**_If your previous MotoGP heroes staggered a bit in the last few races of 2015, don’t worry, there are still heroic figures in the field. Bradley Smith, for instance. As previous Cycle World and CW.com articles have shown, this young former motocrosser is immensely likable, appreciates his place in life, and is working overtime on the puzzle of winning MotoGP races. He’s been close, and those podium visits fueled his fire.
We asked Bradley to show us his world through articles on CW.com, and he begins Smith Inside with a Q&A at the close of 2015._**
What were the main chassis issues you chased this year?
Surprisingly, the biggest issue I chased this year was overloading the front tire. When I say that, I basically mean squashing the front tire too much on braking and corner entry. Obviously, this doesn't allow you to release the brakes early and really makes your roll speed suffer. I was maxed-out from winter testing on chassis adjustment, so I had to figure out small improvements through bike balance and riding style. But this problem was always there, especially at the beginning of races.
How much do you change the bike from what you first get?
Yamaha gives each rider a base setting based on calculated formulas of rider height, weight, and previous setting info. We usually change the bike a lot during the winter tests to gain knowledge about the motorcycle and what works for the rider and what doesn't. The two 45-minute sessions soon disappear during a Friday at a MotoGP weekend, so knowing your motorcycle is crucial. If you've done your job right during testing, you should only be making fine adjustments at the race track: preload, spring, compression clickers and ride height.
What were you working on in your riding?
This year, more than anything, I really focused on Bradley off the bike instead of Bradley on the bike. My fitness was solid, but more importantly, my attitude was solid. I worked calm and without pressure during winter testing and the results came; the lap times got faster and the newfound Bradley was working. So I transferred that same process to the race season and, well, 18 point-scoring finishes speak for themselves.
Are you satisfied with your improvement on those issues?
Obviously I am pleased that I improved my attitude, but then again it's something a 25-year-old should be able to do. The proudest part of this season was learning and understanding every important part of my electronics package. I took it upon myself to learn as I was being joined by a brand-new electronics guy. Max was 26 years old and had only one year experience in Moto2; on paper that made me very nervous (I didn't read up on his previous years before racing, silly me!). Turns out he is very clever, and with my new understanding and his drive to learn MotoGP, we actually started using different set-up maps before the factory team. If people listened in to our debrief they would be so confused, but we have it down pat.
What was your worst finish and what contributed to it?
My worst finish of this season was actually Phillip Island. I turned up there after having a podium the year before in 2014 and qualifying P4. To be honest, I think the main issue was that the team and I thought it would be straightforward; put our base setting in and away we go (bear in mind that our base setting had worked for the first 15 races). Well, it didn't go quite as I planned. With the extra-extra-hard rear tire, grip was just not there. Our usual small changes were not working. Our big changes just confused me even more. A high-side on entry in FP4 did not help my cause either!
In the end it was a 10th and an extremely hard-fought one at that. I was thinking about what I could have done differently the whole of that next week, then I bumped into Petrucci in the paddock and he was like, "Oh man, you had smoke coming off your tire and everything! I could see you sitting back like a dirt-tracker and still the thing wouldn't hook up." Those words made me feel a lot better.
What, specifically, are Pedrosa, Rossi, Marquez, and Lorenzo doing better than you?
To be honest I can't comment on Marc or Dani because I can't see their data. Jorge is still riding so much smoother than me, less energy for the same lap time, which means he is able to squeeze more out in qualifying and the opening laps of the race. Valentino is still passing people a lot better than me. He can pass pretty much anywhere he wants and that's something he uses to get out of his bad qualifying grid spot.
How much better are their factory bikes?
It’s always difficult to put a number on this question, and I don't want to be "That Guy" who sits here and says, "Give me a factory bike and I'm going to kill it next season." But facts are facts and here are my thoughts: The last two years when I have tried the factory bike at the end of the season winter test in Valencia, 1) It always fixes what I've been suffering with all season, and 2) It always brings my lap times on par or less than 0.25-second off the factory riders. On race pace and best lap I am not saying that I would beat #99 and #46, but I believe I could finish closer to them and learn more and progress to the next level more quickly.
What are the three biggest challenges of racing a MotoGP bike?
How physical it is, especially now with the bikes and tires and competition. Everybody rides at such a high level and training is harder than it’s ever been. You really have to tick every box: training, nutrition, and recovery.
How was your first test on Michelin tires? How did they feel compared to the Bridgestones?
My first test in Valencia with Michelins was mistake-free and I gained a lot of interesting data. I had ridden on them on three previous occasions: Sepang, Brno, and Aragon. Each time the tires were improving, and it was great to see the progression. My thoughts about chassis direction turned out to be correct, and we really ran through an extensive program on both my 2015 race bike and then moved onto my 2016 race bike. If I need to compare to Bridgestone, I would compare the front: Turning just got a lot easier with the Michelin, but with that comes a smaller contact patch and a smaller platform, so the front tire is catching riders out.
More Next Tuesday, and more Smith Inside soon!