Superbike TV: Magny-Cours 2011 – Intervista Batta Integrale in Virgilio VideoFrancis Batta said that he wouldn’t give anymore interviews unless his had some further news on his situation and after his latest statement last Sunday, he was interviewed at the Magny Cours round by Fabio di Palma of Superbike TV, and as usual the Alstare Suzuki owner does not mince words and has some words of criticism towards Michel Fabrizio.
Here’s a gist of the ten minute interview:“The development of the GSX-R 1000 has stopped, but Suzuki is not pulling out of Superbikes, but we have to make do with what we have and continue for another year [when Suzuki should reveal it’s new 2013 Superbike].
It’s still one of more competitive bikes as long as we have rider that keeps it on its wheels and takes it to the finish line.
We’ll try to be competitive next year.
They’ve [Suzuki] confirmed we can keep all the material and that we’ll have a small help, however if we want special parts we have to order them by the the end of the month.
Evidently the economic situation is different because we used to be backed by Suzuki, instead next year we won’t have any economic help from them.
We are looking to reach a certain budget for 2012 and our current sponsors have confirmed their partecipation and we are looking for others, hopefully we won’t have the same problems that we’ve encountered in these last two years, a lot of promises, signed contracts and the money never arrived.
Michel is a good rider but our collaboration got off on the wrong foot.
Michel had a sponsor that pulled out and part of his contract was based on that sponsor.
I have to admit that this season Michel isn’t earning a lot of money and maybe this bothered him, however when you’re on a motorcycle you have to do the best that you can do … I’m not saying that he isn’t doing the best he can, but I have to say that he fallen nine times in the races and it will be the first time in our history that we haven’t won one race in the championship.
I’m sorry, because he shows that he can be fast, but I don’t understand why he’s fast on Friday, Saturday morning and then has problems qualifying in Superpole, he’s then force to charge through the field during the races, taking big risks and often crashing out during the second or third lap.
He has good qualities, but also has his defects that’s evident, but we can’t deny that he’s a fast rider, a very fast rider.
For the future we’re looking for a rider that is consistent, that begins and ends all the races, because with this bike you can finish in fifth everytime.
If you take fifth in every race it’s very important in the final standings.
Batta confirmed that he’s looking into Supersport and the funding to run a team there and ended the interview with “I will not let me leave Suzuki, until Suzuki leaves me.
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