The two main players at the Grand Prix of Qatar gave their thoughts to the press. Red Bull/KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli and Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto talked about what they expect from 2015.
The riders were invited by Youthstream along with Gautier Paulin, Max Nagl, Clement Desalle, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Davide Guaneri to talk about the coming season.
What was interesting was how laid back the riders were and all riders smiled and laughed about this weekends expectations. Villopoto and Cairoli hardly made eye contact, and as Cairoli talked Villopoto looked him over like a boxer would before a heavyweight title fight. The excitement in the room was more than a little high as the media and riders took in the atmosphere.
Antonio Cairoli
First of all, to Youthstream the promoter and the FIM, it’s always nice to race here in Qatar, and thanks for bringing our sport to a better level. For sure, I am motivated. It is always difficult to find something new, because the competition is getting faster and faster and stronger, but I try and invent something new every year. I love the sport and I live to ride my bike. I love riding the bike so much, and even if I wasn’t racing I would ride the bike every single day. It is just a matter of my passion and it makes me want to ride every day.
Ryan Villopoto
So far it’s been good [being in Europe]. It’s been a long off season. It has been for everyone of course. I only get to race these guys once a year at the des Nations, so it should be pretty interesting for everyone including myself and the media. I think we are ready, I am going to have to learn pretty quickly and these guys are very good and it’s going to be a long season with some really good racing. I might catch these guys out at some races and they might catch me out at some races.
It (Doha) actually reminds me a lot of like Las Vegas, desert all around and a big city, hotels and stuff so actually when we were driving to the hotel I was like this place reminds me of back home with big roads and big cars. What keeps everything interesting is every time we get off the plane it’s a new place and in America everything is known to me.
I’ve ridden Colorado at night (asked about riding a motocross track at night), but I think here the lighting might be better than what I am used to for a night race. I will check the track out and see how it is and I think every track will be pretty good.
I think the new competition will bring some excitement, but also everything about the racing is new for me. Like I said before, I usually come out here for a week and that’s for the MXoN and now I will be here for the whole season just that in itself is pretty exciting.
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