Efrén Vázquez is one of few rider who got into World Championship through MotoGP Academy. Spanish rider drives for Leopard Racing in Moto3 category. Three-time podium finisher this year spent few minutes talking to us freshly after another strong performance in Barcelona.
First question just to make you feel comfortable. What colour is your bike? I ask it because during each round viewers and our commentators are trying to figure it out. For me it’s ‘desaturated cyan’ but how it should be named?
Yes, it’s a nice colour like turquoise but it’s difficult to tell it’s exact name. For me it’s easy – it’s a Leopard colour! (laugh) Pantone 319C.
How working with younger riders in your team looks like? Do you work together, do they ask for help or is everybody on their own?
Sometimes they need my help. Normally more Hiroki because he’s a young rider but in Moto3 most important is the rider and his conviction in himself. So normally there are no secrets to be fast.
You won your first race last year beating Romano Fenati by just 0.065 sec. What did you feel at that moment?
(laugh) It was the longest time in my life. I was happy to get my first victory but for sure it wasn’t a funny moment for my rival.
Moto3 is currently full of young and talented riders. But don’t you think that some of them might be too young for this class and should spend more time racing before coming there?
Yes! That’s true. It’s a young category but I think they arrived too early. Then after 8-9 years they become tired of living in constant travel and they wait for their career to end when they’re 27-28. Most people after that doesn’t know what they can do for the rest of their life.
Which track suits you the most and which one the least and why?
I like Jerez and Phillip Island which are really fast tracks. Austin is not my favourite but I stood on the podium there last two years.
Jack Miller was runner-up in Moto3 and went straight into MotoGP where he only scored six points. If you would have such possibility, would you also skip one of the classes or you would go through all of them?
MotoGP is a difficult category because not everything is so easy. You need a good bike to do something and for that you need to be in the right place with strong support from the companies.
What is your plan for the future?
To enjoy every minute of my life!
Thank you for your answers.
