Laverty Q&A: Superbike's top riders would succeed in MotoGP

In his second year with the Aspar squad, the Irish rider has made a big step forward aboard the two-year-old Ducati GP14.2, scoring a string of impressive results and mixing it with the much more celebrated factory riders on more than one occasion this season.

Despite this, last month, Laverty announced that he will be returning to his World Superbike roots next season as part of a brand-new factory Aprilia project, where he hopes to return to being able to fight for wins and the championship.

Motorsport.com caught up with him to find out more about his switch, his goals for the final half-a-dozen races of his MotoGP adventure and his thoughts on how WSBK stacks up against MotoGP.

Is it disappointing to feel you have to leave MotoGP just as your results seem to be getting better?

"In some aspects yes, but the important thing for me was to keep moving forward. I would have liked to have stayed here a third year, the bike [GP14.2] was a big step up from last year, and this year I gelled even better with the team, I feel really at home.

"But I had to look at what was on the table, which was a two-year-old bike again. So I didn’t feel that was a step forward in terms of the competitiveness of the machinery.

"It’s always a difficult decision to make, but I had to be realistic and realise that, staying here, my teammate [Alvaro Bautista] would have had a better bike."

Would the offer of a GP16 have tempted you to stay?

"Definitely. If there had been another GP16 available, that would have swayed things in the other direction. But I understand with Ducati, they’ve got so many bikes in the field right now, and I understand it’s difficult to put that number of top-level machines out there.

"That’s what was available and I made my choice. Now it’s time to focus on these last six races. We’ve had a great season and we’re in with a shot of finishing in the top 10 of the championship."

Did a part of you want to carry on in MotoGP with a two-year-old bike, given what Hector Barbera has achieved this season on a GP14.2?

"I’m sure there is more [to extract from the GP14.2], same with any bike. Always in my career, I’ve been stronger in my second year on a bike – I did that with Aprilia in World Superbikes, I finished sixth in the championship [in 2012] and second the year after.

"It’s normal for a rider with continuity to get better, and that’s what you can see with Hector. Last year he had a fairly average year, but this year he’s had a fantastic season because he’s built on what he did last year.

"We’re getting closer and closer, and we’re trying to catch up – because the more I ride this bike the better I understand it. I’ve still got six rounds left to try and catch Hector."

Being the best of the GP14.2s is the aim for the rest of the year, then?

"Not the sole aim – the main aim is to be in the top 10 in the championship, but we always look at Hector as a reference.

"You can’t look at what he does in qualifying, because he’s one of those guys that can produce something special over a single lap. So we have to look over a race distance to be close to him, and when it’s been dry recently we have been closer.

"I want to be able to fight with him on Sundays; not so important on Saturdays because getting a 14.2 on the front two rows really is phenomenal. My aim there is to get to Q2 more regularly, like we did in Austria and Silverstone."

Will your experiences of two seasons in MotoGP make you a better Superbike rider?

"Yeah, it’s definitely made me a much stronger rider. Anything you can learn: MotoGP, Superbike, even Supermoto or Motocross, these can teach you little things.

"I think as well, for me as a rider, I’ve changed my mindset the last couple of years. At Aprilia [in WSBK] I used to get frustrated, I crashed a lot more, and that essentially cost me a shot at a world title there, a little immaturity.

"Now I’ve calmed down a lot, realised that you have to finish races. This year, up until Austria [when he was taken out by Danilo Petrucci on the final lap], I had finished every race."

Do you feel you needed a couple of years on not such a good bike to improve as a rider?

"Maybe not needed, but it always helps because it changes your mindset. You can’t line up on the grid and think ‘I can win today’, otherwise you’ll get frustrated and you will crash.

"So I had to change my mindset, be more calm. I have a calm demeanour on the outside, but when the helmet goes down it’s a different story! That’s the most important thing, to learn about yourself. There’s no point in looking at other riders.

"Marc Marquez has done a fantastic job this year, he changed his mindset [compared to last year] because he’s smart, and that’s the key thing.

"You can’t make excuse, blame something else, you have to blame yourself first and foremost if you want to improve."

When do you expect to have your first test on the Aprilia Superbike?

"Not sure yet – probably in November. I haven’t spoke much about it, because the MotoGP schedule is so busy between now and the end of the year. My focus is still on this year, I don’t want to think about next year while there’s still so much left to do this year."

What makes you believe Aprilia can take the fight to the likes of Kawasaki and Ducati?

"It is a challenge, that’s for sure. Kawasaki and Ducati get stronger year-on-year. When I left WSBK, Chaz Davies had just joined Ducati, now he’s been there three seasons and has just got stronger – same for the Kawasaki guys.

"So it will be tough to hang with them in the early rounds, and that’s when I have to be calm and use my head to make sure I keep myself in the championship chase.

"I’ve got faith in the bike, and it is different because it’s not just like I’m hopping on the bike and having to learn it like this year and last year. I know the bike from the past, so that definitely helps."

How much assurance has Aprilia given you about its level of commitment?

"That was the key thing, really. That’s what delayed things, because when I was weighing up MotoGP and Superbike it was all about the competitiveness of the machinery, so I had to make sure that everything was going to be in place [at Aprilia]. It will be a proper effort."

Do you agree with Alex Lowes, who said that the best World Superbike riders are a match for those on the MotoGP grid, besides the very top guys?

"I would agree with that. It’s something I would have liked the chance to prove, with machinery just that little bit higher to have a chance to ride those guys. I came to MotoGP to ride against the best in the world, but unfortunately they’ve always just been that little bit up the road.

"But when I’ve got to ride with them, sometimes you see areas where they are weak. Like Alex said, the three best riders in the world right now are Marquez, Rossi and Lorenzo – especially Marquez, he doesn’t do much wrong. He probably is the fastest guy in the world right now.

"Looking at World Superbike, the likes of Jonny [Rea] and Chaz, I would probably put them not far behind."

Given that, is it surprising that more Superbike riders aren’t given the chance in MotoGP?

"It is in some ways, but they are two different championships. If somebody was to look at World Superbikes and take one of those front guys, put them on a factory bike here, I’m pretty sure they could achieve great things.

"Cal [Crutchlow] when he came here, he was already on a proper satellite effort [Tech 3] and he’s gone from strength to strength since. I’m pretty sure the top guys from Superbikes now could do the same."

Do you see yourself ever returning to MotoGP in future?

"Never say never: I’m 30 years old now, so I’m older than most of the guys on the grid here, but then again Valentino [Rossi] is 37!

"I made the decision to go back to Superbike, but I’ve been well looked after here, I’ve a great relationship with Aspar and even Dorna.

"Carmelo Ezpeleta had some kind words for me when I told him in Brno of my decision to go back to Superbikes, he said there’s always the chance to come back. So who knows?"