THE BIG READ it is on the way in the future . “ One day I have to make a small museum for them , or something . I do cherish them .”
Loris Baz ( Bonovo Action BMW ) has a wide collection of trophies , from lots of forms of racing , and he says , “ I think I have 99 % of all the trophies . I like to keep them , also the leathers from every year , and the helmet . I have started like a little museum - a beautiful mess now - but one day I will put it clear ! I like to keep the trophies , some in my home and some in my mum ’ s house . In 2021 , after riding in MotoAmerica , I could not bring everything back , so I gave some to the team and the team owner . Also some of the trophies , when you have two podiums on the same weekend , I gave one to the team and I kept one . Same for IDM . But all the WorldSBK wins and podium trophies - I have .”
Some riders , of course , after all the blood , sweat and tears that went into winning and taking podiums , poles , fastest laps , whatever , are very keen to keep hold of pretty much all of their trophies .
Fair enough , they earned them .
Iker Lecuona , from Honda HRC , said . “ I keep the trophies . I had many trophies when I was young . In those years you learn what you need to do to win . But the special trophies ? The most special trophies , like Moto2 , Suzuka 8-Hours , WorldSBK … I have them in Andorra . I want to prepare a bedroom in my house to put in all the trophies and special helmets . All together with the trophies , helmets , leathers to show when friends come to visit .”
The last word on that goes to an all-new rider in WorldSSP , Ten Kate Yamaha ’ s Jorge Navarro , who comes over from the Moto2 category this season . “ In 2021 I moved to Andorra and I took some of the trophies there ,” said Jorge . “ But not all of them . As I was moving I did not know how much I had . A bit of them are in Andorra , a bit in my parents house in Valencia , a bit in the house I was living in before in Valencia , so they are a bit everywhere ! At the moment it is like that , but I would like , when I have a house that I am stable in , to have a big room and put them all together with some memories I have , photos and so on . So I would like to have like a special trophy room . I have never given any away because it is something you cannot buy . I would not sell any of them , even for a lot , a lot of money . Well , maybe if you came with one million we could talk about it !?”
All jokes aside , as we can all see there are broadly two types of rider when it comes to trophies . The ones who keep them all because they all mean everything to them , and the ones who keep the ‘ best ’, and for whom giving away some or many is just fine .
Trophies may be permanent physical reminders of success , but for all the riders who win it ’ s the glory and personal satisfaction that seems to last for all eternity .
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