down some corners . We ’ re going to break it down , time it , so the riders understand , “ I ’ ve got to think a little bit differently to be able to find these seconds here and there .” It was very beneficial last time .
Every time that Steve has been with us , he ’ s been able to point out and shave some tenths here and half-seconds , and maybe even in best-case scenario full seconds off . That ’ s going to get in the rider ’ s mind and as they go home they can keep practicing and understanding , “ I for sure thought this line would be the fastest , but we practiced this , this , and this technique , and this different kind of line is better .” That ’ s what we ’ re focused here .
Everyone is fit . Obviously , these are all professionals , so they are fit enough . They have the ability to go fast and they have the technique . It ’ s just basically fine tuning and getting their bodies to start working on pure sprint speed only , for the last six weeks [ before the event ].
How do you balance speed , going as fast as you can , with being able to finish the full six days of racing ?
It all falls back to the preparation . You don ’ t go out and just crash and go over your head . You ’ re building the sprint speed . You get more comfortable with the DOT tires . This is the first time that the riders
received the first batch of tires . They ’ re going to take them home and start practicing with the Dunlop E91 ’ s .
You don ’ t just all of a sudden get fast . You have six weeks ’ time now to hone those skills . Everyone has those , I know . That ’ s why they are in the team , because I ’ ve seen it . Now , it ’ s just to fine tune that so that when you get to Six Days , you are confident in yourself .
No matter if your competition was a little bit faster , you have the confidence that you ’ re not going to go to the next test , try to go above your comfort zone and crash out .
Hopefully we ’ re in a situation where we come out of the gate right away . Every time we won , day one we have been strong . The years that we ’ ve been struggling , our day one wasn ’ t good enough . The reason ? We weren ' t prepared . The riders didn ’ t do their homework .
Once we get to France , the first day is crucial . If you look at the history and the stats , how we stack up and how the race forms , usually the team has been up there from day one . That ’ s our goal that when we go there .
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 98