2024 Preseason - Part 2
Training in Spain is an integral part of being successful at the world level and ever since starting my Road to MotoGP I have been looking forward to this. This month I got a taste of what it is like to live in Spain as a Grand Prix motorcycle racer.
Although I had never met the entire Daniel's family prior to this trip, I had met KD and his dad at the ETC wildcards I did in 2023. However, my dad and Mr. Daniel had built a virtual relationship over the years when my dad started SFLMiniGP. They shared a lot of the same views when it came to training and racing in the states and they built a friendship around it. When Mr. Daniel reached out to my dad about the training opportunity in Spain with Dani Valle and Riders Formation, we knew the one logistical issue would be housing. However, Mr. Daniel stepped up and offered his home as well. This now being the 3rd family I am staying with abroad for long periods of time (Dexter Family and Bowes Family in the UK) I always feel like a gypsy walking in. They made me feel right at home from day one. Mrs. Daniels and I were the most competitive at the game UNO. My guy Jayden (younger brother) and I would play soccer and video games together; he is a super cool kid. Mr. Daniel and I would enjoy the occasional FIFA match. KDJr and I beyond riding together, got to know each other and have tons of fun both on and off the track. Thank you again for making me part of the family and allowing me to take full advantage of this opportunity!
Training with Dani Valle and the Riders Formation School was surreal. I had always seen them working on social media but being there was amazing. I was training with guys that I look up to in JuniorGP and etc. Dani and I just clicked once I arrived and we built up a really cool relationship in a short period of time. I learned so much working with him both on and off the bike. Throughout the program we did tons of physical work, we were constantly running, cycling, or working on physical strength. But on the bike, I learned a little too much lol. Riding with guys that are that next step higher then you just builds you up so quickly. Just from sitting behind some of the riders I learned more then I had all last year. I was able to latch on to the techniques they use to be the bit quicker. I started to program roughly 2-3 seconds off a lap and by the end of the 3rd week I was within half a second of their times. So the improvement was definitely there but the crazy part was that I didn’t even need someone to tell me that I was getting faster, I could feel it on the bike. I was doing things that I had no idea I could do. I built up this aggression and this speed on the bike that I had never felt before and I absolutely loved it. The confidence I was building while learning these new techniques and approaches was a big piece of what I need to be successful this year.
While in Spain, I built up a nice relationship with the owner of the JuniorGP team AGR racing. On one of the weekends I got to visit another bucket list location; the Rocco's Ranch. We went flat tracking on CRF100s for the day and it was the most fun I have had on a mini in a long time. Got to see some the world championship riders there as well training on 450s and it was just an amazing atmosphere.
I then got a surprise phone call from him one night and he invited me to come out and test for the team at Valencia. I couldn’t believe what had just happened and I was so excited to get on the bike and show them what I’ve got. Little did I know, this weekend was gonna be the most informative weekend I’ve had. I knew going into the test that the team was super professional and that they have tons of experience. Turns out, they have much more than that. My technician was incredible, he was able to explain to me every second of every session. What the bike was doing, what I was doing, then what would happen if we made a change and how the bike would react, how I would have to adapt to it. Just all of it, everything was just spot on. I learned so much from them that I will 100% be bringing into my season and beyond.
After my test with AGR, I went down to Cartagena for my team test with the Cresswell guys. After my amazing test with AGR I was so ready for the test and ready to show my team that I’ve been putting the work in and that’s exactly what I did. From day 1 I was already quicker then my time from last year and I made massive steps with the bike from previous years. I was able to put all the pieces together from my training camp and what I learned at the ETC test and put down an amazing time around Cartagena. A whole 1.5 seconds quicker than last year and an unofficial lap record. The feelings with the team and my bike were the best it’s ever been and I cannot wait for the season to start. We are strong and will be very competitive for the championship this year.
From Cartagena we went up to Aragon to have a fun 2 days with the DRC guys before I flew home. Aragon has always been a dream track for me because I’ve been watching MotoGP go around there for years. Fellow DRC rider Alex allowed me to use his incredible S1000rr for the 2 days and what an experience that was. The power made me giggle every time I got on the gas and I got comfortable on it quick. It was a really fun 2 days because I didn’t really focus on times and just went out and enjoyed myself. It’s always good to have a couple days like that to enjoy and relax. I ended hitting 188mph which was insane for me, the back straight is super long and coming out of the bubble at the end of the straight was crazy each and every lap. I hadn’t experienced that before but now that’s all I want to experience lol. It was super cool seeing Jay and Riley again, Joe, Cam, Stu, and getting to meet Robo. Can’t wait to do it again!
This past month has been super crazy, fun, exciting, and promising. Thank you so much to everyone who made this trip happen. To the Daniel’s, thank you so much for the hospitality and for allowing me to be your 3rd child for the month, I’m so grateful for everything! Massive thank you to the dbpsquad for all the hardwork, I love you guys.To Dani, thank you so much for everything bro. I learned so much and had the best time, I’ll be back! To AGR, looking forward to some more testing in 2024, thank you for the opportunity. Microlise Cresswell team, this is our year...let's go get it!
