"... not a hero, just a down-to-earth guy"

Since 2004, when Dani Pedrosa moved up to the 250cc class, the Austrian Mike Leitner, 45, has been his Chief Mechanic. In an interview the one time 125cc rider talks about ‘his’ rider, his role in the team and relaxed racing Sundays.

As Dani Pedrosa's Chief Mechanic, tell us what your duties are in the Repsol Honda Team.

As Chief Mechanic, my main duty is to supervise every decision made regarding the bike, which could have to do with the engine, gearbox, suspension, tires ..., I have the last word. We’re a great team with many specialists, and everyone works hard, but in the end, when someone has to decide on what direction to take, that’s me. It’s an enormous responsibility and means there’s a lot of pressure on me.

How would you describe Dani Pedrosa?

This is my fifth season working with him, and I can tell you he’s clearly a very special rider. When you win a World Championship in the 125cc class and two in the 250cc; races during your first MotoGP season, and by the second year become the world champion runner-up, it’s quite clear you’re a special rider, different to the rest.

Is he easy to work with?

As I said, he’s a special person, but he is easy to work with. He’s no hero, doesn't see himself as a star or a prima donna. He’s an easy-going, down-to-earth guy. I think Alberto Puig, Dani's manager, always helps out a lot with that. He’s been well trained to understand what life’s about. He understands the positive and negative aspects of motorcycle racing, and has always been serious about his work.

What is your favorite memory from the years you’ve been working with Dani?

We’ve had so many good moments that I can’t just mention one. At times when things aren’t going too well, the way he takes on difficult situations surprises me. And at the same time, when we’re successful, he surprises me again with his serene approach. There are many special moments – like the last victory at the Jerez Grand Prix, the second race of the year, bearing in mind all the problems we had during the winter training sessions.

And your worst memory?

The worst moments are definitely when the rider falls and hurts himself. We’ve had a few such moments in the past, and for any team, any mechanic, it’s a very hard time.

When does the tension reach its peak during a Grand Prix weekend?

There can be many tense moments, starting with when you’re trying out something important and hoping all goes well. Or even before the training sessions, when on Thursday we decide which tires we’re going to use throughout the Grand Prix. Also, for anyone who’s competing, the most terrible moment is just before the start of the race.

Does a Chief Mechanic need psychological skills when working with a rider?

Definitely. In our case, Alberto Puig takes care of these things, and I concentrate mainly on the technical aspects. Though after so many years, we’ve become Dani’s friends, and he trusts me much more than when we started out. In the same way that I understand him much better and know when to pick the moment to tell him something, calm him down, or motivate him. I think that right now we have a good relationship. You get closer as time goes by.

How many hours do you spend on a circuit on a race weekend?

A lot! I’ve stopped counting, because this job demands a lot of energy from everyone. Every mechanic works hard, because this is a crazy world we’re in and there’s a lot of pressure. You’re always under pressure, and the hours just slip by while we’re on the track.

And one last question. Can you tell us what a race day is like for Dani Pedrosa’s Chief Mechanic?

It starts at 7:00 am sharp at the hotel. We come to the circuit and prepare the bike for the warm-up, which is at 9:40 am. The adjustments are already made the night before. Then we have the warm-up, where the rider gets the latest information, and we get the bike ready for the race, making the last changes if necessary, like the tires, for example. We check the weather, the wind, and everything that can affect the bike’s performance. Most of the adjustments have been decided on the previous afternoon, and we always try not to change too many things at the last minute. Once the race has started, Sunday is usually the easiest day for a Chief Mechanic, as all the work has already been done. The stressful days are Friday and Saturday. Sunday, if everything goes as expected, is our easiest day, though it’s the toughest day for the rider.