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This is who I am and this is what I think: Nacho Calero

Wednesday, 22 March 2017 09:10 GMT

The Orelac Racing VerdNatura rider speaks about his strong start to the season before his home race in Aragon.

Racer. Valencian. 25 years old. Five seasons in Superstock 600 and four in World Supersport make him a veteran in the World Superbike paddock. He rides a Kawasaki ZX-6R for his father's Orelac Racing Team. This year he aims to secure some regular points scoring finishes. He has had one of his strongest starts to a season, with a top nine in Phillip Island and a 13th in Thailand. He now arrives to MotorLand, the only circuit he secured points at last year. That's right, and this is what Nacho Calero thinks:

We have started this year much better. Last year everything was new; the bike and the equipment. Now we have another season with Kawasaki and I have also trained very hard to be here, it is a combination of things.

The bikes have also improved a lot this year and each rider has another mechanic. We have made a note of the mistakes we had last year.

We are within a second between the top 18 in World Supersport. Old or young, every rider wants to be racing at the front. Look at [Roberto] Rolfo: he won the first race and in the second he was eleventh, so it's all very tight. No one here wants to be left behind.

In the World Supersport races, when you get to the finish line, when you are behind another bike or are just on your bike, no one slows down for you to pass or cuts the gas. You just have to put the bike where you want.

Last year we already had equipment to be ahead, and this year we have a team to be ahead ... but even better. We are not jealous of any equipment any other team has on the WorldSSP grid.

I am married to Nieves and together we have a daughter, Guilia who is two years old. When I leave home on Tuesday to go to a circuit and compete I try to disconnect. I talk to my family in the afternoons, but I try to disconnect until I’ve finished with my bike. I'm at work, and I am just like a father who goes to work in the morning and comes back at six in the afternoon. For me it's more or less the same. Luckily, there are Rounds that my family can come to, because Guilia is still small and has no school. They will be with me in Aragon.

I know there are people who say that the season really starts with the first European Round, but for me the season starts in Australia. In those two races it is important to bring points home, and from there to continue working. Australia is a bit special, because we have two days of testing in which you can start making adjustments. Thailand was a bit more complicated because of the heat, and some engines were broken but it is the same for everyone.

I have a good relationship with my teammate Zulfhami Khairuddin; we are friends in the garage, we can laugh and make jokes. Then, with the visor is lowered each rider focuses on their own race.

Aragon is my home race; and we will try to be fighting at the front. After MotorLand we go to circuits that I like a lot. My goal this year is to score points in all races and be in the top ten at the end of the season.