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Gregorio Lavilla since 2019 has been the Executive Director of World Superbike, practically the Ezpeleta of the world production derived championship, but above all a former rider of some worth. In fact, Gregorio raced in MotoGP full-time in 250 and part-time in 500, in the World Superbike Championship and in the British Superbike Championship, winning the British crown in 2005. In 2008 he raced in WSB for the Ventaxia Honda team, finishing 12th in the championship. In 2009, he participated in four WSB series races with the Guandalini Racing Ducati team.
His victory in the 2005 British Superbike Championship was a big surprise, especially since he had never raced in the championship full-time before, and he got the bike only a few days before the start of the season, initially to replace the injured James Haydon in the Airwaves Ducati team. His start was so strong that the team decided to keep him on. He soon established himself ahead of teammate Leon Haslam, becoming Honda's main rival,
We met him in Milan, at Garage Italia, where Superbike organized a 'bleisure' evening for insiders. Google the meaning of this neologism.
The first question is about the calendar, because we objectively need more races outside Europe. How are you moving forward on that?
"Yes, that's clearly the case. We were planning to do two extra-EU races, we had agreements and contracts with Argentina and Indonesia. Then there were factors out of our control that prevented us from finalizing the program. We need to take this up again and do it positively, even though things are changing and with time it seems to get more and more difficult. Costs are rising, but that does not mean we should not try. There are some standing talks, and I would be happy to give some news myself first. But I prefer to wait until there is a concrete foundation, otherwise I would be selling smoke, that's what they say, isn't it?"
MotoGP will change in 2027. In what direction will SBK go instead?
"In my opinion SBK will become more and more complex. In MotoGP the rules will change, certain differences will be reduced, but on some aspects technology will still make a difference there. It's also clear that in SBK we have to bring to the track what the manufacturer sells on the market, but this for example is something we have no control over. Then there is also a safety aspect, because sometimes it is difficult for tracks to keep up with the advancement of performance. Then we also have to think that no one wants to be the cause of slowing down the bikes. The suspension supplier, the brake supplier, the tire supplier. No one wants to be singled out as the cause for slower SBK."
Yes, but all the manufacturers are presenting more and more high performance bikes.
"Yes, that's why we went down the road of RPM regulation in the beginning, we needed to balance things a little bit. We want the best rider on the best bike to win, but we can't allow just anyone to push the limit too high. Also for the safety issues. Every year we ask some tracks to move the run-off areas, the grandstands. Going forward like this we will have to give every fan a pair of binoculars at the track entrance, and at that point no one will want to come to the track to watch the races, because they are broadcast just fine on TV anyway. But that's not what we want, because we want fans to come to the track and enjoy the experience."
But the bikes being sold today are different. U.S. SBK comes to mind, the one with Lawson, Rainey, Spencer. Today, bikes like the Ducati Multistrada are being sold. What do you think about that?
"You put me in a bad position, because it's not like this is Gregorio Lavilla's decision! It's going to be the manufacturers that decide. But is that what the public wants to see? I think SBK should be the highest expression of technology possible, and that's what the manufacturers also think. Today, for example, the interest of many manufacturers is shifting to SuperSport. Today we have this regulation that allows a range of bikes and it works well. But I can't tell you today what direction the manufacturers will want to go in the future, already thinking about 2027 is difficult in this category."
Often riders move from MotoGP to SBK, but shouldn't it be the other way around?
"If you look at the last few years, there have been riders like Huertas and Gonzales who have moved from our paddock to the MotoGP paddock. This is a normal transition because in Spain there is a culture linked to MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3. If I think about England, for example, the situation is different. Remember when in the national championships there were the manufacturers that had so many riders and actually populated the grids? I wouldn't worry about which direction the riders go, in the end we are in a free market and everyone offers what they can on their best possible terms. For me the important thing is that a rider is able to turn his passion into a way to be able to make a living."
At the end of June will come the decision on Liberty Media and Dorna. Do you fear that they may want to detach SBK from the rest of the group?
"No, to me they have always talked about selling the whole group. If you ask me personally what I think about it, I think it would make little sense to acquire an asset like SBK and then not keep it. At least the information I have makes me think that, but I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know what will happen, maybe they will buy it and then think they want a different philosophy for this championship, I don't know. You know, sometimes they don't change an 11-man team but they change the coach in a few minutes. So I don't even know where I will be!"
