Antonio Cairoli interview - Fast Enough

Posted on July 22, 2021

Red Bull KTM factory rider Antonio Cairoli might not have the red plate going into Loket this weekend, but the Italian legend is without question a big favourite to battle for the Czech Republic GP victory.

While he hasn’t had success in Loket since 2017, he has picked up four overall victories at the old school circuit and in fact won his first ever GP moto at this circuit back in 2004 when he went 1-6 for third overall. A week later in Belgium he won his first ever GP. 

Still, moto wins have often been regular for the Italian at Loket, with nine moto wins from his 13 visits to this hard pack facility. He has also missed three Czech GP’s due to injury, including the last time we raced there in 2019. 

His overall finishes from those 13 visits are 3rd, 1st, 4th, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 5th, 3rd, 7th, 1st, and 2nd. Just once outside the top five and don't be surprised if he takes a victory next Sunday to add to this impressive list.

After his podium finish last weekend in Oss, he was asked some questions about his Dutch performance, his feelings about the track and also what he thought of the ride by fellow KTM rider Jeffrey Herlings in the opening race in Oss.

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MXlarge: Can you explain your day for me?

Cairoli: Yeah, I was very disappointed about that first race because I know I have a good condition; I could ride good in this track. I am not the best in the sand for sure, but I felt I could do more. But after that first race, I was losing hope because I had a bad start. I was around 15th in the first corner and then of course Ivo crashed, and I lost a few positions, so I was really struggling to find a rhythm; I spent a lot of energy to try to overtake the guys and then I arrived at the back of Jorge and I almost passed him but then I made a small mistake, I crashed and lost positions so I was not really happy about it.

MXlarge: How about the second one?

Cairoli: Second one I knew I had to stay away from trouble in the first lap. Some guys crashed, some Yamaha guys and then I lost some positions and I tried to pass as much as possible. Towards the end of the race the guys in front were a little tired at the end, so after I tried to pass Jorge, but he is focused on me a lot and this gave me more power, fighting with the young guys. I passed Jorge and then I said I’ll go for the win. I have to give it everything and try to win because I still had energy and it worked so I am looking forward to another GP.

MXlarge: You have had some success at Loket over the years, how do you feel going into next weekend?

Cairoli: I was not really a hard pack guy but lately, I am really enjoying it more than before. I also found a good setup on the bike. Before I was struggling more. So, I am looking forward to Loket, I have good memories of that track. For sure it is not one of my favourite tracks, but I am looking to forward to those hard pack races and hopefully we have some public again because it is very nice to ride in front of the public. That’s why we are there, racing.

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MXLarge: What did you think of the Oss circuit?

Cairoli: It was my first time. I ride so long, but I have never been here. They ran some Dutch championship races here and it looks a bit like the Dutch championship standard. A lot of bumps and sketchy places and maybe some berms and then the racing would be more exciting. A lot of places the track is too small, but overall, it is nice, up and down and it is different to many tracks in Belgium and Holland.

MXlarge: What about the performance of Jeffrey Herlings in that opening moto, winning with a broken shoulder blade?

Cairoli: For sure when you are racing with adrenaline and everything, you don’t feel it at the beginning and then you warm up a little bit and then you stop, and it is pretty bad. I have never broken that bone, so I don’t know how it feels. We know he is a strong guy, and I was surprised when I heard the news he was out. He could finish the race, but that was a big effort.

Ray Archer images