Roberts On Roberts
Roberts on Roberts
On why he went to Europe last year, and what it took for him to go this year:
"There was some confusion last year on why I was going and who was doing what. I went last year because they said I couldn't do it. The Japanese at Yamaha knew I was good, although they wouldn't commit to a full racing program. They just sort of said, `Well, you ride for America and we'll see how you do.' Obviously I had to prove that `~ could ride a road racer with Barry Sheene and the rest of those who were dominating it at the time. I had to do that to make the sort of money that you have to make when you're Number One. I couldn't demand that much last year because nobody knew I was going to be Number One. So I had to over there and show everyone that I could ride a road racer. Now I don't have to do that. I already proved that I can do it. Now I'm gonna get paid what Number One should be paid. I think that to go and compete for a world championship a guy should be able to make half a million dollars without a whole lot of trouble, and more if he does good. It's worth that for the risk and everything else.
"I don~ really know how much money I made last year yet. About $400,000 I would imagine, somewhere around that. I figure Number One should be paid a lot higher than everyone else. You always want more. but I'm sort of satisfied with the money I'm getting (for 1979). I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't."
O n points of disagreement with Ya maha-besides money-that had to be resolved before signing the contract:
"Last year we competed against Ya maha. We were a factory effort but we were competing against the Japanese factory effort. We had no team orders when we really needed them. I wanted to make it clear who was the main effort so if we came into a spot like we did last year I could have some help from Yamaha and not have to race against them."
O n what will be different about 1979: "We're gonna drop the Formula 750, and there won't be any 250. I'll be able to be a little more relaxed. I know most of the circuits now. I know what it takes to get there. I know what it takes after I'm there. I'll have a little more time. Last year I raced every weekend after Daytona until a month after Laguna Seca and that's proba bly more races than I've ever done in a season. It was a little bit tiring although everywhere I went was new and wasn’t very far to drive. And I had the wife and kids there so it wasn't like I was away from home for seven months. But this year just doing the 500cc races. I’ll be able to have five or six weeks off during the season, which helps to mentally prepare yourself for the best effort at each GP. Last year I’d finish a 500 GP and Barry Sheene would take off and not race for two or three weeks while I’d be out running three 750 races.
“It is really difficult to put out 100 percent each race when you have to run three classes. I did it because that’s what we set out to do. This year I don’t have to do that.”
On start money for the World Champion:
“They didn't offer any for me last year, maybe $200 for a half-ass race in 500 GP racing. This year I have not figured out what I'm gonna get yet. I’m not sure what it is. $4500. five grand, something like that to start a GP. Or maybe more. I don't know. I know it’s not a whole bunch of money. I don't really want to say how much.”
n racing in America in 1979:
“I'd like to do a few more American races than I did last year. Hopefully we will come to some agreements to be able to run Sears Point because I have an off date on that one. I'd like to ride a 500 at Sears Point. That's what I’m planning to do if that comes about.”
On the competition for the World Championship:
“I’m always worried about getting beat. There're a few people that can go fast given the right stuff'. At the end of the year last year Wil Hartog was going good. A consistent guy like Sheene is going to be pretty hard to beat. If Virginio Ferrari gets his stuft' to where it runs the whole race as fast as it ran at Nürburgring, he’s gonna be tough to beat. Sheene is the most consistent. and I think he’s gonna be the most consistent again next year. He’s gonna run the same everywhere and get thirds, seconds, maybe win one or two and get fourths and fifths. I'm gonna probably run a little stronger at most of the racetracks and it’ll probably end up being just like last year—pretty close to the same at the end. Because you get 15 points for a win, 12 for second, and 10 for third, and there’s just not enough break for a winner to make out. If the bike breaks down twice or three times like mine did you’re right back to being even wâth whoever’s running fifth and sixth.”
n being the best in the world:
“It would be very stupid for me to say that I’m the best rider in the world and then someone comes out and beats me. There are a lot of reasons why you don’t win sometimes. If I act like Barry Sheene and say that Barry Sheene is no good and that he can’t ride, then the first time he beats me I’ve got to make an excuse because a month earlier I said that he was no threat at all. It would be very foolish for me to say it because I’ve never met anybody yet that couldn't be beat. I'm gonna get beat. It’sjust gonna take someone that puts together the right program. But I work harder at beating everyone else at this time then they do about beating me. Last year they didn't seem very worried about me beating them and all I worried about was<, beating them. They may be worried about me now. but I’m not gonna stop worrying about beating them. I'm not going to say that I’m the best guy in the world and all I have to do is have equal equipment to beat them. I’ve got to have a lot of things to beat them. I’ve got to be in shape. I’ve got to run^ 100 percent to the last lap and I know this. And I’m gonna get better next year. I know I’m gonna have to work my butt off to get the championship again next year.” 4
On shooting down a helium-filled Michelin balloon with a rifle:
“I shot the Michelin blimp down at Loudon, New Hampshire after I won the race in 1977. It was just a joke. They deserved it. We won the race, and they had J a blimp. A little target practice. Í was shooting at a bird, and the bird flew in front of the blimp, so something hit it. It was something you do after you win a race.* It was the right thing to do at the time.
“I almost ran over a Michelin man in the pits in Europe. Almost run over him once, but found out it was a girl inside and changed my mind. But they’re trying very hard. They turned out to be really pretty good people.”
—John Ulrich
