2013 Red Bull Indianapolis GP Moto2 Press Conference
August 18, 2013 | By IMS
MODERATOR: So time for the press conference for the Red Bull Indy Grand Prix in the Moto2 class. Our podium finishers today in third place Scott Redding; in second place, Takaaki Nakagami; and our race winner for the second time this season, Tito Rabat.
Just a quick word on the championship, the gap between Redding and Espargaro, 26 points, and a further 20 back to Tito, who's in third place.
Of course we'll start the interviews with Tito. Congratulations on a brilliant second win today. Did you even think with five laps to go that it was possible to win this race, because you made some great moves in those last laps?
ESTEVE RABAT: Yeah, from the beginning I make good start. I try to keep there because it's impossible to pass the other riders. They brake very late and is impossible to pass. Then Terol and Dominique pass me, and I tried to pass Dominique one time – not possible.
Then second time I pass and then start to pass Nico and pass one by one. Very difficult, very hard. But I start to make this one; the other tires start to slide a little. And I can't feel -- when they start to slide, I start to feel more confidence, then can brake more late, and little by little start to catch Taka.
I think really, when I pass Pol, I go. And when I go without no one, I can go a little bit more fast. I don't know why I go more. And I say, ‘Whoa, I take.’ And I try, I push and at the end take pass and push as hard as I can. And at the end we make a very good job. And finish.
MODERATOR: Congratulations, Tito. It was a really good job. Well done. Brilliant stuff for the win today.
Our hearts go out as well to Taka Nakagami, second place. Your best result in Grand Prix racing, but is it frustrating to finish second today?
TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI: A little bit disappoint, for sure, because from first lap I try to 100 percent, and after start the race and on the full tank, and I had good grip and I try to pass Espargaro and also Scott. And after this I try to push 100 percent to the end, but after 15 laps I feel, start to chatter. And after this I'm impossible to keep the lap time. I know Rabat and Scott catch me. But I don't have the power to try again to make improve the lap time.
And at the end, Rabat pass me and I try to follow him, but I maybe almost crash. And I try to, the last lap I try, too, 100 percent, but I don't have space and it's too far.
But the second place, this result is best result for me. So we try to think positive, and because after summer break and also after the break, after this and difficult frustration, but, after summer break, I good start and start again.
So I really thanks to the team, and the team was this weekend great job. And we try to win the next race because after this, maybe two or three days after we leave to Brno, and we try to try again. Big thanks to the team and family. I'm really happy. Thank you.
MODERATOR: Well done. Great ride, nonetheless, into second for you, Takaaki, today.
In third place the championship leader, Scott Redding. Congratulations on another yet podium and extending that championship lead. But how soon in that race did you know it was going to be more about your battle in the championship with Pol?
SCOTT REDDING: Before the race even started. (Laughter)
We went after the start, felt pretty good. Before the race, I said I don't want to lead; I want to save the tire because already we had some trouble. I was trying to stay behind Taka, and I saw he was using a lot of tire and I said, ‘OK, I let him a little bit.’ And then yeah, already after six, seven laps I started into Turn 1 on the entry, the rear was vibrating and trying to come around. So I lost a bit of time here, and also onto the start and straight finish. It was two of my worse places, and this is what allowed Taka to get away from me. And then yeah, it was basically kind of like survival to finish the race. I wasn't stressing the tire at all. I was just OK, finish, finish, finish. And then Tito come past, and I thought, ‘OK, he's got pace,’ and a few corners he was already gone, you know.
Then the battle with Pol for me was good fun, you know. Again the problem was the exit at the last corner, entry at the first corner was two corners back to back. I did a lot of work to catch him again, and he made a few mistakes. I saw he already had the problem. So, you know, we had a tight battle at the end, and sometimes you have to do this to make the points.
MODERATOR: Congratulations, anyway, on third place today.
So do we have any questions for the riders at all?
Q: Next race is Brno which is a very physical track, a very fast, very demanding. So what I would like to ask all you three, if you like the track and how do you prepare for that? Do you think that it will be quite a hard race as it was today?
RABAT: Excuse me?
MODERATOR: Brno, how you feel about going to Brno, the track there.
RABAT: Oh, Brno. OK. Brno, yeah, this is more hard track for the distance. But Brno, I don't know, is different track, more fast corners and no brake hards. Then we will see there. I am very confident with my team, my bike, setup of the bike and with me. Then try to go, enjoy our best, make good job. And go.
MODERATOR: Taka?
NAKAGAMI: Well, completely different track, I think, because also the grip I think better than here. But the track is longer than here. So will be more hard for physical, but we are ready and I am -- before I told you after summer break I'm here and good feeling on the bike, again I become stronger. So I'm relaxed. So we will see Friday on next P1. So, yeah, I think is no problem.
MODERATOR: Scott?
REDDING: Yeah, it's pretty demanding, kind of like Mugello, you know. Last year was pretty good for me there. And you know, just the normal preparation before a race weekend. You never know what happens in Brno, so we have to spare that in mind and go there racing.
MODERATOR: Thanks very much.
Any other questions at all from anyone? No. OK, we'll let you speak to them. Well done, to all three. Well done to Tito on the win, as well.