We wish to publish this open letter from Randy Mamola to FGSport and the teams and riders in World Superbike, Supersport and the Superstock classes.
"I want to thank all of you for letting me take part in the official preseason tests at Valencia. I am working as tester for a new Italian magazine called Masterbike that will show up on the stands of April 28th. It is a magazine dedicated exclusively to racing bikes and racing technology. Not just road racing, but all forms of motorcycle racing.
We showed up at Valencia and started knocking on doors and we were really surprised by the open and friendly reception we got. I was hoping to get to ride a couple of bikes for a couple of laps on the lunch break but after talking it all over in race control with race director Alberto Fantini, and with the media director Julian Thomas, and other FGSport officials. I got the greatest gift I could have asked for when they gave me a transponder and told me I could ride in the official tests.
I was happy but also kind of nervous....I mean, I'm 48 years old and I haven't got a racing license anymore and the last thing I wanted to do was get in the road of guys who are out there going for it. I wasn't looking to pass anybody but I did enjoy following. I really enjoyed the experience and the atmosphere of the World Superbike paddock. For sure World Superbike is going to see more of me doing more of these tests in the future.
I was planning to test Troy Bayliss' 1098, but the Xerox team was resting both their riders. Troy has already won three races but is still feeling the preseason crash and Michele Fabrizio was bruised up from getting hit on the grid in Australia. So I ended up riding the Xerox Ducati 1098R...the bike that Brendan Roberts and Domenico Colucci compete with in the European Superstock 1000 Championship. I ended up getting to ride two Superstocks on Wednesday, the Ducati and also one of the Yamaha YZF R1s from the Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni team.
And the next day on Thursday I also rode the Lorenzini by Leoni YZR R6 Supersport and Barry Veneman's Hoegee Suzuki GSX R600. I had to wait until Thursday to ride the R6 because the team was working hard on Wednesday and then I also got a chance to ride the Hoegee Suzuki, which was real special because this is the only Suzuki team in Supersport. I also rode Gianluca Nanelli's Hannspree Honda Althea CBR600RR and finally Roberto Rolfo's Superbike, the Hannspree Honda CBR1000RR Althea.
I was determined not to get in anyone's road and I am kind of proud that I was on the first screen in Supersport times while I was there.
And what was really interesting was to have a long talk with the Pirelli Race boss Giorgio Barbier. Like a lot of old Grand Prix riders, when I heard that Superbike was going to a single tire in 2003 I thought it was a bad idea, but now I see that this fits the championship perfectly...and I was really impressed by the improvements that Pirelli has made in their racing tires in such a short time. It has really been enormous what they have done with the feedback from so many top riders. I saw the Qatar Superbike race on TV and I was impressed by the corner speed the Superbike guys were carrying. You can't do that without a great front tire and Pirelli didn't have a tire like that three years ago, but they do now. Giorgio wanted me to try some other compounds but I didn't have time. So I'd like to thank Pirelli for inviting an old fart like me to evaluate their tires. I only had six laps on Rolfo's bike, but I got in the low 38s, and when I came in the garage the team applauded me. It made me feel real good to be out there on the track with these young riders.
I was reminded a lot of what racing was like when I was a young guy riding 500s because you see the riders talking to each other, you see Ruben Xaus visiting other team garages. I can see the championship is very professional and that lots of money is being spent, but the feeling is friendly, like the way I remember 500 racing when I started...a good atmosphere.
worldsbk.com