Q&A: Roberto Rolfo - EXCLUSIVE.
Roberto Rolfo has had a steady start to his second World Superbike season, in which he is riding along current championship leader James Toseland in the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda squad.
Here, the former 250GP winner and MotoGP rider talks exclusively to Crash.net Radio about the first two rounds of the 2007 season, leading up to this weekend's event at Donington Park...
Roberto Rolfo has had a steady start to his second World Superbike season, in which he is riding along current championship leader James Toseland in the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda squad.
Here, the former 250GP winner and MotoGP rider talks exclusively to Crash.net Radio about the first two rounds of the 2007 season, leading up to this weekend's event at Donington Park...
Q:
Roberto, how do you feel the first two rounds of the season have gone?
Roberto Rolfo:
I felt very good at the beginning of the season, because after the winter tests I had a very good feeling for Qatar. I improved my riding style a lot and had worked with the team to adapt this big bike to my way of riding. It was good, a seventh place in race one at Qatar was what I had wanted. For sure it is not easy to get a top five, but I'd wanted to be top ten because last year did not end well. So it was a good start to the new season for me.
Unfortunately in Australia I could not be as fast as I wanted because it was more difficult to find the right feeling, I needed half a second less but that was not easy to find. I also had a problem in Superpole and had to start from 16th and in a very competitive championship like Superbike it is not good to start from behind like that.
In general I am very happy with what the team is doing for me and I want to keep improving as best I can, because I know I have a great potential this year and I want to use it all.
Q:
How do you feel about returning to Donington Park?
Roberto Rolfo:
I am very happy because it's a track I've always liked a lot. I was second in 250GP in 2001 and also the next two years were also good. My last good result here was a tenth place in the MotoGP class, which was my best result of 2005.
So I have very good memories of this track and I hope for good weather because I need to work more on the bike to be quick in the dry, but in general I also like wet conditions and it could be a great opportunity for me to ride this bike in the wet.
Q:
Are you still enjoying racing in World Superbikes?
Roberto Rolfo:
Yes, very much. I like this championship very much because it is completely different compared to MotoGP. I feel at home with this team and it is very professional. Also this championship has made a big step in quality this season. When you have to work you can work and concentrate, but you can also enjoy yourself in this paddock.
Q:
Do you have lots of British fans?
Roberto Rolfo:
Usually yes because I also love the TT. I am a big fan of the TT and in general I have a lot of fans in England. Usually they come to see me so I hope I can wave to all my fans from the track this weekend!
Q:
Will you be attending the 100th anniversary of the TT this year?
Roberto Rolfo:
Yes I want to go to the Isle of Man at the end of May and first weeks of June. I want to organise something for the Senior TT so that all my fans from the Island will see me there.
