It´s official since Thursday afternoon. Paulo Goncalves and Joan Barreda will be competing in the Rally Dakar 2014 for HRC Honda. Here´s an interview with team principal Wolfgang Fischer shedding some light on the details.
Mr. Fischer, regarding Paulo Gonalves and Joan Barreda: why did you change to Honda, as you have your own Speedbrain bike developed?
Fischer: A After developing with Speedbrain a competitive rally machine and showing our capacities, we are very excited to be selected by Honda, the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer, to contribute to the HRC project of racing at Dakar and other rallies. We share one common mission and motivation: success at the Dakar.
Mr. Fischer, are you still with Speedbrain GmbH?
Fischer: Yes, I do remain CEO of Speedbrain and inside the new formation I am the Team Manager for the new HRC Honda Team with Joan Barreda and Paulo Goncalves. The Speedbrain Rally Team with it’s new production racer will take care of customer racing support in a separate structure.
Mr. Fischer, what about Joan and Paulo? Do they have Honda contracts or are they still under Speedbrain contract?
Fischer: The riders are under contract of the new structure and forming a new Team, using resources of Speedbrain. This new HRC Team is managed by myself.
Mr. Fischer, what is your commitment within the HRC Team?
Fischer: Basically what team managers are there for. Handling the day-to-day activities, the organisation and, more broadly speaking, to do our best in every possibly way. Our aim is to represent the Honda brand and our sponsors well and, ultimately, to win the Dakar together with Honda.
Mr. Fischer, are you personally under contract with HRC or is it a Speedbrain/Honda partnership?
Fischer: A part of the former Speedbrain Rally Team forms the new HRC team structure. The riders and the support crew are under contract of this new structure, together with our main sponsor Monster Energy, managed by myself in close co operation with HRC.
Mr. Fischer, why did Honda install a second team? There is one already existing.
Fischer: This decision was taken by HRC Rally General Manager Martino Bianchi. I understand that a double team structure provides us and HRC with more flexibility, operative and also for sponsors. A total of five riders would mean one team is getting too big.
Mr. Fischer, what is your target with the HRC Team?
Fischer: Obviously to win the Dakar with Honda, the most iconic brand in motorcycling.
Mr. Fischer, will Speedbrain still manufacture bikes (independently)?
Fischer: Speedbrain just EC homologated its in-house produced “production racer”, the Speedbrain 450 Rally. This bike will be further produced and is offered for sale or on a leasing basis to customers.
Mr. Fischer, will Speedbrain continue to compete in the remaining world championship races? bike? riders?
Fischer: Speedbrain is participating in selected rallies with their customers on Speedbrain 450 Rally bikes. Paulo Goncalves will still ride Sardegna and Ruta 40 with Speedbrain Bikes. Paulo and Joan Barreda will ride Honda from July on.
Mr. Fischer, how is the future going to look like for Speedbrain and your Stephanskirchen headquarter?
Fischer: The Stephanskirchen headquarter is an ideal location for our operation anyway. The place and all its infrastructrure remain as it is.
Mr. Fischer, how can you describe the team structure of Speedbrain?
Fischer: The Speedbrain Rally Team is an independent team, offering production race rally bikes to customers.
Mr. Fischer, will Speedbrain continue their racing communication programme (web, mail etc.) as in the past?
Fischer: Yes, based on what we have established and, again, the customer racing programme.
Mr. Fischer, who will be the number one rider, what is the strategy for Dakar with two teams?
Fischer: Sorry, but this is too early to speak about. We have five experienced riders for the Dakar in two teams, the goal is to reach the best possible result together.
Mr. Fischer, who will be responsible for the HRC Team racing communication programme?
Fischer: HRC and the team in close collaboration.