Daniel Holgado: MotoGP rookie in interview

Poky, 1000PS: Daniel, we've seen this season that you definitely have the speed to win races. But currently you're sitting sixth in the championship. What has held you back the most so far from converting that speed into more points?

Daniel Holgado: The first race of the season was impressive. It was very good for me and for the team. Now we're pretty consistently in the top 5 across the different weekends and different tracks. We're working very well to keep going, to improve the feeling and get even faster on the bike. I'm very happy with the team's work.

Poky, 1000PS: What's most important from your point of view? Tire management, race management, qualifying, or simply avoiding mistakes over the weekends?

Holgado: I think it's all of it together. We're fast and doing well at the moment, but I still need to improve in the race. Qualifying is going well, but there are always different things you can improve. So we're working on various areas.

Poky, 1000PS: What's your goal for the rest of the season? Are you still looking at the championship or is it now simply about winning as many races as possible?

Holgado: We still have eight races ahead of us. I have a good opportunity to keep going on this path. My goal is to fight for the top 3 in every race. It's my second year and I now have the experience to fight for good results. I'm calm about it. The most important thing for us is to enjoy the moment, to enjoy every weekend and every race. And the bad moments are part of it too, because they're important for me and for my future.

Poky, 1000PS: You've raced against David Alonso a lot already. First you were rivals, now you're teammates. How much can two riders that fast learn from each other? And where does the cooperation end, since you're still competing against each other?

Holgado: In the end we're a team. We're rivals, but after the race we work together. We look at the data and various things. David is very strong, he's fast and a good teammate. That's good for me because I can look at his data and learn from it.

Poky, 1000PS: Let's look a bit ahead to next season. You're moving up to MotoGP, where a lot will be different: 850cc engines, less aerodynamics, new tires and no more ride-height devices. You're coming in as a rookie. Could that actually be an advantage, since you have no experience with the previous bikes? Or does it make the step up harder, since you can't test these bikes beforehand and there's no reference data?

Holgado: I'm very happy to be moving up to MotoGP. That's been my dream since I was a kid. I'm really looking forward to riding the new bikes. I think it's a good moment for the rookies, because everything is changing next year: the tires, the engines and also the aerodynamics. It's a good opportunity for the step up.

Of course MotoGP is always difficult. Of course I have to train a lot to be fast in MotoGP. The fastest riders in the world race there. But I'm ready.

Poky, 1000PS: There's one thing you already know: the tires. MotoGP is switching from Michelin to Pirelli next year, and you already know Pirelli very well from Moto2. Could that give you an advantage over the current MotoGP riders?

Holgado: Yes. For us, this experience with the Pirelli tires is very important for next year. In my opinion Pirelli is quite different from Michelin, especially regarding the drop-off. The drop-off with Pirelli is quite big, and you need race experience to understand the tire. I'm lucky in this respect, because I already know the Pirelli tires.

Poky, 1000PS: You've only had two seasons in Moto2 and you're already moving up to MotoGP. Are there still things you'd like to learn before switching to MotoGP?

Holgado: Yes, I still have a lot to learn in my second Moto2 year. There are many things I still need to learn. But it's a very good opportunity for me. The chance to go to MotoGP maybe only comes once in a lifetime, and then you have to take it. I think now is the best moment for it, because a new era with new regulations is beginning.

Poky, 1000PS: Did you still consider waiting another season to first fight for the title here in Moto2?

Holgado: Maybe, but the chance is here now. When I talked to the MotoGP teams, it was still early in the championship, I was second in the standings. For me it was clear that now was the best moment to go. And the teams saw that opportunity the same way.

Poky, 1000PS: With the changes for next year and less aerodynamics: Do you think the rider will become more important again in MotoGP?

Holgado: I think so. But of course the bike is also very important in MotoGP, as is the manufacturers' work. You can already see that today. I don't know exactly how it will be next year, but it's a good opportunity for the manufacturers, because everything is new. At the same time it's also important for the riders, because they have to adapt their riding style to the new bikes.

Poky, 1000PS: In your future team you'll be riding alongside Joan Mir, a MotoGP world champion. What can you learn from him?

Holgado: Very many things. Joan is a very good, talented and strong rider. At the same time, I'll be in a Ducati team and can also look at data from very strong and experienced riders there, for example Márquez. That's very positive for me and will help me over my next years in MotoGP.

Poky, 1000PS: Was Márquez also one of your idols growing up?

Holgado: Yes, Márquez has always been my idol since I was a kid. It will be crazy to race against him next year. Really crazy.