FEATURE - GREGORIO LAVILLA INTERVIEW - JUST BIKES

FEATURE - Gregorio Lavilla interview

Words & Photos: Kawasaki Racing Team, GeeBee Images/2SNAP

After joining Dorna in 2013, Gregorio Lavilla currently serves as Executive Director of Dorna’s WorldSBK Sporting & Organisation Department. This role keeps him connected to the World Superbike paddock he first experienced in 1994 and was a regular part of for close to a decade.

Now, under unprecedented circumstances for motorcycle sport and the world in general, Lavilla discusses Dorna’s plans for what WSBK may look like when racing resumes, while also reflecting on a successful opening round at Phillip Island and his own racing career.

NOTE: Interview was conducted on 26 March, 2020

The future – Coronavirus response and what’s next for WSBK

What were the immediate challenges involved for Dorna and its partners when it became clear that Losail, Jerez and now Assen could not go ahead as planned? Do you think Dorna will offer some support for teams in these hard times?

We have a difficult situation here worldwide, so once we realized our normal activity was on hold, we designed a plan (even if plans currently can be modified fast). We worked out what could be the worst scenario and how to minimize all the side effects to everyone, not only teams, as this situation affects all of us.

Unfortunately, there is no winner in this situation and my hope and biggest desire now is everyone is safe and in good health. After this, we hope to come back to our normal activity as soon as possible, to see our paddock family and continue to give a great show for the public, as we witnessed in Australia.

Assuming we must lose some more rounds in the season, how much contingency is there for running the full season over fewer rounds and later in the year? For example, can we do more than three races per weekend if necessary?

Well it all depends on when we start, but even if we need to lose one or two rounds (though that’s not the plan) I think, especially for WorldSBK, it should not be necessary in my opinion to add many more races as the amount of points in play is huge. In any case, these things can be discussed later. The most important thing in racing terms is to pick up the season once more – whenever that may be.

Evolution: Racing must always look forwards – how do you think WorldSBK will evolve in the next 5 years? … Or how would you like to see it evolve?

Interesting; I would say something like “We have already planted the grass let’s see how it grows”. Besides some understandable minor adjustments, if things are needed, they will happen.

We are on the right path and, unless a new unexpected situation arrives, or all our partners consider we need a change, the evolution of WorldSBK is good so “let the good times roll” for now.

The present – reaction to Round 1 at Phillip Island

All manufacturers were truly competitive at the opening round in Australia – how much of that is due to the rules being stabilised after many changes over the past few years?

Well, we changed when was needed but none this winter. We agreed on a route with the FIM, manufacturers and teams and this is the result. I understand sometimes it is hard to accept a change, especially when you were on the favourable side. In the end I think it’s worthy for all us involved in this sport that the success is shared between all the parties. At least from my side, this is what I think.

Fogarty/Russell/Edwards/Bayliss? Do you think the current championship is on that past level or do you not think in those terms?

I was there at that time and a lot of things have changed around motorsport since then that I look back on so fondly.

Honestly speaking, what impressed me most as a privateer in my first season in SBK was the amount of money and support, plus the level of the factory teams. If I value our current championship in those terms, then we are pretty similar, but of course with great ambitions to exceed that level of commitment.

The past – BSB Champion and WSBK with Kawasaki

You certainly achieved a lot in your racing career and raced in many championships. Of all those championships and types of motorcycle you rode, which was your favourite experience and why?

Well, it’s a difficult one but I would say that my most challenging experience was in 1998. I was riding a privateer Ducati, we were a very small team and achieved some rostrums and front rows ahead of much bigger teams and riders, including factory supported teams. That was an awesome experience for everyone involved.

The Ninja ZX-7RR was an iconic machine, but at 750cc it frequently had to work hard against the bigger capacity bikes – what were the strengths of the ZX-7RR and what did it do well as a machine?

The ZX-7RR was a bit tricky in terms of power. At the time, many other machines I raced against had bigger engines and more power. However, the Kawasaki had a good chassis and handled well, especially on the twisty tracks.

You rode for Kawasaki Racing Team between 1999 and 2001. Tell us what your favourite track was from this time and what was your most memorable race on the ZX-7RR?

I loved Phillip Island - at that time we were doing most of the winter testing there. Plus Eastern Creek and even Sentul in Indonesia. Like many, many riders, Phillip Island remains one of my top memories.

For me, the most difficult time in those racing years was my comeback after losing a few rounds due to a hip injury I sustained at Monza (2000 season, Lavilla missed four rounds). To be able to come back in a short period of time and be able to have good results at Brands Hatch and then finish on the rostrum at Oschersleben was a very fulfilling experience – and especially because, at that time, the Kawasaki Racing Team was run by Harald Eckl, a German with many German team members.

You came to the UK and won the 2005 British Superbike Championship having never ridden many of the tracks before. What was the secret of this success, how did you create such an amazing season?

Well, two points are important to consider. I was at the best point of my career personally, but due to some external circumstances, I actually had no job. I was contracted by Suzuki for WorldSBK in 2003, then they decided not to race in SBK in 2004 so I became a MotoGP test rider for them.

In BSB, my knowledge was important for the UK Airwaves Ducati team in 2005. Not just in terms of bike set up, but also my desire to continue doing what I love and put aside some concerns that maybe someone else might have as a first-time rider on certain tracks.

Last but not least, the team I rode for was very professional and with very good equipment.