The single most important factor why you chose Öhlins?
We work in general with the overall equilibrium of the bike and one of the most important things is the position of the centre of the weight – the overall geometry of the bike.
We always test these things when we arrive at the circuit. When this is finished we start working on the spring rate and when this is OK we try to get the hydraulics right on the suspension.
But normally we have a lot of work to do on the overall geometry, electronics and the engine management.
When all these things are OK we start to work on the suspension.
I personally do not find my way around the garage but I have understood that telemetry is a huge help for you to evaluate a race… but how many decisions are still based on the riders’ own feelings?
Especially regarding the hydraulics of the suspension it is difficult to see changes in the telemetric data when you change something on the hydraulics. It is more something that you hear from the feeling of the rider, so the opinion of the rider is very important… not the telemetry data.
We analys a lot of telemetric data for the electronic engine management of the bike, but when it comes to the suspension we follow the opinion of the rider.
Is it hard to be a team manager with so many eager suppliers that constantly come up with new technologies? Any problems keeping the performance stability?
Sometimes yes. We cannot test all the things that we actually can get. A lot of time we have to turn down new parts because we do not have the time to test.
How is it like working with the Öhlins technicians? Are they any different?
It is difficult to say since I haven’t worked directly with the Öhlins technician. He is just like the other members of the the team… he works very good and we don’t have any particular problems with the guy.
What would you like to see more of when it comes to Öhlins and the suspension that is on your bikes? Any dreams that you want Öhlins to deliver for you?
For me it would be very interesting to work on the electronics in the suspension. In the future I think that we have to do this. Some sort of electronic system that controls the bike. Active dampers and active steering dampers. It would be interesting to upgrade the suspension to the computers.
Could you give all bikers that will read this article the three most important parts of a bike that would increase the quality of the ride the most when changed?
The equilibrium of the bike is one of the most important things. It’s no use having a lot of power if you can’t use the engine properly, and then you have to have very good suspension.
What is the greatest thing about being a technical Team coordinator for Ducati Corse?
I never have a normal day, every day is different. I am used to this type of life, now, and I think coming back to a normal office and doing the same things every day would be very difficult.
Yes, but now I don’t have the time because I have a family and I work a lot. But I have two bikes at home. It is one Ducati and a homemade Kawasaki that I built from different bikes.
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