Dominique Aegerter is well recognised as a Moto2 rider – the only man to race in every Moto2 race since its introduction in 2010.
The 23-year-old from Switzerland won his first Moto2 race at the Sachsenring this year. Just two weeks later he competed in the Endurance World Championship at the Suzuka 8 Hours, also on Dunlop tyres, finishing in second place on the Team Kagayama bike in a team with superbike legends Yukio Kagayama and Noriyuki Haga. Prior to the race at Aragon, Dunlop spoke to him in an exclusive interview.
What helps focus your mind for the race and sustain your concentration?
I always prepare everything well to maintain my concentration. I sleep well, eat well and then my improved mental focus on the race makes my concentration better.
When you’re racing, what’s more important for your confidence level: the right chassis set-up or good tyre feedback?
It depends on everything to some extent. The feedback from the tyre is always important but when the chassis is not well setup you can’t go faster either. The chassis has to be set up for the tyre and if both are good, you can go very fast. This is true especially in Moto2. Maybe for the qualifying you can focus on the tyre so you have more grip for a fast lap and then you have to focus on set-up for the distance of the race.
Congratulations on your first Moto2 win and the Suzuka podium – what are the biggest differences changing from sprint to endurance? What are the differences from a tyre perspective?
Thank you. A big difference is obviously the bike, different riding style, fuel tank but the tyre makes a big difference too. My qualifying tyre was impressive; in the race we ran 55-minute sessions and I used a Dunlop that was really good – it hardly deteriorated during each session. We finished on the podium in my first race and this was for sure a great experience.
What characteristics would you like to see Dunlop develop for the next generation of Moto2 tyres?
The tyre is already good in Moto2. Every rider says they could use more grip but this is not always the tyre problem. Sometimes it is also the setup of the bike, the track temperature, different circuits… the current tyre is good and we can go fast with it.
Assuming you’ve ridden Dunlop’s road tyres. What qualities have you noticed transferred from their race tyres?
Yes I rode also on the street and it had a lot of grip. I’m always careful and I don’t push too much like on the race track.
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