CBRWorld.net

Just reply to this posts with comments, suggestions, questions, ideas, or anything else you would like to ask or share with Miguel and, either him directly or through me asking him, you'll get your reply .

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Mario Sobral

Hi Miguel,

Thanks for spending time with us on our little corner of the internet 

Here are some questions for you (in no particular order):

• What do you think is the best way for an amateur racer to gain exposure to "bigger" race teams and get into the professional realm of racing??  (Obviously, winning is one way but what else can a racer do?)
• Do you still ride the street?  Or do you find that riding street inteferes with your racing style?
• Being a world-class racer, I'm assuming you're on the road a lot.  What percentage of the time do you get to spend at home?
• Here in the US, many professional athletes have clauses in their contracts that prevent them from participating in "dangerous" activities.  Do racers at your level have similar stipulations??
• What is your favorite track?  Why?
• What do you feel you need to do to get to the next level (besides win)???
• When you reach a stumbling block in your riding (e.g. no improved lap times), what do you do to overcome that obstacle?

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badfish '05 600RR Purple/Black

can you actually make a real living being a factory backed professional racer? (i know you're not, but would you know?). i'm more curious how much they really make, not just race wins but maybe factory contracts.

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"Leaders are like tea; put them in hot water to find out how strong they are." Anonymous

Miguel didn't have time to reply in english (he does speak it, but writing is always harder and more time consuming) so he emailed me the replies in Portuguese, which I add already translated below:

abadfish:

Hi Miguel,

Thanks for spending time with us on our little corner of the internet 

Here are some questions for you (in no particular order):

• What do you think is the best way for an amateur racer to gain exposure to "bigger" race teams and get into the professional realm of racing??  (Obviously, winning is one way but what else can a racer do?)

I think you should take extra care with the image of your team, so that sponsors see in you a good investment, even if results aren't the best. Sponsors these days must identify with the riders and so they (the riders) must reflect the image that the sponsor wants to pass across. At least try to get noticed in one race with a good result, so that you're also known for your speed.

abadfish:

• Do you still ride the street?  Or do you find that riding street inteferes with your racing style?

I don't ride on the street anymore, so I don't have to ride slow . I do have a KTM 525 Supermoto for practicing.

abadfish:

Being a world-class racer, I'm assuming you're on the road a lot.  What percentage of the time do you get to spend at home?

I have an airport (Faro) really close to home, so in a month 2 weeks are spent away from home.

abadfish:

• Here in the US, many professional athletes have clauses in their contracts that prevent them from participating in "dangerous" activities.  Do racers at your level have similar stipulations??

Yes, it's very usual to have clauses like that. Fortunately, I don't .

abadfish:

• What is your favorite track?  Why?

Laguna Seca. It's different from any other track in the world !

abadfish:

• What do you feel you need to do to get to the next level (besides win)???

I need to practice much more, and to have the support of a team according to my objectives and needs.

abadfish:

• When you reach a stumbling block in your riding (e.g. no improved lap times), what do you do to overcome that obstacle?

See previous response.

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Mario Sobral

high_revs:

can you actually make a real living being a factory backed professional racer? (i know you're not, but would you know?). i'm more curious how much they really make, not just race wins but maybe factory contracts.

I am currently being paid to race, altough I am not a factory backed rider. My time is totally dedicated to the races, and I really wouldn't have time to do anything else. I know that the top riders make a lot of money, but I don't know how much...

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Mario Sobral

I took the chance to ask Miguel some questions too :-)

"Hi Mario, sorry for the delay in replying to you, I'm still recovering from a bruised rib from that fall in the warm-up."

1) Miguel, tell us what parts and gear you have, what is on your bike ?

"Front forks and rear suspension are WP units, I have got Braking brake disks and for braking pads I use Performance Friction.
I currently wear a SHOEI X Spirit helmet, Oxtar boots and Spyke racing leather suit and gloves"

3) Another subject that surfaces now is the advantages of having a slipper clutch in a 600 cc bike. Do you think it brings a real advantage ?

"Without a doubt ! The slipper clutch is essential for stable hard braking and fast corner entry, be it a 600 or a 1000 cc bike."

Thanks Miguel !!!

I hope these questions and respective replies also make other members curiosity about those racing bikes surface, and bring more questions for Miguel .

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Mario Sobral

What tires are you running, and at what pressures?

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"I'm sorry our president is an idiot. I didn't vote for him."

B/Y 04 F4i - CW fender eliminator, Clear Alternatives signal integrator, Watsen Design LED front signals, Vortex frame sliders, LP dark smoke windscreen, Micron high mount CF exhaust, DG8 gear indicator, GPR stabilizer, Galfer SS brake lines, Öhlins PRCLS rear, PCIIIr, Custom map, Pazzo adjustable levers.

SoCal_F4i:

What tires are you running, and at what pressures?

"They're Pirelli Super Corsa. I am running 1.9 on the rear tire and 2.1 on the front"

 

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Mario Sobral

Admin:

SoCal_F4i:

What tires are you running, and at what pressures?

"They're Pirelli Super Corsa. I am running 1.9 on the rear tire and 2.1 on the front"

 

ok. this is probably dense, but, 1.9 and 2.1 what?  in america, we always talk about PSI (pounds per square inch), and the values usually range from 32-38, depending on whether you're on the track or just out on the street.

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"I'm sorry our president is an idiot. I didn't vote for him."

B/Y 04 F4i - CW fender eliminator, Clear Alternatives signal integrator, Watsen Design LED front signals, Vortex frame sliders, LP dark smoke windscreen, Micron high mount CF exhaust, DG8 gear indicator, GPR stabilizer, Galfer SS brake lines, Öhlins PRCLS rear, PCIIIr, Custom map, Pazzo adjustable levers.

You can use this table to convert from PSI to BAR:

http://www.britishmetrics.com/html/pis-bar.htm

Basically, rear is 1.9 = 28 PSI and front is 2.1 = 31 PSI

 

 

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Mario Sobral

Hi Miguel,
I wasnt able to get into motorcyle racing until just recently (22) and was wondering if you know any of your competitors that got a late start into racing and still succeeded in getting to your level of compitition?

Also was wondering as a racer do you have fun every session out there (with the exceptions of crashes and mechanicals) or do some sessions just seem like work?

Hi !

I already forwarded your question to Miguel, but he's in Assen right now, participating in the Dutch race event. Once he replies, I'll post it here, ok ?

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Mario Sobral

fullmetalf4i:

Hi Miguel,
I wasnt able to get into motorcyle racing until just recently (22) and was wondering if you know any of your competitors that got a late start into racing and still succeeded in getting to your level of compitition?

Also was wondering as a racer do you have fun every session out there (with the exceptions of crashes and mechanicals) or do some sessions just seem like work?

Here's what he had to say (I just translated from Portuguese):

"Naturally that the sooner you get into racing, the better, but there are many great racers that started quite late their careers and still reached the top just like those that started earlier. It's all about dedication and talent.

It's normal that, when there is lots of pressure to get good results, races stop being just a nice pleasure and start to be a job too. You then have obligations with the team and sponsors, but if your results are able to match what you and your team expect and desire, I assure you that it becomes the BEST job in the world."

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Mario Sobral