Loris Baz In 2017, he will make his third season in MotoGP and his second campaign with a Ducati within the Avintia team. From the height of his 91 meter height, he will once again be the teammate of a Hector Barbera which makes it 22 cms below the waist. This year, the one who will also be the second Frenchman on the board, since Johann zarco joined him on the starting grid, will especially try to forget the ordeal of 2016. A campaign to get rid of as quickly as possible if we judge by his last interview on MotoGP.com.
Loris Baz is 24 years old and he will not remember a 2016 season marked by problems and injuries in his fond memories. In fact, his very modest twentieth place overall and his 35 points scored reflect a complicated exercise.
An exercise nevertheless marked by two highlights: a fourth place in the Czech Republic and a fifth position in Malaysia which allowed him to save his honor. On three occasions, too, he was able to be in Q.2 for the best places at the end of qualifying. His best on the starting grid was tenth, acquired on the Sepang track.
A report which does not arouse enthusiasm but which shows that the tricolor is not giving up: “ I think that having managed to make these two brilliant moves in such a complicated season allowed me to show that I was always there and always present to seize all the opportunities that present themselves he explains. " I proved it twice this season after two big injuries. I managed to do well in complicated conditions ».
But he does not hide his face: “ sportingly, the results of this past season are negative. The season was complicated, even if it allowed me to show that I persevere whatever happens and that I always believe in it. There were a lot of injuries, there were falls, but also a lot of bad luck. There are 'without' seasons among all athletes, and the 2016 season was mine ».
A dark year which also affected his morale: “ I couldn’t wait for 2016 to end. I couldn't wait, not for any particular reasons, but because I really needed to take a break from motorcycling for a few weeks to get back to health and no longer have pain like I had during the last Grands Prix. I couldn't wait for the season to end, to try the new bike, to take a rest and to start again ».
At least, this ordeal will have hardened him: “ Above all, I learned a lot about myself and about life. When you spend a lot of time injured, trying to ride in such conditions, you don't learn much. It is very complicated to ride at your level and progress. In this kind of situation, we even tend to regress. Because of all the problems I suffered, I had lost the pleasure of riding. I found it again at the end of the year during the first winter tests during which I started to ride fast. When we have fun, we manage to go fast and when we manage to ride fast, we achieve good results and the objectives are achieved.."
Exactly, what will these objectives be in 2017? “ First, I'll try to have fun. Like my teammate, it will be about finishing in the Top 10 as often as possible. There is nothing specific. I just want to have fun on the Ducati, ride as fast as possible and enjoy this year ».
This with a GP15 which will replace its GP14.2: “ I was already aware during the season that certain parameters were going to change, such as the bike or my new chief mechanic. I can't wait for everything to begin to see how we can all work together ". Barely two weeks left, and it will be back to school for tests at Sepang.
