On the Record Esteve “tito” Rabat 2014 Moto2 World Champion
ON THE RECORD ESTEVE “TITO” RABAT 2014 MOTO2 WORLD CHAMPION
IGNITION
INTERVIEW
Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VD5 rider has future aspirations in MotoGP
Matthew Miles
MOTO2 IS VERY COMPETITIVE.
Everyone has the same engine, same tires, same weight. The difference is the way the rider works with the team. You must have a good team that prepares the bike well. You have to know the team, and they have to know you.
THIS CLASS IS A GOOD SCHOOL TO LEARN
how to manage the tire. If you ride harder—brake later and slide at the exit—you damage the tire. You have to learn to pick up the bike and brake a little more smoothly.
THIS YEAR, EXCEPT FOR ONE RACE,
Jerez, the tires have shown good performance from the first lap to the last lap. That is better than last year and the year before. The quality for race distance is better.
THE M0T02 RIDING STYLE IS COM-
pletely different from Superbike or Supersport. I know because I used to practice on a Honda CBR600RR. Moto2 is a racebike—more precise. You have to take time to learn that. It’s hard work, but this is the world championship and that is the reason the level is so high.
IN MOTOGP, YOU HAVE TO BE A VERY
good rider and show your aptitude. If you have the best bike, your job is to finish first. Racing is hard. And every year, it will be harder.
MY DREAM IS TO GO TO MOTOGP.
I stayed one more year in Moto2 because I am in a good team with a good bike. When you feel these conditions, you bring more power than when you are in the wrong team.
IN MOTOGP, MARC MARQUEZ IS VERY
hard on the tire. Valentino Rossi is smoother. Jorge Lorenzo also looks smooth. But they know how to manage the tire from years of experience.
WINNING RACES IN MOTOGP IS
hard but not impossible.
CHAMP ON MOTO2
PAYING THE DUES
Rabat, 26, spent five seasons in 125cc Grand Prix before moving to Moto2 in 2011. He finished 10th, seventh, and third overall prior to topping the intermediate class.
WINNING FORMULA
Barcelona-born Rabat won seven races and scored a record number of points—346—en route to winning the Moto2 world title.
NUMBER ION THE FRONT
Rabat is the first Moto2 champ to defend his title. Previous winners Toni Elias (2010), Stefan Bradl (2011), Marc Marquez (2012), and Pol Espargam (2013) moved to MotoGP.
