It has been very difficult but I've had a lot of wins in my career but this year there has been a couple of very good battles especially with James. Assen and Phillip Island were good battles. To take a win this year you certainly deserve it, if you take a win you've had your work cut out and you really deserve to take that win. James has been on it this year, like I said championship don't come easily and he has had his ups and downs this year as well, even the last couple of races hasn't been easy for him.
Q:
How excited are you about 2008 and the new 1098?
TB:
Honestly I haven't done much on the bike. I rode it at Ducati week in Misano in front of the Ducati fans, then we had a real test before our race. That was my first initiation with the bike; it did go quite well, it feels totally different to the 999. It feels a little bit bigger and even though it feels bigger it seems to me that it changes direction a little nicer.
The motor seems strong which is what we are hoping for with better acceleration. Even though I say that it is very early in the development and we need to work, I don't feel at home on the bike yet. Like I said I've only done a couple of days on the bike and because it is so new and different I am looking forward to next year on it but I am going to be pushing very hard not just on myself but with Ducati and everybody involved. I'm only getting one shot at it because next year is my last year and I'd love to go out in style.
Q:
So it is going to be a long hard winter?
TB:
Exactly. That is exactly what we have planned. This year we've tried hard but next year I'm going to be more determined and more motivated and I'm going to push everybody to be the same way as me. Even if they think they are pushing we are going to push even more.
Q:
Will it matter having a new team-mate?
TB:
It is not really going to make any difference for me. Fabrizio is a very good talented young rider. I'm sure he is going to be happy to joining the team as a young Italian and honestly I think it is the right way for Ducati to go, even if Lorenzo is leaving, I think that it is right that they should always have one young Italian rider because it is in the interest of Ducati. I think he'll probably do a good year but I'm worried about what I'm going to do with the bike.
Q:
How competitive do you think you will be against the Yamahas and Suzukis and the other 1098s on the grid?
TB:
Honestly it is going to be very close. I think the 1098, there will be about six bikes in the field. I'm hoping that the other guys don't make too much progress. We actually don't have all that much testing before the start of next year so we really got to work on a good base set-up because everywhere we go is going to be quite new to us. The most important thing is to get a good base setting that I feel very comfortable with so I don't have to play with so much which is what has been happening this year on the 999.
