Redding: Now I know how my family feels!
Kiara Fontanesi clinched her fifth FIM Women's Motocross world title in dramatic circumstances during last weekend's France Grand Prix - and with boyfriend, MotoGP racer Scott Redding, supporting her from the sidelines.
Fontanesi was one of four riders in the title chase at the final round, which took place in treacherous conditions after heavy rain.
Kiara Fontanesi clinched her fifth FIM Women's Motocross world title in dramatic circumstances during last weekend's France Grand Prix - and with boyfriend, MotoGP racer Scott Redding, supporting her from the sidelines.
Fontanesi was one of four riders in the title chase at the final round, which took place in treacherous conditions after heavy rain.
She went on to triumph by a single point over Livia Lancelot.
"Honestly I haven't really recovered!" said Redding, at Aragon on Thursday.
"Destroyed… just emotions. It's just mental to be involved in something, so close - now I really know how my family feel every time I go on the bike, and racing.
"I couldn't do that [watching] for too long, no way!"
The Englishman added: "It was possible and we believed [Kiara] could do it, but you needed some luck. She got some luck in the first race when the first rider got stuck, which allowed her to go through and win. She brought it home, perfect job.
"Then race two she led but it started to rain, she struggled with grip and that was it. It was all just going downhill. Nothing she could do and it was just slipping away.
"Then with two laps to go, the one person she needed not to finish got stuck on the hill. That was mental. She'd done her job; didn't get stuck, was consistent, didn't over ride, got up the hill and managed to come back with the title.
"Sometimes you need a bit of luck, in a lot of these championships. I didn't win mine [in Moto2 in 2015] because I didn’t have luck! That's how it is sometimes.
"[Kiara] didn't have luck at the beginning of the year, got stuck in Indonesia, some mechanical problems, so I'm really happy it turned around for her because she's worked hard for it."
Redding, who is switching from Pramac Ducati to Aprilia for 2018, said he is approaching the remaining five rounds with one eye on next year.
"I'll try to stay in the top ten and try to be the first of the GP16 Ducatis. My problem in the past was I was setting hard targets and it's also down to the machinery. The bike is not bad but we are missing a few tenths a lap. We've made steps with consistency at Silverstone and Misano," he declared.
"I need to not get stressed and try and learn as much as I can going into next year. Next year is a different bike but it's still got two-wheels, a throttle and electronics. So if I can improve in some areas, including myself, it should carry over."
He added: "I think changing a riding style for a different bike is not the biggest thing. All bikes are different, but it's more about the control and feel between you and the bike - with the spinning, the locking, the sliding. It's how you manage that.
"When I see the Aprilia the handling looks really good. I hear it's really good. Acceleration is something they lack a bit at the moment. But to find power in this day and age is not really the worst thing to do. It's better to have something that handles with no power, than vice versa.
"I do believe by the end of the year they will have some more improvements and I just need to do my job and prepare myself to be ready. I'm not saying I'm going to get on the Aprilia and light the world up, but I need to show the potential I've been showing now and keep improving.
"There are going to be some difficult races until the end of the year, but I can't let them knock me down."
