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David Alonso - newly designated world champion in the Moto3 for the 2024 season - was a guest at the AIROH stand at Eicma 2024. Barely a month has passed since that Sunday in Motegi, during which a thrilled Alonso rose to the headlines as the first Colombian to win a title in the World Championship. A month in which the CFMoto rider has been unstoppable, conquering record after record, six consecutive victories, thirteen in the season. When champions of the caliber of Marc Marquez, Bagnaia, Martin, and even big names from the past like Valentino Rossi praise you, you know you've conquered something important. But, in all this, Alonso demonstrates a great humility and a great heart, keeping his feet firmly on the ground, without burning the stages of his own growth, as he told us in an interview at the trade show in Milan.
It was an incredible season with some great races. Just a month ago in Japan you became world champion. You didn't know if you'd be able to break any new records but, instead, you did it.
"I'm happy to be here," David Alonso told us. "It's my first time here at Eicma. It was nice to get more wins. I think we worked really well with the team. Obviously, I'm very happy with these results, but I want to keep my feet on the ground. Even when I win, I always try to find ways to improve. You never stop learning."
In the paddock, you seek advice from MotoGP riders. You also trained with Marc Marquez in Spain. What's the best advice you received?
"I always try to learn from the older, more experienced guys, those who already faced these challenges. Especially when I was fighting for the title, I asked them for advice based on their past experiences. They helped me, and I appreciated it a lot. I received a lot of advice. Last year, Marc advised me not to be in a hurry to chase the MotoGP, that the important thing is to win championships, and it's something that stays with you for life. He's right."
In the race, you do a lot of strategy. You study your opponents a lot, and you know how to react, like in Malaysia when you avoided Holgado's fall and managed to take your 13th win.
"In the race, I try to breathe and keep my heart rate down, and sometimes it's not easy. I try to keep my head clear so I can make the right decisions. Like in the race, you were saying, sometimes you start one way, but then something happens. In the end, the most important laps are the last five. The important thing is to continue to stay focused."
You wrote yourself a letter before you won the title. Marc said he cried when hearing it. How does it make you feel to receive such attention from riders of this level?
"It made me happy. I was surprised that a rider like Marc cried when hearing it. I wrote that letter from the heart. At that time, I felt I had to write my thoughts. I wanted to be able to reread in ten years what I was thinking about at that moment. The fact that so many people appreciated it made me very happy."
When you won the title, you still had to digest what had just happened. Now you've won 6 consecutive races, 13 this season. Did you expect this level of competitiveness? You said at the beginning of the season, getting on the bike, you knew this was going to be your year, what did you mean?
"When I got on the bike in tests, at the beginning of the season, I had an incredible feeling. I immediately called the mechanic who celebrated with me to tell him that I had the same feeling like when I won the rookies cup and the European talent cup. I felt like I was one with the bike. I was in control of the bike and not the bike of me. Starting the season like that was great. Then it's clear that I still didn't know if I was going to win the championship."
You also received compliments from Valentino Rossi for breaking his record of wins. He won 11, now you have 13, and you have a chance to win the 14th, as well.
"That's true. I broke that record. but we have to remember that Valentino faced fewer races that season. I'm happy with what we achieved with the CFMoto team this season, but the important thing is to understand how everything happened so we can take it into account for the future."
You'll be racing in the Moto2 next year with the Aspar team. What are your expectations for next season?
"I don't want to create too many expectations. I could even not end up on TV! It's a new category. It's going to take time. My goal will be to face a growing season, improving race after race. I'll have to adapt to the new category, finish races, and grind out as many kilometers as I can on these new bikes."
You've broken records, making history, and you did it as a Colombian rider. What's your next secret wish?
"Like in the Moto3, my goal will be to work for a title in the Moto2 in the future. I'll have to adapt my riding style to dream of the title in that category, as well."
In a few years, you might find yourself in the MotoGP racing with the riders you asked advice from. Who would you like to race with?
"The MotoGP is still far away, I think. I want to take things step by step. I'd rather not make that jump before I have to. My biggest dream as a child was to win the title in all three categories. I want to take it slow. I see the MotoGP still far away."
Is there a rider whose riding style you follow most closely?
"Actually, there's not only one. I try to learn something from all of them. I learn from Martin's fast lap, Bagnaia's pace, or Marquez's attack. I try to take the best from each of them."
