JT:
I just enjoy playing and singing. I haven’t played with the band or sung for about two months with the racing season having just started, so I don’t get to play that often. It’s such a pleasure to play with this standard of musicians as a hobby. They are professionals. They do a Robbie
Williams take-off called ‘Let me entertain you’ which is fantastic. Playing with me is a hobby for them as well. It’s just nice to have this outside of the racing.
Q:
You’ve had almost a dream start to the 2007 season. Did you expect things to be going so well back when the year began?
JT:
I don’t know about this well, but I knew I was going to be there or thereabouts. You can never underestimate Max Biaggi and the status he brings to the championship – the publicity has just gone up and up since he joined the series. Then there’s
Troy Bayliss, who did what he did in Valencia at the end of last year in front of all those people in MotoGP – beating guys like
Nicky Hayden,
Loris Capirossi and
Valentino Rossi was awesome. The standard of the championship in World Superbikes this year is absolutely incredible, with at least six riders who can win races.
Q:
It must feel good to be showing the ex-MotoGP aces the way so far too..?
JT:
I had a chance to go to
MotoGP, but it wasn’t with the right package I thought. I feel like I’m riding better now; my whole mental attitude and everything else is getting better too. I’m really enjoying riding in World Superbikes. Obviously my aim is to get into MotoGP, and hopefully in the near future, but it’s certainly not doing me any harm for now being in World Superbikes and racing against these guys.
Q:
So do you see Biaggi and Bayliss as your principal rivals over the remainder of the season?
JT:
Yeah, but you can never rule out (Noriyuki) Haga – he’s always biting at your heels.
Troy Corser is a fantastic rider too, a two-time world champion. Bayliss’ team-mate (Lorenzo) Lanzi is getting quicker and quicker. All the manufacturers are on the pace too. In the second race in Australia I won on a Honda, Bayliss was second on a Ducati, Haga third on a Yamaha, then Biaggi on a Suzuki. All the riders and manufacturers are up there, which is great for the championship.
Q:
How excited are you about returning to
Donington Park? It will be the first time since 2001 that World Superbikes have raced there…
JT:
It is, and I had a decent result back then too. It was my first year in World Superbikes and I was coming back from a really bad thigh injury. I had broken my femur in three places but I think I finished sixth or seventh, which I remember being really pleased about. Bayliss and Biaggi are going to have a little bit more experience around there from their MotoGP days but I know my way round too, and with the confidence I’ve now got from the first two rounds I can’t wait to go there. To be a British guy leading the championship heading into Donington Park is just great. I’ve had some fantastic support over the past few years, and I really hope I can win in front of my home crowd.
Q:
Looking further ahead, how do you foresee the rest of the season panning out?
JT:
If I had a dream, the same as it has done for the first two rounds! If I can finish second and first every time like I’ve done so far for the whole season I will be lifting the trophy quite early. I don’t drink throughout the season, but if I can wrap it up before my birthday on 5 October I will definitely be having a few drinks before the last race.
