So as soon as we managed to dial out a few more of those issues with the throttle , we kept getting quicker . Obviously , I needed a little bit of time to understand the limits of the bike and how to ride it fast , but we learnt that pretty quickly over the first test . The character of the bike hasn ’ t massively changed - it is what it is - but we have just managed to keep eking bits out and improving the weak areas .
Where do you feel you can get the bike to over the season ?
I think some tracks will be a lot better for our bike than others to be honest . I was expecting a difficult race in Aragon , just the way the track is , the type of corners etc ., it was never going to be good for our bike . It never felt that natural to do the lap time all weekend . We had a lot of problems over the weekend though - it wasn ’ t a smooth weekend at all .
I think there are other tracks that will be very good for our bike . Assen was one of them . When we tested in Assen , the track temperature was horrific . It was dry after the first session , and my lap times were really good even on the hard tyre , so I was really looking forward to Assen . I felt that was going to be one of the tracks where we could be pushing to be on the podium for sure , but obviously it didn ’ t work out following the injury . I ’ m hoping Donnington will be good for the home round at the end of May , but we we ’ ll see .
With a 125cc British Championship under your belt , a step up to MotoGP seemed inevitable – however , at the time ( 2014 ), the gulf in equipment / teams meant you didn ’ t stand a chance . What did you take from the experience ?
For sure the Grand Prix experience was good - mainly to have gained that experience - but at the same time , a waste of time ! We didn ’ t really learn that much because the kit we were on was just so uncompetitive it was unreal . It ’ s the same in every Championship that you ride in : if you are not on kit that is competitive with a team that is right , you are only setting yourself up for a fall ! It was good to go and travel and experience these things , as it ’ s something you need to learn when you are young - how to travel , the logistics of it , how to manage jet lag and learning all those new tracks - but overall it wasn ’ t really something that contributed a lot to where we are now .
You have faced some adversity - injury , losing rides et cetera . How do you deal with the tough moments in your career ?
I ’ ve definitely had a lot of ups and downs in my career . A lot of hard moments , some that are more frustrating than others , when there has been potential for it to be good but the timing has been off .
I guess all these things make you stronger in a way , as you learn to look on the positive side . If you can cope with those tough moments , there ’ s a lot of potential to unleash when you get out the other side . It ’ s not easy to cope with the stresses of it all , but you ’ ve just got to learn from it , learn how to cope and keep moving forward . It ’ s all you can do .
You take your preparation seriously , living somewhat a holistic lifestyle , but you enjoy a beer at the end of the day . Do you find it difficult to strike the correct balance ?
I take preparation seriously ; I try to be as healthy and good as possible , but also there is a time when you have to relax and enjoy yourself and not get too stressed . I ’ ve been at both ends of the spectrum . I ’ ve been as fit and healthy as I can be , 24 / 7 , but not overly enjoying life because of it . And I can tell you that ’ s worse than being the other way when you are a little bit more on the slack side .
I also know other riders that have done it in the past , living and breathing it 24 / 7 , and it has ended up making them worse . You need to be relaxed and happy in your head , happy with life and content to a certain extent - but you do still need to knuckle down and do the work as well to make sure you are fit , healthy and ready for each race . I think I learnt that balance semi-early on in my career . Most of racing is in your head , so if you are happy and relaxed you don ’ t need to be busting yourself seven days a week . Finding that balance is something you learn with experience ; what works for you !
Is work still play ? Do you still get the same buzz as a professional with all the extra pressures involved ?
That ’ s a good question , work or play , because for sure it is work for me . It ’ s all about results , but I don ’ t necessarily feel the pressures from above too much . At the same time , if you are not performing , we all know the score . u
Leon Camier