In the second part of Toby Moody’s interview of motorcycling hero Kevin Schwantz, the American former rider tells us how he views the sport today and how he is contributing to the future of MotoGP. (Click here for part one)
How do you think the challenges for MotoGP riders have changed since your 1993 world title?
It’s quite a bit different. The best person to answer that is Valentino Rossi, as he’s done both the 500cc and the 800cc MotoGP bikes. My interpretation is that a 500 was a much less forgiving machine to ride, whereas now the big machines are much more useable with a big wide powerband, tons of power, tons of torque and a lot of electronics. Physically and mentally, they’re probably tougher to ride because everything is happening that much faster. To me, it seemed like a little bit harder back then than is the case now. With the new electronics and the same tyre for everybody, people can reach the limit so easily and that’s why qualifying is so close. There used to be 1.5 seconds covering the first eight riders, and there were eight factory bikes back then, but I think the rider could make more of a difference with different tyres – maybe a softer tyre could be taken and you could leap ahead early on and see if it would last to the line. The bike was a different monster at the start from how it was at the finish because we had 24 litres of fuel with a bit of weight and then it lightened up towards the finish. The fuel was a greater percentage of the weight of the bike.
Brian J Nelson/Red Bull Photofiles
What was the inspiration for setting up the Schwantz School in Birmingham, Alabama?
It was doing the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2008, really. We went to Indianapolis and realised that it’s a road course only for a short amount of time per year, because they’ve got the Brickyard 400 [ie NASCAR] the same weekend we’re in Laguna Seca for the MotoGP, and after that is when they change it over from an Oval.
Have you seen anyone at the Schwantz School and thought, “They could be the next Rossi, Lorenzo or Pedrosa”?
Not really, yet. What we do at the school is so far detached from the racing.
How did you feel when you were asked to lead the Lap of Champions at Indy next month?
I’m happy to do it. Whenever it’s doing something to help the sport, it’s great. I’ve got plenty of time to do that sort of stuff now.
The USA enjoys the luxury of two GPs. Just what is it that the Americans love about two-wheeled racing?
Two races in a country is good – and they’re such completely different events, too. Laguna is a small difficult venue to get in and out of, but the actual feel and atmosphere when you’re there are great. The smaller venue almost makes it better, getting you right on top of things. Indy has that ‘big event’ feel.
'My uncle and I – I was a teenager at the time – didn’t see eye to eye, as he thought I was a spoilt, rotten brat' – Kevin Schwantz
What prompted you to switch briefly to stock cars – was it a way to keep racing with less risk of aggravating old injuries, or just a new challenge?
I just needed something to get away from motorcycles. If I had got through for a couple of years without riding one, then I was good, but if I’d gone back to run a team or something at the end of ’95 then I would’ve been out watching those guys on the track and I might have gone, “Hold on, this is how you freakin’ do it,” and put my helmet on. I needed to wean myself off.
If you hadn’t chosen motorsport as a career, what would you have been?
My parents owned a motorcycle dealership… so I might have run that. Someone asked that same question a while back, and I replied, “Useless,” because I might have worked there, but in the summer everyone would be going to the beach and I was off there. My parents would be telling me to be there and be more hands-on… but my uncle and I – I was a teenager at the time – didn’t see eye to eye, as he thought I was a spoilt, rotten brat.
Who’s your tip for the 2010 MotoGP title now?
Jorge Lorenzo has shown in the right situation at the right track that he’s as fast as anyone, but we’re not even halfway through the season yet. Yamaha have shown early on that they were the best starting, but with so much time left for Honda to get all of their ducks in a row… the Ducati, too. Nicky [Hayden]’s been pretty consistent on it most of the year and Casey [Stoner]’s beginning to show some form. You get a couple of guys between Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, and the points Lorenzo’s got are gone in two weekends. 2006 saw Rossi coming out of Laguna 50+ points back from the leader and he led into the last race by 12!
Thank you very much, sir!
[For the second time, Kevin looks at Toby’s new iPhone that’s recording the interview.] No problem… You had a text message pop up on your phone by the way…
For more on the Kevin’s school, visit www.schwantzschool.com
For all the latest on this weekend’s action, go to our MotoGP Laguna Seca event page
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