Why are you called “Fonsi”, your real name is Alfonso…
“My father used to call me “Fonsito”(little Fonsi) or “el chiquitín” (the little one) when I was a child, and in the end it became just Fonsi.
– What role have the following people played in your life?
My father Alfonso.
“My father has always supported me a lot, ever since I began racing and now we have a relationship where I consider him more a friend than a father. He helps me to take decisions, he is there in bad times; and in good times he usually hides a bit, he likes to be in the background.”
My mother Esperanza.
“She is somewhat the “sufferer” of the family. She doesn´t like coming to the races very much because she has a rough time, but I know that she is very happy now, not because I´m winning but because she sees that I´m happy and that´s the most important thing for her. It doesn´t matter to her whether I´m first or thirtieth, she wants to see me happy and know that I´m all right.”
My sister Carla.
“She helped me a lot when I began to race on motorbikes, she already knew this world through my uncle Angel and had more experience. Now she is still helping me with my appointment book and other things.”
My girlfriend Elsa.
“I owe a lot to Elsa as well, she has been always by my side, even in bad times, and I will never forget that. When I began racing in the 250cc and I was a long way back, Elsa supported me and cheered me up, she was always telling me that she had confidence in me and my ability.”
My uncle Angel.
“Having uncle Angel on my side has always been motivation, motivation to do it right, because he has always achieved great results in the motorcycling world. He has a lot of experience with his 12 + 1 titles, so he has already been through everything that can happen to me, and that´s how most of the times he is one step ahead and gives me advice.”
– Jorge Martínez Aspar.
“Like my uncle. I have known Jorge for many years and today, he is, first and foremost, a friend; right now, the Team Manager stays in the background. The truth is, that I feel very lucky to be a member of his team and count on his experience as a rider.”
– A myth in the world of motorcycling?
“Schwantz, Doohan and Rossi; I think they have been the three legendary riders of modern times. From earlier times, the ones I like most, after watching several video tapes, are Hailwood, Jorge Martínez Aspar and my uncle.”
– A referent outside the racing world?
“I think Jesús Carballo, the gymnast. He has shown how hard daily training is, what it means to devote a whole load of hours every day to getting in shape, in his case, for an event that is going to take place in four years. His strong will, perseverance and self-discipline have impressed me.”
– Is there life beyond the races?
“Yes, definitely. Races are important to me, but my family and friends are much more so. I think everything has to have its place in life. In the end, if you want good results in the races, it is very important to keep a balance in your “other” life, the personal one.”
– Dog or cat?
“Dog… well, both. Right now I have two dogs and one cat at home. The dogs, Neo and Ten, are an Aprilia and a Honda… No, just joking, they are both Golden Retrievers. The cat is a Persian called Carlos. You see, I like to be surrounded by animals, I cannot live without them.”
– Sea or mountains?
“Sea, no doubt about that. I like sailing, but with an engine. I don´t have a boat but many of my friends do, so we almost always go sailing in summer.”
– What does fame taste like?
“I don´t consider myself famous, I consider myself a person who is doing something that is shown on TV and is therefore recognised by the people in the street, that´s it. I´m just like any other 23 year-old, I do exactly the same things.”
– The swot or the nightmare of the class?
“What do you think…! There is no need to ask that… I was worse than a nightmare!”
– A car?
“Ferrari Modena. It´s the car of my dreams, a hell of a machine!”<<BR>
– Does music calm the beasts?
“Or the other way round… It depends on the type of music you´re listening to. I like all kinds of music, pop, rock, electronic… U2 is one of my favourite groups, but I also like Nacho Cano and Fangoria. I go to concerts whenever I can, I like it a lot.”
– Does champagne taste different on the podium?
“Yes, the truth is that I don´t like champagne at all, but on the podium I would empty the three bottles…”
– The Euro confuses me?
“I am really muddled up about the new currency. I´m sure I´ve been cheated a lot of times. We´ll see if it´s true that we get used to it eventually, but in any case, I´m sure I´ll be the last to know.”
– A quality?
“I consider myself a good person. I race on bikes because I like racing, but I don´t wish anybody harm. I like to win and I´m very competitive, but that´s it.”
– A defect?
“Maybe that I have quite bad sudden impulses… When something is bothering me, my first reaction sometimes isn´t the best one, so I try to calm down and to think before I say anything. I don´t always manage it, but I´m working on it…”
– A movie?
“The one about Fonsi Nieto winning the Grand Prix of Catalunya… Good one, eh? It would be the best movie to watch afterwards at home.”
– A religion?
“The truth is that I´m not very religious. I think that there is something up there, but I don´t know whether it´s God or what.”
– Ideologically, ¿right or left?
“In the middle. No, I don´t believe in politics and I´m not the least interested in it.”
– “Spain is different”?
“Of course. We have an impressive country, every time I go away for a race, and that is one of the advantages of taking part in the World Championship, because we travel a lot, I realise how lucky we are in our country. We have everything and there´s nothing we could miss here.”
– I would define myself as…
“A happy person, yes above all a happy person. I´m happy, I like to have a good time, be with my family and friends, have fun…”
