“The riders shouldn’t complain…”

On the eve of the Grand Prix Acerbis of Italy, we spoke with Simone ALBERGONI (I - KTM). On the world tour since 2000, the most experienced rider in the paddock returned to his rich career, his season, and the evolution of Enduro. Impressions. Hello Simone, what do you think about your season at now in the toughest category (E3)?
Simone ALBERGONI: “I trained really hard last winter, so I actually thought I could be much faster in the opening rounds. Coming back from the Iberian GPs, I got demotivated and I got to face a difficult period on a mental level. Now everything has return to normal, as my performances are getting better. My bike works really well now and I’m having fun riding it. After the GP of Finland we reduced the engine’s power and in Sweden I was fast in some special tests.” Few words on your new team, Marquis Motorace, that’s new in the EWC…
S.A: “Marquis is a sponsor supporting our team that is managed by Giancarlo COMOTTI. The members of the team are also my friends, the head quarter is only 10 minutes far away from where I live, so it’s the perfect situation for me also to test and develop the bike.” What represents for you the next Grand Prix of Italy?
S.A: “I’m really bonded with Lumezzane, I raced there many times and I love the tracks, the ground conditions and the crowd. It’s always special to race the home GP so I’m convinced I can keep on improving and grab a good result.” Is a podium possible for you in Lumezzane?
S.A: “Yes, I hope to get on the podium, I really need good vibes to improve my season.” It has been now 15 years that you are on the World Enduro Championship, and you are the most experienced rider in the paddock, what do you think about the evolution of Enduro?
S.A: “Modern Enduro has changed a lot. Until last year it was too “motocross-style”. This year I appreciated a lot the introduction of natural Extreme Tests, but in many GPs I still miss also a much more technical Enduro Test.” Many riders said that the Scandinavian tour was too difficult. What do you think about it? Was it as difficult as 7/8 years ago?
S.A: “Yes, Scandinavian GPs are particularly difficult, but for instance I remember that 10 years ago no asphalt at all was in the liaison. This year in Finland we had half of the transfers between the stages on public roads. So, I think that the riders shouldn’t complain about the difficulties. Anyway, I agree with the fact that now “the show” is mostly in the special tests.” We heard that it would be your last season in the EWC… Is it true?
S.A: “No, I don’t think so because I still enjoy to ride, so with the right mentality I guess I can still participate to the EWC. I still have so much enthusiasm especially in the trainings, so I think it would be premature to stop now. “ You made your debut in rally at the end of June. Will you go to this discipline or you will totally stop with motorbike and try something totally different?
S.A: “It was just a test, I was curious about trying it. I had a lot of fun and in the future we will see… it could be an opportunity. I would like also to do some project with young riders, but I don’t have clear ideas yet.” Do you have some main regrets in your career?
S.A: “No, I have no regrets, I grabbed six times the final podium in the World Championship, I always gave 100%. Maybe I could have done more in 2006, but regrets don’t give you anything, so I can just be happy with my career so far.” Which team and team manager did you prefer during your entire career?
S.A: “I’ve always had a good feeling in every team I’ve ridden for. I would say that I’ve had different relations with the team managers but with all of them I got a professional and friendly one. So I haven’t particular preference for anyone, I appreciate and thank all of them.” Same question about the bikes…
S.A: “I would say the same for the bikes, nowadays they all have good performances so it’s the rider that has to exploit the best characteristics of his bike and adapt his style to it.“ Who has been your biggest rival in the EWC?
S.A: “I had to face firstly MERRIMAN that really was a step forward. The same for SALMINEN in 2007. They were two Masters. Probably I had the best and funniest fights with CERVANTES in 2006. It was cool, it would have been even better if I had won some more races…” Finally, which Grand Prix is the most unforgettable for you?
S.A: “The list is really long because I ride in the World Championship since 2000, so I have a lot of good memories. Surely among them are the first years when the race-days were incredibly long, then the first podiums and last but not least, of course, the victories, even if they are only about ten. This has been my life for 15 years so it would be reductive to choose only one single moment, but if I’m forced to do it I would say the first victory in 2001 in Sweden, in a very though class as the 125 cc, when I was only 19.”