LUCIO CECCHINELLO

- 17 years in the world championship in 3 different classes with different talented riders. How difficult is it for you to run your Team now? What has changed in the last years?

Lucio: "I can not believe that 17 years have gone by already because if you do not feel the time passing by so quickly it means that you love your job and you enjoy it. I have got amazing memories of the beginning and the of course we have been doing well so far. I feel lucky because I was able to work with very professional technicians and very talented riders that allowed us to increase our popularity and to arrive here with the precious cooperation of our partners too. Obviously there are more difficulties compared to the past because of the global financial crisis and when you feel you are not able to reach your goal you must work harder, with more determination and more sacrifices with a bit of luck but at the end there's always a solution. Thanks to our partners who put their trust in our new project and with our will to improve we are ready to start another season. The MotoGP must continue in developing new technologies and the introduction of 4-stroke engines gave birth to a new era. I think that the CRT project has been a mandatory step forward to give other teams the chance to race in the premier class and I feel very confident for the future".

-Regrets and remorse of your rider career and your Team Manager role.

Lucio: "I am realistic enough and after the European Title won in 1995, I would have liked to win also the 125cc World Title but chasing this goal I had to deal with very talented riders. I do not have regrets or remorse as a former rider because I have always done my best and if you are conscious of your limits people say that you are a very wise person. A very good friend of mine often said to me … "Lucio remember that in life it’s very important to look ahead but sometimes it's necessary to look even behind". As a Team Manager I am satisfied about the job that I do everyday even if today it's harder than the past but I do not have any regrets".

-First rider and Team Manager at the same time, then full time Team Manager. Everybody knows that you are a “hard worker”. A life dedicated to racing competitions. How long will you be in the paddock?

Lucio: “I am a lucky person because every morning when I wake up I feel anxious to go back to work because I like my job even if sometimes I should sleep a bit more. I could not do another job! I dedicate myself to this sport at 100% and I would like to take the LCR Team on MotoGP podium as happened in the past in smaller categories. When I will have more white hair I would like to cooperate with Honda or with the championship organizers to improve this sport which represents my whole life”

-A mandatory question, What do you see in the MotoGP future?

Lucio: “I read a lot of articles/comments, they are more or less positive concerning the future of this sport: but I want to be optimistic and the reality is that MotoGP audience is increasing considering the total of TV networks broadcasting the signal. Then many circuits outside of Europe are interested in hosting a MotoGP event: I am talking about Texas, Argentina, India and further venues which are on a waiting list at the moment or dealing with Dorna. Our task now is to improve the show that we are offering to the public, making the races more spectacular with more overtaking maneuvers, more fights and more competitiveness. This means, in my opinion, that we should find a way to make the bikes more easy-riding for everybody increasing the show and, at the same time, we should invest in new high technologies where it’s more necessary. For example the development of new engines with less environmental impact, more durability and reliability and of course less fuel consumption to satisfy the end-users needs”.

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