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Ask Leandro Mercado how he spent the winter, far from racing, means getting an answer that is very different to those of the European riders: the new Team Aprilia Iodaracing rider is Argentian and the seasons are the other way around over there of course.
“I went home in early December - recounts Mercado- after last year's season finale, a disappointing one, I needed to go on holiday and switch off from it all. It was summer in Argentina, so I went to the beach for ten days and relaxed. Then I was back with my family and, as well as spending Christmas with relatives, I also got back to training, to prepare as well as possible for my 2017 season. I spend a lot of time riding, especially enduro”.
Did the family help you to 'recharge'?
“Yes, they helped me see things from a positive point of view. As ever, my family was there for me, giving me great advice. Aside from the lost Superstock title, I have received the great gift of returning to SBK, and this is what I wanted. I realised this thanks to them. My family has given me my motivation back”.
At Portimao Mercado was ready to make his debut with the RSV4 but the ferry carrying the bike and material was delayed, causing a hold-up for the rider: “in Portugal I was anxious, because I couldn't wait to get on my new bike; I had never been so close to the Aprilia before that Portimao test, I was really curious to get on and open the throttle”.
And Mercado did just that, after years riding the Ducati Panigale in its Superstock and Superbike configuration, “Tati” was finally able to taste the Aprilia RSV4. So the next question is a must.
How does it differ to the Panigale you rode before?
“In recent years, I've only ridden the Ducati so the differences were immediately obvious to me. The engine of the RSV4 is very different to the Bolognese twin. The four cylinders really push at high speed and need to be exploited in a different way. You need to understand the character of the Aprilia, you need to cover a lot of miles and take time to really get the best out of it. The upcoming championship will be very competitive and you need to be prepared, with a good base right from race one”.
Do you think the Aprilia is easier or more difficult than the Ducati?
“It depends - on corner exit, for example, the RSV4 is easier to ride, because the power delivery is more soft and linear, but the bike is very stiff, it doesn't move and to be fast with the Aprilia you need to ride in a very linear and precise way, as if it were a GP bike. At Jerez I've been able to test it in the wet too and I like it, I immediately had great feeling”.
Laverty and Savadori were strong in testing, do you think the Milwaukee RSV4s are the same as yours?
“For now I'm using the bike in its 2016 configuration but during the year we in Iodaracing will get updates for our bike and I don't think there'll be big differences between the Milwaukee bikes and ours”.
How is your new team?
“I'm really happy with my new team. Team Iodaracing is well prepared and competent, they're all true professional. They will help me a lot and will increase my level of experience. We'll be a good group. I'm the team's only rider and I think that having a team-mate might help me understand my exact level of competitiveness. But I'm also fine being the only rider - I was follow my own path, give it my all and take it in my stride”.
At Portimao Leandro was back on track with Raffaele De Rosa, who stood in for BMW's Jordi Torres…
“Raffaele knows his bike very well, he raced with it at Laguna Seca and in Qatar; I wasn't surprised to see he was quicker than Reiterberger. De Rosa pushed at Portimao, he's the Superstock champion and I think he deserved a ride in SBK".
It will a classy SBK championship for Leandro who, as well as being quick, is also a true sportsman.
