.gpc - jurgen van den goorbergh interview
|
jurgen van den goorbergh - W-SBK / MotoGP
jurgen van den goorbergh - - #8 Team Yamaha Italia - YZFR6<
Sat down with Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh - Team Yamaha Italia in the sunshine bathing the paddock during during Friday's Practice at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit during practice day ahead of round 2 of the Superbike 2004 World Championship.
The more than jovial Dutchman offered a motorcycle newbie like me a great overview of the racing from his perspective as an ex-MotoGP, MotoCross and now Supersport World Championship rider leading Yamaha Italia's charge in the series
Where had Jurgen been as a spectator, I asked.
"I've been to Indianapolis for a running of the Indy500 and to a few F1 Grands Prix, like Nurburg, for example. I know a few of the drivers: David Coulthard, Alexander Wurtz, and we all live in Monaco, like so many drivers and riders in the top layers of motorsports do. We train together at the gym often so when I have time I'm invited to attend races."
So you've seen a lot of the world and traveled to many motorsport destinations both as a competitor and fan?
I had m first professional motor racing start in Assen in 1992 so I've had to travel a lot. It's the time difference in long distance trips that takesso much energy from a sportsman. For example, to come here to Phillip Island we arrive 3 days before the event just to account for jet lag, and this time is taken with preparations so you are physically ready for practice day. I wish we could come still sooner to Australia since the weather is beautiful always and the scenery is so nice."
Have you ever had the chance to just travel to Australia, as a tourist?
Again, not this time but I am so impressed with the place that I made a point to visit here as a ourist a few years ago. I went "up north", and I went scuba diving and did lots of great outdoors stuff. I enjoyed it very much. It was great to have the chance to escape the winter in Europe for such an adventure."
So what happens on a typical race reekend evening so that you don't get out to see the place you are visiting?
"Well, after we've gone through all the information we've gathered from practice and qualifying, it might be 7 p.m, and then you really don't want to do anything else but get a massage and rest in your hotel. The days can be long at the track.
Where to you really look forward to visiting when you look at your yearly racing schedule?
"No place in particular. I like all of them equally. I must say though that Italian fans are very motivated and motivaating for us riders so I look forward to that in places like Monza and Misano. Where we get crowds of 50 or 60,000 people there and they are all going nuts, it's pretty phenomenal!
I couldn't help myself, I'd found a Dutchman raving about how crazy Italian fans are when the Dutch are renowned for being the absolutely nuttiest and staunchest race fans in the world (rain or shine!). Are the Italians crazier than your countrymen? I asked.
Jurgen laughed, "You are correct. I almost forgot my own people and their love of the sport. Yes, they are INSANE about motorcycle racing, and all forms of motorsport. But for me when we visit Assen in the Netherlands it is still more work than usual because everyone wants to talk to the Dutch rider: Media, Fans, everyone. This makes it for a very exhausting visit home. From the morning to the evening I have obligations there. But yes, the Dutch fans are crazy!
And do you have any idols?
"In 2001 I rode for Kenny Roberts, KR, who was a huge idol of mine. This was a golder opportunity and for me a dream come true!"
And were you a bike racing fan as a kid?
As a kid I went to races with my father and brother but I could never get worked up about road bikes. That was my brother's deal. My love was for Motocross (and in many ways still is) and that's what I wanted to do. Racing bikes was a progression from the skills and achievements I made in Motocross."
What about the power and speed you have now, do you think about MotoGP or Superbikes in the future?
"I'm happy right here now, to tell you the truth. I'm coming from MotoGP, where I was for several years. Where I'm at now I'm the number 1 rider in my team and this is just about as good as it gets for my type of racer. I'm happy and I'm lucky and I have a team that has a budget that can provide the best equipment! What more could I possibly want?
I wished Jurgen all the very best with his race, the weekend, and the remainder of the 2004 season. I hope to meet with him again sometime during the European Summer for another shot of that over brimming good will of his. Good man. Thank you.
Godspeed, Cvetko Ostroznik.
> more international racing personality interviews
|
|
