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Tommy Searle interview - Breaking the Drought

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Tommy Searle in France - Kawasaki image

Interview Tuesday 07th June 2011 By Geoff Meyer

Monster Energy CLS Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Tommy Searle wasn’t about to lose sight of the fact he needed a Grand Prix victory and he needed it quickly. Having watched Red Bull Teka KTM riders Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings win the opening four races of the 2011 FIM World MX2 Championship the consistent Searle went to St Jean d’Angely with one thing in mind and that was to win on a circuit that he didn’t even enjoy.
It was the first Grand Prix victory by a none KTM rider since Gautier Paulin won in at the Grand Prix of Netherlands at Lierop in 2010. Searle was probably as surprises as anyone that he came away with the win having started the weekend with the feeling he was about to enter two days of pure frustration as the French circuit tested the Grand Prix riders to the limit. We caught up with Tommy after his win and asked him about the crazy French GP.
Q: Tommy that really looked like hard work, to concentrate this weekend must have been difficult?
Searle: Unbelievable, from the very first moment of practice I struggled, I think everyone did. I was asking people and they all felt the same really, I think the best thing that happened was it rain on Saturday night and they didn’t need to water again on Sunday morning. It was tough; I mean so many people made mistakes, in both classes. I made mistakes myself; I crashed twice in that first moto. I had small crashed, but costly mistakes, I think I could have finished second in that first moto, we all made mistakes this weekend. I was scared coming down the hills and the ruts didn’t flow and they were so hard, it just develops like that with the rocks and stuff. I’ve got to be happy with the win though.
Q: You must owe a lot to your team; they also had to work in difficult conditions with circuit being so rough?
Searle: The team made big improvements on the bike and I am really grateful for them doing that. We changed a lot, we tried a different set of forks in the first practice, it was so sketchy in first practice and then I thought about going back, but we made the same changes Ben made and I felt 100% comfortable straight away and whatever they did hats off to them, they did a great job on helping me get this today.
Q: I was watching both motos from the monitors and I noticed that you clocked the quickest lap a lot and there were times near the end of both the first and second moto were you were the quickest guy for like six laps in a row.
Searle: After I crashed, after the second crash I think I was the fastest man on the track for most of the moto. Unfortunately I didn’t put myself in a position to be racing where I should have been racing. I was coming from behind. That was the best I felt all weekend in the middle part of that first moto. In the second moto I was a bit nervous and a bit cautious and making too many mistakes, but I think everyone was.
Q: The KTM bikes didn’t dominate the start like they have up until now.
Searle: Our bikes are a little bit better on the shorter start straights like this and you saw that KTM didn’t holeshot both motos. We were right there and I am happy with that. I lost a couple of places in the first few corners and that uphill after the first turn is a little tricky with all the stones.  
Q: What was the frustrating part?
Searle: I didn’t get the best drive and went from third to seventh, that was a nightmare, but other than that I am happy how we did. It was a tough weekend and I really didn’t enjoy it until I actually crossed the line and won.
Q: I spoke to some other people in the paddock, riders and team managers and many are saying Ken has looked tired in the last couple of Grand Prix’s. How do you feel about that, is he looking tired?
Searle: I am sure he is a little beaten up right now and we all make mistakes, I don’t know maybe he is a little bit drained, but I can’t comment on him. I hadn’t race for eight months, so I wasn’t at my best in those first few rounds. I know I feel good now, how he feels I don’t know. He is who he is and he is doing well, but I believe I can beat him anyway.
Q: How did this track compare to the ones you have already raced on for the Championship?
Searle: The first few rounds were really good, you could attack the track, but this one I’ve never seen anything like it. It was just hard work and you make a little mistake, then you were going down. The first race through a corner and both wheels hit a rut and I went straight over the handlebars. I mean I was in a perfect position and I shouldn’t have crashed, but I did.
Q: Your confidence must have improved after this win?
Searle: I am confident anyway, I mean I was the best rider on the day in France and that gives me confidence for sure. We all rode the same track and I know Portugal will suit me a lot.
Q: Next up Portugal. Do you like that circuit?
Searle: I really like Portugal, I mean when I got to France I was like I can’t wait to get to Portugal, I really like that place.
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