SBK, Pedercini: "Our secret? Passion."

It's true, in the modern racing world, especially in world championships, it takes a lot of money to make ends meet: money for the bikes, travel expenses, miscellaneous management costs, as well as the well-deserved earnings, with the latter not necessarily as much of a given as one might think.

Lucio Pedercini, born in 1972, is well aware of these things, having been in the motoring environment for an age, racing in the 500 class of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing from 1992, the year when Lucio made his début on the Milanese Paton bike; and from 1993 to 1997 with the ROC-Yamaha on the family run team set up with his brother and his dad Donato, a person who, in addition to the accounts, has always fuelled his own work with an ingredient that is rarely found, but highly valuable: passion.

Passion that Lucio inherited from his dad and that later led him, from 1998 to the present, to World SBK, first as a rider on Ducati, a bike with which he holds two Italian titles, earned in 2001 and 2002, and, as he likes to point out proudly: “Astride a Ducati I hold the record of races in SBK, with 176 on the books.”

Lucio likes to reminisce about the environment a few years ago, once again bringing the fundamental ingredient to the foreground: “Both in Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing and in SBK there was a lot more passion. Sure, there was hard work and a lot of money, but the differences between the environment then and now are clear.”

Can you give us an example?

“I could give many, but the most evident is the way the riders do things. Before we could more or less say anything, with any attitude, without anyone creating an international incident over it or nitpicking at every single word. Back then, you could even let a swear word slip now and then (and the middle finger too), but then the matter ended there. That's why there were more 'characters'. These days, the riders are kept at bay and bridled by the system, so it is not easy to catch a glimpse of their personalities.”

Do you think that characters with personality are missing from modern-day SBK?

“More than personality, modern SBK needs people with charisma. Like Max Biaggi up to a few years ago when he was riding in this championship. Whether you liked Max or not, he had people talking about him because, besides his talent on the track, Biaggi brought his charisma to this environment, which was also made up of words that not everyone is brave enough to say today.”

Do you think that Melandri could be a good lead?

“Well, Melandri isn't bad… sure, he's not on the same level as Biaggi and Valentino Rossi, but Marco has already won a championship in 250 and he did well both in MotoGP and in SBK. So sure, Melandri is a good character and he will have people talking about SBK.”

True. But is that all SBK needs to grow more?

“I've noticed that SBK should be advertised more. Not so much by TV stations, but also by the organizer. For example, if we go to the United States to race, we go out to the shopping centre and people think that we are members of one of the national championship teams (MotoAmerica), without anyone even knowing about the world championship races at their hometown track. Or there are is no billboard advertising along the roads, not only near the circuit, but even in the nearby towns. If no one knows that SBK is about to race, how can they go watch it? MotoGP is the opposite. Promotion of the Misano GP already began a year ago…”

Maybe that is fine with whoever “pulls the strings”…

“Yes, exactly. For now, it is fine with them.

Let's talk about your team now… actually 'your' (plural) team...

“With my dad we began in SBK with Ducati. He and my brother took care of the technical part and, besides riding, I took care of the part that had to do with the riders and sponsors. Until 2007 we stayed with Ducati with excellent results. Then, from 2008, we moved over to Kawasaki who had made a very interesting proposal for us. In fact, Kawasaki still supports us well and we are happy.”

Can you give us any technical details?

“Sure. Our engines are taken care of by Akira, as are the official ones used by Rea and Sykes. That means that our engines are not far from those the KRT team uses. For the suspension, we have support from Showa who also supplies the official world champion team.”

And the electronics?

“We have someone who comes to the garage and loads the maps in the ECU, but…”

But?

“The official team has two electronics technicians who develop the software with Marelli, so Rea and Sykes have an advantage from the start. For example, if they have a problem during a session, they solve it straight away, whereas we have to wait for the evening, losing time. Also, the official team can afford to conduct repetitive tests. Just imagine that they have already had the 2017 version ZX10R on the track! These are the differences, but as I said, our bikes are excellent and not far from the ones the KRT team uses.”

Do you think that the riders still make the difference?

“Yes. Rea and Sykes had some problems at Laguna Seca that could not be solved mechanically or electronically, but they were able to overcome them with their riding skills and the experience that they have developed over many hours astride their ZX10 machines.”

Your riders also did well, Anthony West in particular...

“Indeed, Saeed Al Sulaiti is a true rookie and without knowing the bike, tyres and circuits, he is holding his own very well, beyond all expectations. West, well, he is neither unprepared nor a youngster: Anthony has raced in 125, in 250, in MotoGP… he knows how to ride fast and his only limit this season, having come to us as a substitute, is that he has jumped from one bike to another, having to develop new habits with what he is riding. If West were to do an entire season with us, I'm sure that he could do even better. The Australian rider and I are already talking about next year, because we are happy with our results.”

Are you looking for other riders?

“Yes, and I am talking with some interesting riders... but I still cannot name names.”

Do the rumours that other Kawasaki SBK bikes are coming to the grid worry you?

“No, team Pedercini has a direct relationship with Kawasaki that has been consolidated for years now and in Stock1000 we are the official team. As I said, our bikes are very close to Rea and Sykes' official rides, plus our staff is made up of 24 people in Europe and more than 15 around the world. We are a family team, but we are very professional.”

It seems to me that your work keeps you busy all year long...

“More or less, yes, but it is not a problem. In this line of work there are not too many breaks to rest up, but what keeps me going is the ingredient that I got from my dad, who turns 63 today. I began my career as a rider and team manager with him and, despite the fact that times have changed in the racing world, his passion will always be his greatest gift for my brother and me.”