De Ruben Gomez Pena / Motosan.es
Chaz Davies (Knighton, 1987) is, with 29 victories, the second most successful Superbike rider without a world title. Jonathan Rea's overwhelming dominance kept him out of the crown – he was runner-up in 2015, 2017 and 2018 – but he earned the respect of his rivals and fans with his usual combativeness. Today, the arrival of Álvaro Bautista has left him in the shadows at Ducati, suffering on a bike with which his teammate is untouchable while he worsens his own performances from previous years.
Question: How do you rate the season so far?
Answer: It was difficult. The new bike has a lot of potential, but it takes me a long time to understand it. My teammate is getting better results, so there is still a lot of work to do.
Q: Many people think that your results so far have been conditioned by physical problems: is this true?
A: It doesn't help, that's obvious. The ideal is to arrive at the first race with complete confidence and after a quiet winter, but that was not the case for me. I was impacted by the injuries I suffered in December and January, but that's it. To be honest, I think I'm now 100%.
Q: The problem must therefore lie in your adaptation to the motorcycle…
A: Yes, that's what I think. It's a problem of adaptation, not of the bike itself. That's why for me it's about adapting to the bike, and adapting the bike to me.
Q: The Kawasaki and Yamaha riders think the Ducati is the best bike on the grid. Do you see it like that too?
A: It's a great bike, but especially for Álvaro, who is doing very well. He is the only Ducati rider who is winning at the moment. It's very easy to look at the bike, but only him is going fast. If the top four in each race were on Ducatis, you could say it's the best bike, but that's not the case. It's Bautista who is making the difference at the moment.
Q: And why is Bautista so fast? Is it possible that this is a bike similar to a MotoGP and that would explain why it adapted so easily?
A: Yes, that's exactly what I think. He has a lot of experience in MotoGP and the engine of this Ducati is very similar to that of a MotoGP. He controls the electronics very naturally and with the chassis he is also very good, at least on the circuits he already knows. And I think Pirelli's current tires are the most similar to MotoGP tires we've ever had. Three or four years ago, everything would have been different, especially the tires. He learns very quickly, but it is also true that this is the easiest time to make the change.
Q: Do these Bautista results put more pressure on you?
A: Honestly, I don't look at Álvaro or his results. The pressure I'm under is not because of Bautista's results, but because of my own. There's no point looking at your teammate when you know you're not doing your best because the bike isn't adjusting the way you want it to. So the pressure I have is to get the best out of myself and get back to my previous level. It's not a comfortable situation, although I'm happy for the team and for the results Bautista has achieved.
Q: In recent years, only Jonathan Rea has stopped you from being champion: but has that allowed you to become a better driver?
A: Of course yes. I had some great battles with him and obviously you learn a lot from him about riding techniques or racing situations. Like everyone, he has strengths and weaknesses, but I always tried to see what he did best. And I guess he did the same for me.
Q: Many people in the paddock consider you to be the best brakeman on the starting grid: where does this ability come from?
A: I really don't know. I've always been good at braking, ever since I was much younger. Already in the small categories, when I didn't have the best equipment and I wasn't in a factory team, I saw that I had to do something different. And it’s my style that has become my main strength. It's about maximizing your strengths and trying to compensate for your weaknesses. On the other hand, when I was little, I spent a lot of time training in Supermoto, because my father had a fairly winding circuit, where I spent a lot of hours developing my riding. I think that's where I learned how to slide with the bike and take the stress off with the front of the bike, and I think that became a strong point that I later developed. When I win races, it's usually like that.
Q: Have you had any offers in MotoGP in recent years?
A: No, but it's not something I asked for either.
Q: I understand that it is not a goal for you to access MotoGP either…
A: At the moment it is very difficult. It would be a good option at the right time but I am very happy in Superbike. I have been runner-up three times and I would love to finish number one.
Q: What memories do you have of your participation in the 125cc and 250cc World Championships?
A: I have good memories especially from 2005, when I raced in 250cc. I was in a private team with a private bike. The satellite teams had a lot of disadvantages, especially with the tires, but we still had a good season. I have good memories of the 250cc during these three years: 2003, 2004 and 2005. But on the other hand, I have very bad memories of my journey in 125cc, when I was in a bad situation with a team that I hope to never see again.
Q: What team was it?
A: It was Team Matteoni in 2002. They weren't very interested, but Dorna put me there. They could get more money from the other riders and wanted two places on the grid, but Dorna told them that if they wanted two bikes, one should be for me. And that pissed them off. This situation opened my eyes to the workings of this world, and after this experience, I was able to find a team with great people and, above all, with passion.
Q: There is a famous photo in the Movistar Cup where you are with Casey Stoner and other drivers: do you remember that time?
A: I have very good memories of that year. I was lucky to have this opportunity because I did some tests in 2000 in Jerez. It was a CEV race and I only had this opportunity to do the 2001 season with the Movistar team. And the truth is that at that moment, I wasn't ready: I didn't know the circuit and I was a little lost. But it was the last chance to be chosen and make a qualitative leap. And the truth is that Alberto Puig, together with Toni Calvo and Carmelo Ezpeleta bet on me and that I could be in the 2001 team. Casey Stoner and Julián Simón rode on factory bikes and the other six riders on more basic motorcycles. But it wasn't about being on the podium, it was about learning: We were six drivers with the same weapons and we had to see who did best. I think 2001 was one of the years of my career where I learned the most, because the level in Spain is very high and the circuits are very different to those in Great Britain. We had a great time because we were kids traveling abroad.
Q: Did you know Bautista and Pedrosa at that time?
A: Bautista yes, but Pedrosa no. He was a year older and in 2001 he was already in the World Championship with Movistar. Dani, Toni [Elias] and Joan [Olivé] were in front of us. I remember a great race with Bautista in Jarama. He was on a yellow motorcycle, but I don't remember the team. I don't remember who was ahead because we were fighting for seventh place, but it was fun. It was a good time. Especially working with Puig, who is a very demanding person, but it's good for young people. We respected him a lot because he was a rider who had participated in the 500cc World Championship. We all did our best to impress Puig and have a better chance of participating in the World Championship. With Alberto, I have an anecdote that happened to me in Jarama. On Thursday, before the weekend, he came up to me and asked me what I thought was a good time on this track. It was a circuit that I loved and where I had a good rhythm. I was behind Stoner and Simón, but ahead of the other drivers who were using the same equipment. I was in the top 10 with this bike, which was not easy. On Saturday, after qualifying, Alberto came up to me and said: “Do you feel safe now? » It was his way of congratulating you, he didn't usually say " good game " or something like that.
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