Izan Guevara: ‘I know it’s in the plans for MotoGP’

He has just returned from a long journey across Asia and the oceans, winning the Moto3 World Crown at Phillip Island last October 16th. Izan Guevara (Parma, June 28, 2004) stopped in Barcelona on his way back to Mallorca and visited the Sportish Newsroom this Monday.Since the pandemic, the motorcycle world championship has not set foot on Asian or Oceanian soil and Izan is embarking on his second Moto3 season, so spending five weeks away from home was a novelty for him. . On October 16, he made history as the fifth-youngest champion in history, but “five weeks later he already had a desire to land in Spain”. And on Saturday there’s a big party in Parma Third Mallorcan champion with an organized act celebrating his world crown Jorge Lorenzo and Joan Mir.

Did you have time to understand the phrase “Izan Guevara Moto3 World Champion”?

It’s assimilating little by little, but it’s not perfect yet. If you come to Mallorca, stay at my house, with my friends, I think you can assimilate more.

Was the celebration on Phillip Island worthy of the title?

All I could count was the one seen on TV with my alter ego Nico Terrol on turn 4. What counts is from the night. In Australia it wasn’t very long as they wouldn’t let us in and we were kicked out of the venue early in the morning.

Since pre-season, have you already realized that you could be World Champion this 2022?

In preseason, I knew I was going to be in the fight, I didn’t expect it to be easy, but I knew I could. It wasn’t until he went on vacation that he realized he could win the title, just three points behind Sergio[his teammate Garcia Dols]. We need to finish the season on a good note with six consecutive podiums from Jerez to Assen. And in Misano, he took control of the world championship for the first time in his life.

How do you remember that Phillip Island weekend? Is it yes to decant in the first exchange, yes?

I arrived that Thursday a little nervous, had a few interviews there, and still had trouble understanding the circumstances under which I could win my first world title. I have calmed down. Sunday came and was calm, but before the race it suddenly rained heavily and luckily it dried up. Because suddenly, in a matter of minutes, the weekend turned around. But we were lucky that it could have been dry. His ten minutes on the grid flew by, but I remained very focused. The bike went very well from the first moment and on lap 10 the group broke up. 3 He was the only one who could have delayed Sergio Garcia, so he only had to release the pilot. I was feeling better and stronger with each lap, so I decided to take the lead on the last lap. Then, when I crossed the finish line, my mind went blank and I screamed. It was the only thing that came out in that moment, and it brought tears to my eyes.

For me, there is a great moment of your season with Onc and Garcia winning on the outside in Jerez.

I remember it being a perfect weekend. After a difficult start to the season, he smashed it all in an incredible solo qualifier and went into the race with confidence. I’m third and normally you can’t pass two drivers in the last corner, so I had very little chance on the last lap (laughs). And suddenly I see that Onk and Sergio are closing and I have no choice but to go outside. And when I braked, I had already reached the first brake, so I decided to release it a little more. first time Getting to the finish line was straight and flat out. This was the beginning of knowing that I could win races and that I could be in the leading group.

Your rival says your title is due. Is it important for drivers to be respected by their rivals?

Yes, respect from all drivers is always important and that’s great. And all the MotoGP riders stopped to congratulate me. I appreciate it very much. It’s a really nice gesture.

Of the many title congratulations you received on October 16th, which one surprised you the most?

Marquez congratulated me. he was very excited I have a very good relationship with him, but what surprised me was F1 driver Carlos Sainz. i didn’t expect that. I think I received 1000 messages of him from 500 that day. Cell phones were blocked and everything freaked out.

Who is Izan Guevara? How would you define yourself?

I am friendly and very open. When I was little, I was very shy, didn’t speak much, and was reserved, but I was very open when doing interviews. I’m very smart on the team where I joke around all day. And I’m very stubborn, and that’s both a good thing and a bad thing. I like to calculate and organize everything, but not so much for mine. And I like being calm on the bike and in control of every race situation. When overtaking, think before you act to avoid throwing other riders.

By the way, what do they give the children of Mallorca? It’s worth knowing the secret that such a small island produces the best champions.

I don’t know, we’ll settle with what we have. It’s an island, with reduced space, but the riders have a circuit (at Llucmajor) and they sacrifice a lot on that circuit. Every time I go to training, I have records that I try to lower them. We are under 1 in 2000 and you are very happy and going out to other circuits to have more fun.

Here in 2022, all dreams have come true, winning titles in each of the last four years. And now it?

The truth is that everything was too fast, too fast. In 2019 he won the European Talent Cup, in 2020 he won the Moto3 Junior World Championship and last year he qualified for the Moto3 World Championship. In her first year as a rookie, Acosta caught the eye and achieved her goals. , and won the race in Austin. We were supposed to be in the World Cup this year and we made it.

What you are really looking at is MotoGP. From start to finish they are the best. Who else is Marc Márquez. He is my idol and I like seeing him. “

Do you see the same people you saw as role models now that you have become part of those select people and no longer see them on the TV from your couch, or now that you know them, your point of view has changed?

Right now my focus is on racing Moto2. Because next year we will go to Moto2 and visualize the race a little bit to see how the race is managed and so on. But what you’re really looking at is MotoGP. From start to finish they are the best and who else is Marc Márquez. He’s back, he’s my idol, and I love seeing him.

In 2016, the Asper team had a Moto3 rider named Pecco Bagnaia who made the team promise to test a MotoGP Ducati if he won two races. MotoGP World Has he made a bet similar to one that could make him champion?

No, the truth is we’re not taking bets.There are a few in my telemetry, but I can’t count them. There are always jokes, shavings, etc., but never serious.

Who do you think held the key to your career?

First, my family, obviously without them, I wouldn’t be where I am. Second, I wouldn’t have been successful on my own, so I need a team. Third, the coaches who have always been there for me, the people I trust in Mallorca, Pedro Rivas, who I have worked with for eight years, the pillars of my life and the people who support me, the general public.

“I am loyal to those who are loyal to me, to those who have always believed in me.”

I had an offer from everyone to race in Moto2, and I wanted to be loyal to the Asper team that I am with from the junior team.

That continuity gives me a lot of relief. It’s been 3 years already with the team and hopefully you want to continue? We continue to maintain the kit. Next year we will upload the moto3 technical team to moto2. I am loyal to those who are loyal to me, to those who have always believed in me.

Normally, when a MotoGP factory sees a diamond in the rough like yours, they immediately recognize it. Did you get an offer for MotoGP?

I know I’m in some MotoGP plans, but I’m focused on my own.

Who do you think you’re sharing your champion’s end-of-season photos at Cheste with?

In Moto2 with Augusto (Fernandez), being Mallorcan after all, a year spent with two Mallorcans, in MotoGP I don’t get wet. They both have similar feelings and get along very well. Yes, it’s true that Pecco is struggling a lot, but it’s a race weekend and everything could go wrong. May you have the greatest victory.

Legend has it that when you were little, when your parents took you to soccer school, you cried because you didn’t like it at all.

When I was two and a half years old, my brother was already into soccer, so they enrolled me in soccer. But as they told me, I stayed in the walls of the football field, crying and kicking naughty kids, after all, when the heavy and stubborn Reyes was his 3-year-old It all started when they gave me a small electric bike.

“My title matched the Clásico and I wanted to see it, but at that time I was already having a party to celebrate the title.”

And now you don’t like football too?

no more. See, I like to do that sometimes. In Assen, there is a soccer field next to the hotel where 5 of 5 get together and enjoy a little game. I know the results, but no more fuss. I only see big games. I like Sevilla, I like Mallorca… My title matched Classico, and I wanted to see it.