German rider and former Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl recently shared his thoughts on his career and current role as a test rider for Honda in an interview with MotorSport Aktuell magazine. From his transition from regular to test rider to his most memorable moments in MotoGP, Bradl demonstrates a thoughtful and balanced approach to motorcycling and the evolution of his career.
Bradl explained his decision to reduce his active participation in racing, stressing that it was not only a personal decision, but an agreement with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to better manage the workload. The workload in recent years has been excessive. I think Nakagami and Aleix Espargaró still have that racing spirit, since they were full-time drivers this season. For me, this new dynamic is a relief and I am happy about it" he confided in comments relayed by motosan.
However, he does not completely rule out the possibility of participating in races again: " If I had really wanted and pushed for one or two more wildcards, it would have been possible. But given the current circumstances, it is more likely that I will remain a test pilot."
Speaking of the situation of Honda in MotoGP, Bradl pointed out the difficulty for the Japanese brand to adapt to the changes imposed by European competition, particularly in areas such as aerodynamics and ride correction devices. This is not something that happened this year, it is a problem that has been going on for a long time. Honda has lost ground to European manufacturers, who have been able to take advantage of the regulations more aggressively. and Japanese manufacturers, on the other hand, have been too conservative. ", he explained.
Stefan Bradl: “ The workload in recent years has been excessive, not having to run anymore is a relief »
This lack of adaptability led to an overload of work for test riders, with competition weekends often used to test new setups, which sometimes hurt race performance.
Reflecting on his most memorable moments, Bradl spoke of his world title as a highlight of his career. The world title was the most emotional moment of my life. When I was a kid, I always said I wanted to surpass my father, and I did.. It fills me with pride."
He also mentioned his battle for victory at Laguna Seca in 2013 against Marc Marquez as a precious memory, as well as the occasions when it replaced Marquez during his recovery. However, he admitted that his time with the Forward team in 2014-2015, as well as his move to the Superbike World Championship in 2017, were not successful choices, even though those experiences led him to his current role at HRC.
For the future, Bradl plans to continue as a test pilot for HondaAt the same time, he explores his role as a television commentator, an activity that he is passionate about: “ I really enjoy working in television with Servus TV, but I learned not to plan too much. Things change quickly in this sport, so I prefer to take advantage of opportunities year after year. he concludes.
