Interview: Kevin Schwantz, 1993 500cc World Champion

ZigWheels: You started riding motorcycles at a very young age, at 4. How did that happen?

Kevin Schwantz: My parents own a motorcycle dealership, so there have always been motorcycles around me. Like every young kid who learns to walk and then fools around with bikes, I also wanted one. The only difference is I wanted a bike with a motor which would go ‘vroom’ and that’s how it all started.

ZW: Kevin, you were more of a dirt rider in your early years. How did you get into professional road racing from motocross?

Schwantz: My first racing story goes, I had graduated high school, as a kid I was required to work at the dealership. I couldn’t go riding, couldn’t go training, I couldn’t be as fit as some of the guys who were part of factory supported teams in motocross. So, my buddy said, let’s go road racing, why don’t you try that.  I was as fast as the two guys who had been racing for 6-8-10 years, so I thought maybe I should give it a shot. So I asked my parents if I could get a motorcycle and go road racing, and they were like, ‘yeah, absolutely’. In the season of ’84, I was an amateur, and I went from club racing as a novice to being supported by Suzuki. It all happened really quick, I never had the time to really think about it

ZW: So, does riding on dirt make a better racer?

Schwantz: I don’t think dirt track background is needed now. Because when the bikes go sideways, the electronics cover it up, saves the rider.  You know you can fiddle with the maps a little bit nowadays, but more or less, that bike is basically going to stay the same the entire race. Back in the day, Suzuka 1991 race, I think, I got a good start, which was unusual for me, and my bike was horrible. My bike went from horrible in the beginning to really good by the end of the race. Everybody else was really good the first half of the race and they started to struggle the second half of the race.  So, I’m going faster and they are slowing down.

ZW: What is the difference in racing in your time and now?

Schwantz: If you were a racer back in the day and you have to ride something electronic like nowadays, you’d have to go and try and learn to become a racer again, because all the techniques I used to use, figure out how to get past somebody… You know, now everybody gets on the gas at the same time, the electronics do the same stuff coming on, everybody gets on the brakes at the same time, everybody’s on the same tyres. So few variables out there, so I guess it’s just up to you to move the person out of the way. We needed to do that too, in our time but not as often.

ZW: Coming to MotoGP, what are your thoughts on having a single tyre manufacturer?

Schwantz: I think it is ridiculous. It’s racing at the top level, and it’s like, just because Formula One does it, we gotta do it too. The feeling is it’s gonna save money. But it’s not gonna save money. It’s dumbed down racing, it’s made racing worse. I think when I raced, you’d be surprised if you could ever find a race where Rainey, Doohan and I, all three on Michelins, ever used the same front and rear tyre. The Honda was harder on the rear tyre, the Yamaha always seemed to run better on softer tyres, they could go early or use the tyres in the middle of the race like we used to do, which is good and consistent start to finish.

ZW: Why do you think there are so many Spanish and Italian riders in MotoGP?

Schwantz: If you want to get into MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, Spain and Europe is the place to be in. All the races are held in Europe, so it’s financially very difficult for say, an Australian or an American to move there, move your entire family to Europe.

ZW: This year’s championship, the last few races have been in tricky conditions. Do you see the Championship being decided in the last few races?

Schwantz: I do. What I said a race ago, was that four of the last five could be any kind of weather. Malaysia, Japan, Australia, you don’t know what to expect any of those places. Valencia could just as easy be wet too. And I think that tricky conditions favour Rossi.

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ZW: What do you think of the Gixxer Cup?

Schwantz: The Gixxer Cup is a series that races in tracks here, where young kids can get a start without huge expense, financially it’s not a big cash-out for riders participating in the Gixxer Cup. That’s what we need in America. Stuff like the Gixxer Cup is a classic example of what is needed there where kids can start learning the ropes to get into the big league. It’s a great platform for kids to start racing and learning to race to get into professional racing.

ZW: Lastly, what are your thoughts on the Buddh International Circuit?

Schwantz: I kinda liked it. I enjoyed the layout. I like the elevation, I like the tight turn 3, I like the downhill, you go up and come back down into the corner. It is similar to the Austin track, it gives you the sensation of going up the hill. So yeah, some similarities with Austin are there.  I enjoyed riding here at this track.