I heard all about it, but didn’t really get the chance to watch the Suzuka 8hr, only a few clips on Instagram of Toprak sending it into the final chicane. I don’t really watch any racing, whether it’s BSB, MotoGP or speedway. I’m just not interested in it from that perspective, with respect. I’d like to have a dabble at the 8hr one day, though. It looks like a sick event and the Japanese fans are amazing. I’ve obviously been in Japan and I know how hyped they are over there, and I’d like to be involved in team racing at some point.
I guess we could talk about Snetterton then! I did actually spin a few laps at a trackday on my roadie Panigale before the race weekend and felt mint straight away. I knew with my race bike, and how it handles, I could go pretty well there, but to be fastest in FP1, FP2, FP3, take pole position and two race wins was pretty special. I adapted to the track pretty well and I could ride how I wanted to ride rather than constantly learning, which helped me focus on set up and myself – probably the first time this season. It flowed a bit easier and I could see the corners, so it made life easier and I could focus on being fast.
I wanted to be fastest in FP1 to make a point. I felt good with the track and once you’re fast and feel comfortable, you know you can do it. I was that comfortable and confident, I did believe I could continue all the way through the weekend. It was just a shame I stacked it in warm-up! To be honest, I did an out lap, then on to my first flying lap and I was as fast as I was in qualifying to that point, which was a bit much at 9.30 in the morning when the track was a bit green! I’m still learning these things, which is why I was having a little stalk behind Brookes in race two. Being fast for one lap is one thing, but doing it in the race is completely different. I can’t go out in the race, make a 10-second lead, blow the tyre and lose the race. We go racing to win races.