Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was able to get back on his Yamaha YZF-R1 machine for the first time at a recent two-day test at MotorLand Aragon as he prepares for his third MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign. During the test, he sat down to discuss bouncing back from a rollercoaster 2021 campaign, mental and physical preparations and how being close to more American riders is helping him.

PREPARING PHYSICALLY FOR 2022…

On social media during the winter, Gerloff revealed some images of himself following his physical preparation for the upcoming campaign after spending some time back home in the United States. Gerloff opened up about how his feelings after the season-ending Indonesian Round led to “three months of hell” as he worked on the physical aspect of motorcycle racing.

Gerloff said: “I’m feeling really good. I’ve really been working hard in a lot of different areas getting my physical shape going and working on my mental side and everything. I feel great. I was working a lot on the physical side but that’s the only thing you can visibly see. I’ve really been working on my head a lot also. The physical side of it, I just got home from Indonesia and I was just p****d off a lot, for a lot of different reasons, and I just needed something to put my time and energy into. I started doing some different training stuff with my trainer back home in Texas and it was just nice to put my energy into something. I was still trying to ride as much as I could at the motocross track and the go-kart track. It was like three months of hell and now I’m back here, the bread is too good, the pasta is too good, and it’s been a little bit hard to maintain it!”

…AND MENTALLY

One key aspect that Gerloff had previously discussed was the mental side of things that comes with a rider. After impressing in his rookie season with three podiums and starting off 2021 with two more rostrum visits, Gerloff’s season was disrupted through high-profile incidents that impacted his campaign. Now, looking ahead to 2022 and putting 2021 behind him, Gerloff explained how he has been preparing mentally as well as physically.

The American said: “I’ve just been reading a couple of different books on things, like mental toughness. For sure, last year was tough for me. I’ve never really been in the spotlight like that, in such a negative way, so that was a bit like a shock. I’m glad I went through it and it’s something everybody goes through, I imagine, so nice to get that experience out of the way. Been working on accepting everything and moving forward. I feel like I’m in a really good spot so going to try to keep chucking along that way!”

A HOME FROM HOME WITH AMERICAN RIDERS

Gerloff moved across from Texas to Europe when he first linked up with his GRT Yamaha squad in 2020, a campaign that was massively disrupted by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three riders from the USA competing in Moto2™, Joe Roberts, Sean Dylan Kelly and Cameron Beaubier, have helped Gerloff have a ‘home from home’ despite the more-than-5,000-mile distance from Texas to Andorra, where Gerloff now lives.

Explaining how having more American riders nearby has helped him, Gerloff said: “I was with Joe Roberts having dinner with him, I’ve hung out with Cam a few times since being back, since he got back to Europe. Sean Dylan Kelly is part of the training group that I’m with when I come and train in Spain. It’s nice having Americans close by. I’ve definitely seen them a few times. Sean is definitely motivated to get results and get out there, I’m kind of feeding off his energy a bit. We’re getting each other fired up about it. It’s super nice.”

Look out for part two of the feature interview with Gerloff coming later this week!

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