Following the departure of Marco Melandri and Sandro Cortese from the GRT Yamaha team, it was given a new role with youth training for the Superbike World Championship. Federico Caricasulo is one of his recruits for 2020, and the other is the Texan (as Kevin schwantz and Colin Edwards, among others) Garrett Gerloff, two-time winner in Supersport of the MotoAmerica Championship organized by Wayne Rainey and supported by Dorna. He is therefore the new teammate – in the broad sense – of Valentino Rossi.
Yamaha had an excellent initiative here because for several years the MotoGP and WSBK grids have been rather poor in American riders. However, the United States represents the largest market in the world, to which manufacturers cannot be indifferent. Eric de Seynes therefore decided to give a chance to Garrett Gerloff, totally unknown in Europe, and who presents himself here to us.
He begins by telling us about his strong desire to cross the Atlantic to race in the world championship: “I have expressed a lot about my desire to participate in the World Championship, whether in Superbike, Supersport, Moto2 or other disciplines. At Laguna Seca, where I won one of the MotoAmerica World Superbike races, I tried to talk to people to see if they were interested in taking me to WorldSBK. »
“When I made the trip to Magny-Cours, I was really able to talk to people face to face. I think they appreciated the fact that I went all the way to France to talk to them, instead of them coming to see me in the United States. I wanted to convey the passion I have for racing. I think they saw it and I'm really happy that GRT Yamaha gave me this opportunity. »
“The interest is there in America and there are guys who want to do it. Sometimes I think it's difficult, and it's a risk for any WSBK team to take an American because I think a lot of people don't know the level of the American series well. I'm glad they took a risk for me. I think at Laguna they saw what they wanted to see and that helped them bet on me. »
“I was a motocross kid from the age of four. I didn't race but I was a weekend warrior, I went with my dad. When I turned 12, I really thought I wanted to be a Supercross champion. Then my brother and my father became interested in racing on asphalt circuits. My dad had a bunch of injuries, back issues and such, so road running seemed easier on the body. They kind of took that direction. I told them : “No, fuck off!” I want to be a motocross racer! »
“Then when my brother finally got his little Metrakit race bike, a little miniature race bike, we took it to a parking lot and he rode it. She looked like fun and I thought: “Maybe I’ll try it.” » I remember putting on motocross gear in a parking lot, riding this road race bike, having my knee hit the ground and all that! I didn't fall that time, but I did the next time, when I was in leather! Anyway… Once I got on the bike and started riding it, I realized that it was really cool and I really liked it. From that point on, I changed paths from motocross to road racing. I'm glad I did! I'm glad I was able to at least get this far. »
One of the big changes that Garrett Gerloff will have to deal with will be the transition from the Dunlops used in MotoAmerica to the Pirellis used in the World Championship.
“The Aragón test in November was my very first time on Pirelli and my first time in Aragón or on a European circuit! It was also the first time with the team, with the team leader and everything! Brand new, but good news. We all work together smoothly and very well. I also had my first experience of wet weather in World Superbike. I was very happy because in the past I struggled a lot with the Dunlop rain tires and I really didn't know what was happening with the bike. The Pirellis give you a lot of feedback, which immediately gave me a lot of confidence. »
“With slicks, there’s a big difference, that’s for sure. The front holds very well when you push. The rear is a bit strange, a soft casing that moves a lot, and I feel like I can't be as aggressive with my movements on the bike because it upsets the whole chassis. It's just little things like that that I'm going to have to adjust my style for. I'll have to be gentler. It's really noticeable when the tire starts to wear. »
“I think they use different mixtures for the asphalt to cope with the very high track temperatures in the United States. I like the fast and flowing layouts of European tracks, it's definitely my style. I sometimes feel like a lot of American tracks are narrow and choppy, which isn't really my driving style. So in America I felt a little bit disadvantaged whereas here I feel like I can ride the way I like and the way I want to ride. »
“I haven't thought much about the pressure yet, but I have high expectations for myself, as always. I'm going to take it step by step. I have my short and long term goals and I will try to continue to achieve them, hoping to one day get to where I want to be…”
“I really want to be in MotoGP one day. I would love it. That would be the next step I would like to take. At the moment I am 100% focused on this championship, trying to do my best in World Superbike. I hope it opens the door to MotoGP because it would be great: it's the pinnacle of the bike and the man. »
Photos © Yamaha Racing, Motoamerica.com
Source: Yamaha, motorcyclenews. com
