MxLarge Story
Tommy Searle interview - Going to Portugal to win
Interview Thursday 07th June 2012 By Geoff Meyer
Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Tommy Searle isn’t a rider who is likely to give up on anything until the last drop of breath from his body gone. The British hero continues to look strong in the 2012 FIM World MX2 Championship and he remains the biggest challenger to the red plate owner Jeffrey Herlings.
MXlarge: Tommy, the Grand Prix of France was a race you probably entered with the idea it was one of those circuits that you should have won on. You did it in 2011 and you have always shown good speed there. Do you feel like you let a chance slip?
Searle: I still feel like I could have won, it wasn’t anything to do with my riding, I put myself in a bad position out of the start and you cannot do that, for sure not on a track like this. It was pretty simple on Sunday, just one good line, couple of good lines and there was good grip, so everyone could go fast, although I will say I had the fastest lap and I was in traffic, so that was good. I was never going to catch once I lost out in the start.
MXlarge: Watching you it was clear you were searching everywhere for good lines, early on you made some really nice passes.
Searle: When you get a bad start you really have to look for different lines and I was the only one coming through, I made different lines, but then when I would get through those lines stopped working, but at first those lines worked well, because that is when I got the fastest lap, but I was never going to catch the boys at the front.
MXlarge: In that second moto when Herlings was getting pressure from both Van Horebeek and Roelants, did you keep an eye on that battle? Obviously had either of those two been able to pass Herlings the GP win was yours.
Searle: I could see, I was watching what was going on. I had a good pace and I could have opened up the lead even more, let them catch up on each lap, I could see where Joel was and I was hoping Jeremy could have passed (Herlings) or Joel could have passed (Herlings and Van Horebeek), obviously it would have given me the overall. I don’t know what the story was if he couldn’t pass or what happened. I think early in the race he (Van Horebeek) waved him (Herlings) to pass.
MXlarge: So you still have a soft spot for St Jean d Angely?
Searle: I was the best (fastest) guy this weekend, but I messed the start up, every lap I did was solid and it gives me more confidence that I came from behind to get third in that first moto, because you could see when I got a good start in the second moto I just dropped everyone.
MXlarge: Any comment on the Tonus/Herlings coming together?
Searle: He (Herlings) does what he does, but I just do what I have to do. Tonus was riding a good race, but it was difficult to pass, but it’s a dangerous enough sport without doing something stupid on the track.
MXlarge: Next up you have Portugal, which is a circuit that should suit both you and Jeffrey. How do you look at that Grand Prix?
Searle: Last year I won a moto in Portugal and I like that track, it’s also good for the public and we usually get a lot of people there. The dirt is nice, but it is just another race. I mean I come into all these races feeling good and I feel like my preparation is good my fitness is good and if I put myself in the right position out of the start there is no reason why I cannot win races.
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