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Steven Frossard interview - Winning in Pain

Frossard celebrates with team owner Michele Rinaldi and Yamaha Motor Europe's Racing Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp. Mazzimo Zanzani image

Interview Tuesday 05th July 2011 By Geoff Meyer

Monster Energy Yamaha rider Steven Frossard has been the most impressive rider of the MX1 class in 2011. Making his debut in the class the Frenchman has now won two Grand Prix’s and is closing in on series leader Antonio Cairoli.

It takes a special rider to enter the MX1 class in his first season and produce two GP wins from the first eight races. In the past it’s only been riders like Cairoli and Ben Townley who have been able to match that type of performance.

Despite suffering from some injuries Frossard looked in complete control of his rivals at the Grand Prix of Sweden last weekend. Putting together two moto wins he is clearly the man of the moment. Now in third place in the series points and just 22 points behind Cairoli and 12 points behind second placed man Clement Desalle the 2011 MX1 Championship is wide open.

Frossard with five moto wins has one moto win less than Desalle and two more than Cairoli. Had it not been for his disastrous Grand Prix of United States, where he only scored 11 points the Yamaha rider would now be close to leading the series points?

We caught up with Frossard after his win last weekend and here is what he told.

Q: Steven, you looked so strong last weekend. Can you explain your weekend for us?

Frossard: I think I like this track, but it’s a difficult place, the track was a bit dangerous, but in my heat I tried to ride easy and stay focused and I took a good start, so it was easier to make a good result today. I had a little pain in my shoulder from Antonio’s bike hitting me when he crashed in the first moto. I was lucky I think. I kept my good condition after Glen Helen, and now I tape my wrist better and it feels less pain. The second moto today was better than the second moto in Spain last round that is for sure. I am happy with this result.

Q: Tell me about your injuries?

Frossard: In Spain I had two problems, first blisters on my left hand and a problem with a finger on my right hand, ligament damage and a small piece of bone is broken and that causes a lot of pain inside. It was difficult for me to ride very well. At the start of the weekend it is okay, but as the weekend gets longer it gets more difficult. In Spain I did a very good first moto, but the second moto I had so much pain, it was unbearable and also the blisters.

Q: Why do you think you got such big blisters?

Frossard: I think because I have pain on one hand I use only my other hand, because of the pain my hand sometimes slips off the handlebar, so I am holding on really tight with my other hand and that causes blisters. I don’t think about it when I am riding, but I think that is the problem.

Q: You must be happy with the way you are riding now?

Frossard: Yes, but in the start of the season I was really good on the bike and my condition was also good, but then I crashed in Valkenswaard and hurt myself and now I always have some type of injury and it makes it difficult in my head, because I can’t ride the way I like to ride. I think I am not 100%, but I think I will be sooner or later. As a racer you always have something, this year I only had Bulgaria where I felt 100%. I don’t know about other riders, but it’s been difficult for me this year.

Q: Are you thinking about the Championship, you are just 22 points away from Antonio Cairoli for the lead?

Frossard: I don’t think about the Championship, I just think about each race, I am here in the MX1 class to learn, it’s my first year in this class. Next year we look differently I think.

Q: Did you expect to be so strong this year?

Frossard: After Bulgaria I knew I could win. In the winter I knew I was fast, but I didn’t expect this, I didn’t expect to be so fast, being top five was what I expected or maybe fight for the podium, but to win Grand Prix’s, no I didn’t expect that, but now I have a lot of confidence to win.

Q: Can you tell me the strong points of Cairoli and Desalle?

Frossard: Antonio he takes good starts and he is very fast at the end of the motos. That last eight or something races he pushes well at the end and it’s very good for him. He has the chance to win every time. In Spain he pushed me a lot, but he made a mistake and I could win, if he didn’t make that mistake he would have won. Desalle is very strong this year, I think he is mentally strong, because in Holland his speed wasn’t so good, and he said I prefer to finish fifth and make good points, he very good this year.

Q: What has been the biggest disappointment for you so far this year?

Frossard: In USA I made a big mistake and I started badly and I was so angry and I made a big mistake, I have to learn more in this class.

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