The 2005 title candidate presents his credentials
Alter smashing the lap record of the Jerez circuit, Sebastián Porto feels ready to go for the 250cc title from the very first day.
He is the applicant, runner-up of last season, and one of the firmest candidates to dethrone the current World Championship. Self-secure and confident about his chances, Sebastián Porto has proven during the winter, that the absence of races has not caused him to loose the least of his competitiveness. He knows, just as all the other riders of the class know, that the rider to be beaten ins Pedrosa, but unlike the others, he also knows what it means to win, something he expects to do again in the season that is just about to start. Just having got off his bike, still sweating, wearing his overall and with the marks of his helmet on his face, Sebastián Porto, shared his latest impressions with us. Whats your assessment of your preseason?Very positive. Im leaving Jerez very satisfied after having improved the times set on the first day, because weve been lapping very fast. The feeling on the bike is getting better every day; since we got it, its been constantly improving. Weve made the jump we needed as regards the chassis, although I think that there are still a couple of things to improve on the engine. Im happy, because everything we, as a team, said that had to be improved was heard by Aprilia and they have been working in that direction; weve been able to feel the results. There are still some details left, but were on the right path. On a personal level, this has been my best preseason. Its my second year with the team, the factory bike…. thats why this year has been different. It wasnt something new, so we were able to start from a better position, because we already have a larger experience. What do you think about your closest rivals, such as Pedrosa, De Angelis or De Puniet?Well be able to see everybodys level once the World Championship has started. Now its just too early to draw any conclusion. However, weve been able to see whos been faster during the preseason. Our reference is always Pedrosa; hes the world champion and hes being very fast. Surely hell be the toughest rival despite the little problems hes been having. But Ive seen them all very strong. De Puniet is doing a good job and you can see that hes adapted well to the team, and De Angelis is being very strong as well. And the class rookies?Theyll contribute to a more difficult and contested championship. Barberá, Lorenzo and Dovizioso are combative riders that have shown a progression during the preseason. They are fast riders who have already proven that theyre able to set good times, although well have to wait and see how they respond during the race, because they havent got the rhythm of the class yet. Im sure that theyll do a very good job and itll be an interesting battle. The one I personally see with more chances is probably the current 125cc world champion, Dovizioso, a very consistent rider. How do you see Aprilia with respect to Honda?Weve improved significantly. Weve probably made our biggest leap with the chassis. As regards the engine, weve been receiving parts, but were improving slowly. From my point of view, we still need the engine to be a bit more competitive, but in general terms its been an important jump. I dont know what the others have done, but its clear that the Honda has improved and is still a good bike. What is happening now, is that theres not only one Honda but many of them in the front. That will make the championship more hard-fought. The next time well see you on the track will be the at first race of the championship, how do you think will be the beginning of the championship?I feel very well. This is my second year, Im calm and I think that I have many chances to be fighting for the title. We must try to work well, following the line of last year and continue evolving the bike as weve been doing. If we keep this regularity, as weve been doing during the preseason, the championship will be easier for us. But we have to work on it and take it easy, because its going to be a long, very long way. A bet…I feel that I have big chances. This year will be different because, as I told you, we start with a larger experience. Last year I knew that I was getting a factory bike, a good bike, but I didnt really know what I was going to find. I had to adapt to it and deep in the inside I wasnt sure if I was going to make it. This year is different, I have the bike, the confidence and the experience. What are your plans until the start of the season?Well, Im going to relax because its been a very long and demanding preseason. Weve been lapping very fast on all of the circuits. But the season will be even tougher. I wont have time to travel to Argentina, so Ill stay around here to rest, looking forward to the first Grand Prix.
