PJ Jacobsen has switched both team and bike since the start of the World Supersport season, but has adapted with remarkable ease to the CORE’’ Motorsport Thailand Honda. Fresh from arm pump surgery in New York and with four races remaining, the American is well aware of the fact that he could still challenge for the title.

On Friday, Jacobsen spent ten minutes on the phone with WorldSBK.com.

PJ, how did the two arm pump operations go?
They were was like the ones Dani Pedrosa and a couple of other guys have had done recently. It allows more blood to flow through my arms. I had my clutch hand done first because that was really bothering me. I then decided to get the other one done just in case.

How does arm pump hamper a rider?
When the tyre starts going off at the end of the race, I have been feeling like the arm pump has been holding me back. I really have a lot more to show in myself and the bike, but I haven’t been able to push anymore because I was pulling the clutch in with my shoulder; so I can’t pull the clutch in properly, which means I am missing gears and getting a bit out of control, and I really don’t want that!

You are third in the World Supersport standings and 40 points behind leader Kenan Sofuoglu. There are still a maximum of 100 points left up for grabs. It is not unconceivable that you could win the title…
For sure. I think about that every day. I don’t go to sleep without thinking about it. Hopefully for me, something dramatic will happen. I just want a fair fight, but I really want to beat both of them straight up, fair and square. There is a possibility of still winning it. Cluzel had a lot of technical problems at the beginning of the year, so I don’t know how that is going to pan out for the rest of the season. Hopefully for me, something happens to the other guys, but the only way will be to go out and put the hammer down in Malaysia. That’s the only way.

And you have taken to the Honda like a duck to water…
With the other team, the first race at Phillip Island was such a mess. They didn’t have anything ready or properly prepared, so I ended up with such a poor result. It was a joke. Ever since I have made it to the CORE team and riding the Honda, it was quite difficult in Portugal but, once I got the bike figured out, it is a full factory bike and it’s really, really good. I don’t know whether the Kawasaki I had previously was the same as Sofuoglu’s. All I know is that I was riding that Kawasaki Intermoto bike as best as I could. But once I jumped on the Honda, it just seemed to really fit my riding style; it’s a small bike and it moves around a lot. I absolutely love everything about it.

What is the PJ Jacobsen plan for 2016?
I know that CORE want me back next year. I have been talking to them. It would be great to be on a winning bike with them in World Supersport, to be able to win the championship. It would be really cool to have an American World Champion again. After that, I would like to go to World Superbike on a really competitive bike. I think that would be a really great opportunity and hopefully it would just build from there. You never know…if Cluzel and Sofuoglu have a lot of problems the next few races and I win the championship, I could go there next year. Anything can happen.

In the meantime, what are you planning after your two operations?
I’m pretty wrapped up, like I’m in a cocoon [laughs]! I will probably be riding my motocross bike again in two weeks’ time, to get back into training. Then for Malaysia, I don’t think the arm pump issue will be completely sorted right away – I think I’ll still be a bit sore there – but it should be much better in the long run.

World Superbike will race at Laguna Seca on 19 July – will you visit?
For me, going to Laguna Seca from my home in New York is basically like going to England or Spain! It’s a six-hour flight! So I’ll probably stay at home unless I need to go out there for any particular reason. I’ll be watching it on the TV, just like I watch MotoGP every time that is on. At the same time, it’s nice to get a break from the paddock because we are always caught up in it; when you have a long break, it gives you more motivation to come back, feel strong and want to ride.

Any predictions?
I think Rea will be strong but also Sykes. It is a ‘stop and go’ track and he seems to ride the Kawasaki like that, so he will definitely be a tough competitor. It would be nice to mix up the championship because Jonathan is running away with it, but it is good for him because he’s been through a lot and he deserves it.