Angelo Licciardi (Kawasaki, Benjan Racing – Weber Motos) ist der neue Meister in der IDM Supersport 300, der Nachwuchsklasse in Deutschlands höchster Motorradstraßenrennserie. Der 21 Jahre alte Belgier mit italienischem Namen schafft gleich in seinem ersten Jahr der Sprung auf den Thron. Das Meister-Interview.
What was going through your mind before the race?
I didn't think too much about the outcome of the championship. I tried to win, just like in any other race. You never know beforehand how a race is going to turn out.
Was the track here in Hockenheim new to you?
No, I’ve raced here once before, in 2012 and 2015. Four years ago, I was here as a participant in the Moriwaki Cup.
You had to change your riding style for this season. Why?
I was used to a 600cc bike from the 2016 season. But you can’t ride a 300cc bike that way. I was braking way too hard into the corners. With a 300cc bike, you lose too much momentum that way. Then you lack speed coming out of the corner. My three mechanics from Benjan Racing helped me a lot, as did the Weber-Motos team. We really worked very hard.
You have an Italian name, but you were born in Belgium. Do you come from an Italian family?
Yes, my parents are Italian. They moved from Italy to Belgium about 30 years ago for work. I was born in Genk. But I also speak Italian very well. So I actually feel at home in both countries.
Where did the nickname “The Animal” actually come from?
A few years ago, one of my coaches said I needed a nickname. He’d been watching me for several years and then decided that “The Animal” was the perfect name for me: I always give 100 percent in races. It doesn’t always work out for qualifying. I’m just a racer.
Wie geht es denn in der kommenden Saison für Dich weiter? Du hast bestimmt schon Gespräche geführt.
Für mich führt der Weg in die Supersport 600. Natürlich haben wir darüber bereits gesprochen. Es gibt Möglichkeiten. Ich will in der IDM bleiben. Mein Ziel sind die Superbikes. Da soll es hingehen.