by Tiziano Niero
Gino Borsoi began his career in the World Motorcycle Championship riding a 125cc Aprilia. He might be remembered more for the 1998 season, when he unintentionally killed a cobra that had ventured onto the track at Johor Bahru, striking it with his knee while taking a corner during practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, than for his results, but he was a fast rider: one pole position and three podium finishes. He later served as a test rider for Aprilia, conducting development tests on the RSA 125. In total, he competed in 126 Grand Prix races, all in the 125cc class. He wore a distinctive helmet featuring a cobra on the back.
In 2003, he founded a team; at the end of 2004, he accepted an offer from Jorge 'Aspar' Martinez and switched sides. A role he now continues with Paolo Campinoti’s Pramac-Yamaha team. Gino isn’t one for many words. Managing is sometimes harder than throwing yourself headlong into a corner, but he’s now a seasoned manager and knows what to say, so when asked, “Where do we stand?” he’s quick to respond.
“We’re at the second race of the season… actually, the third. How does it feel so far? It’s a path we already knew, a long one. People watching from home need to understand that no one has a magic wand, especially when you’re starting with a completely new project. This bike really started to come together during testing in Malaysia, at Sepang. So what are we talking about? Two months. A completely new bike can’t deliver positive results in a short time—it’s impossible. No one has ever managed it. I don’t think we’re genies who can make this bike work in two races. So the process is long—we already knew that—and we’re in line with expectations for this new project.”
You raced for two years with Ducati and won: what kind of motivation does it take to start from scratch?
“First of all, it’s not something you think about when you join the project. We already knew it would be a new and difficult project from the start. Mentally , you have to prepare yourself and accept that you’re going from being a front-runner to a team that fills out the starting grid, because right now that’s what we are. But with a goal in mind: to help Yamaha become one of the best manufacturers in the world in MotoGP. That’s the important point. If you have a project in mind and know where you want to go, and maybe you get there—or at least try—it’s still a great project. If one day we manage to be competitive, as we all hope, for me it’s like winning a World Championship. It’s just a matter of mindset. With Ducati, the goal was to win the World Championship; here, it’s to bring Yamaha back to the results everyone knows. If we succeed, it has the same value.”
Is this a transition year?
“For many, yes, because they already know that everything will change next year. For us, however, it’s a crucial year. This Yamaha project with the V4 has just begun, and it’s not just the engine: it’s a completely different philosophy. There’s a different chassis, a different swingarm, different electronics. It’s a completely new world for Yamaha. What we’re learning now is the foundation for 2027. We need to understand how a V4 with these characteristics works and what will be needed for the future. For others, it’s a concept that’s already clear; for us, it’s a blank slate. Every time we go out on the track, we learn something new. It was essential to start this project, even if it seems “crazy” to build a bike for just one year. But it’s also important for the riders, to understand the paddock, MotoGP, and arrive better prepared next year.”
On the Brazilian GP: what are your thoughts?
“We need to separate the issues. As for the weather, before the race, an unprecedented amount of rain fell. No one is prepared for a situation like that, especially on a new circuit. In that case, the reaction of the circuit and the authorities was exemplary: they resolved everything quickly. As for Sunday on the grid, it probably would have been better to delay the start. The problems—the pothole, the cracking asphalt—could have been handled better with more time. But the race was scheduled, and they did everything possible to fix the situation. In the end, we managed to run an important Grand Prix, so I’d say they handled it well. Perhaps the decision to shorten the race came a bit too quickly, without delaying the start, but these are things we’ll discuss. In the end, the weekend was saved.”
What are your expectations for this weekend?
“It’s a track where Miller usually does well, but let’s go back to square one: the bike is completely new; we have no data or benchmarks. Miller feels comfortable here, but he’s coming off a complicated situation, and we haven’t been able to get off to the right start with him. So I’m not expecting anything special. I’m just hoping for a smooth weekend, where I can improve step by step and maybe get a result. The goal is to get closer to the top 15 and maybe bring home one or two points on Sunday. I don’t expect much more than that.”
And Toprak?
“It’s a new track for him, too. But we’ve seen some good things, especially in Sunday’s race. We’re starting to build a foundation. If we can build on that and improve, that’s already our goal.”
How are you handling this moment, between the pressure and the lack of results?
“It’s a tough job. You’re away from home for half the year and you have to find the motivation within yourself. I always have the motivation. Before, the stress was trying to win the World Championship; here, the stress is keeping the team mentally positive. When the results don’t come, after a while this becomes difficult. It’s a double stress: for the team and also for me. We need to make everyone understand that this is a long-term project and that results won’t come immediately—neither in this race nor likely in the next few. Then there’s the personal pressure: I’m used to results, and when they don’t come, the criticism follows. But I know where I stand: in an important project, with Yamaha working to reach the top as soon as possible. But “as soon as possible” doesn’t mean two months or a few races. It’s a long-term project. We’ll likely see the first real results halfway through next season, or even toward the end.”
Will you stay with this project?
“Yes, of course. This is my project. I have no other plans in mind.”