronics. The regulations have ensured that the difference between manufacturers is not very great. It also helps us see a bigger group of riders up front.”
The next race is Argentina, where Marc has always been fast. What is the key to going fast on a circuit like Termas de Río Hondo?
“It’s a circuit that has always been good for us, even if sometimes the results have not been there. As on every circuit, you have to continue to work and try not to make mistakes. Marc and the team have to give their best, and after the warm-up we will assess to what extent we can achieve this. There are races that, in theory, do not seem favorable for a victory, and you have to be able to accept that and not make mistakes. As I said before, you have to be consistent and get the most out of every race.”
