2010: Davide Tardozzi speaks of the new season
Early days for Tardozzi to see how things are in the German manufacturer's lead team, but in characteristically honest form, he gave us a resume of how he sees things in WSBK in 2010, for his own team and in the overall picture.
Said Davide, "I am sure everybody will expect something from us. But it is tough. We are running behind everybody and everybody is stepping ahead and maybe our own steps ahead are not enough to close the gap. We are all working hard, and for me our point zero will be after the Portimao tests. Then we will see how the gap is between the rest of top guys and us. From there we really start. I know both of our riders have the talent to do it. I really feel it will be a huge part of my job to bring back those riders, and motivate my riders, Troy and Ruben. That was a huge bet that I made with myself, saying that I need to get back those guys on the podium."
In terms of the overall 2010 season, and which teams and riders will be to the fore, Tardozzi has some definite ideas.
"I expect a big fight between ‘the Italians' - by that I mean Biaggi and Aprilia versus both top Ducati riders - and Johnny Rea and Cal Crutchlow behind them. I am so, so confident for Cal. James Toseland is a question mark to me. I know James very well and he needs to find something that at this stage he has lost, in the last two years I guess. He is a good rider. When he proves that he gets his confidence back, for sure he will fight for the podiums."
He continued, in terms of BMW's own chances, to say, "I see from midseason until the end, us fighting sometimes for the podium and maybe, maybe, doing something better."
