After the disappointment about Ten Kate-Yamaha Racing Tea not appearing in the Superbike World Championship, Loris Baz restarted his career on the MotoAmerica Honos Superbike for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team and rode a Panigale V4R. The Frenchman, who was interviewed by Paolo Scalera and Marco Caregnato during a LIVE, explained the reasons that led him to get involved in the US series and gave his outlook on the first half of 2021, when he will be four Podium places in fifth place in the overall standings stands for his recognition.
“End of 2020 the main goal was not to compete in MotoAmerica, However, it turns out to be a wonderful experience. I would have liked to continue in the SBK World Championship because of the excellent results with Ten Kate, I received offers, but I wasn’t in the mood to just come up with the numbers – he said – a few days before my birthday I received a call from Eraldo Ferracci who explained the project to me and after a conversation with my manager I listened to my heart and decided to take the offer. Even though I arrived in the US late, I’m gradually starting to love the country and the championship. The project is new, there is a happy atmosphere in the garage and there is direct support from the manufacturer. Unfortunately we had a bit of bad luck at the beginning of the season, now we’re on the right track. The goal is to win the title in the hope of getting back into the world championship soon.
Then on his US debut and with his vast experience, the 28-year-old Frenchman gave his personal take on the championship run by three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey for the past seven years.
“Wayne is doing a great job the championship returns to the glory of the past, in fact, the level of the top 6 is really high – he continued – in the last few laps the gates have reopened and the audience attended en masse, with 60-80,000 fans. Even soSome of the tracks are old fashioned, just like I like them when I’ve ridden in British Superbike. Compared to Europe, the asphalt pavements are old, so they have less grip and that makes it difficult to find the right set-up for the bike ”.
From his past in MotoGP, during the Sepang Tests in 2016, the then Avintia Racing rider landed on the straight in the eye of the storm after a sensational and dangerous crash when the rear casing of his Michelin exploded.
“I have to be happy that I’m still alive. I usually end up on the ground due to my own mistake, but in these circumstances it was due to a tire in development as Michelin was returning after a long absence. Fortunately, they have made a lot of progress since that episode. At the same time, I got very angry when I read that the mistake was attributed to the team, more precisely the low tire pressure, which was absolutely not true.
Not only MotoGP and SBK, but Baz also had several opportunities to try his hand at the World Endurance Championship, which will be held this weekend with the 12H of Estoril in Portugal. Just remember that in 2011 he finished the Le Mans 24H at the top of the podium with YART-Yamaha.
“When I took my first podium at the FIM EWC, I was just 18 years old, at that time there was a different idea of endurance racing. There are unique emotions where you are sad for 90% of the race and happy for the remaining 10%. Among other things, I was lucky enough to ride with my best friend Jérémy Guarnoni, a more unique than rare moment in motorcycling. It would be great to be back in endurance on a Ducati “.
Finally, he also thought of his compatriot Fabio Quartararo, the current MotoGP leader. They’ve known each other for almost a lifetime, and Baz hasn’t denied helping him more than once.
“I met Fabio when his father asked my coach if it was worth going to the Spanish championship. I think he’s a crystal clear talent, I’m happy for him, he deserves it after his complicated debut in the World Cup. At that moment I was in MotoGP and with my help and that of his current manager we were able to polish him up. He was good and happy with the choices he made. In fact, after winning the first Moto2 race, he immediately signed a contract with Petronas, these are aspects that are part of every rider’s career, ”he concluded.