Pit Beirer interview

Pit Beirer was a very happy man on Saturday night in Qatar. Having watched his boys Antonio Cairoli and Pauls Jonass win everything, and head to round two of the MXGP and MX2 championships with the red-plates, its little wonder he was smiling.

Always one of the most popular figures in the GP paddock, the former GP winner, and now Motorsports Director of KTM spoke to MXlarge about his rider’s performances, and also gave us a little information on the fact the US beef lobby is pushing the government to put an outrageously heavy tax on European-built motorcycles sold in America, to the tune of 100 percent of a bike’s sale price.

MXlarge: Pit, obviously it isn’t great how Jeffrey feels, with his injury, but Antonio and Pauls won, which is good, how do you feel about the weekend?

Beirer: I feel very good. I know the work in the background, from the team at home and the riders in the winter and it’s nice to get the payback from the very first grand prix like this. I know that everybody was well prepared for this weekend, only Jeffrey who got the set-back two weeks ago, but we were confident that our package was good and the bike has made a step forward from last year, but you are never sure until you get to the first GP, but we were happy and confidence. We go away with four heat wins; how can I not be happy.

MXLarge: Did you ever have a little bit of question on if Antonio was finished?

Beirer: I think I had an interview on mxlarge, I told you I didn’t believe it was the end of the road. I knew he has two bad injuries and they were holding him back. Sport is brutal, you are either there, or you are not there. There is no credit if you are not fit. If you are not 100% then the other guys catch you, you can’t have the smallest disadvantage. I mean of course there is a risk with a rider around 30 that they can go downhill, but I knew if Tony was fit, he would come back strong. That is also why we made a new contact with him, after already one year of struggling with injuries, because I still trusted him, and today he gave us the pay-back.

MXlarge: Changing the subject, the whole thing with high taxing of the European motorcycles in America. What is your opinion on that?

Beirer: I mean, it’s a difficult situation, because we have to pay a high price when meat import goes against bike import, effecting definitely KTM against all motorcycle manufactures, but I know there have been very positive meetings and we are hoping there is a good solution. It was the highest level of politics and they work day and night with good arguments. I hope it works out, because racing and business, it isn’t fair that one global player is effected and the others are not.

MXLarge: If they taxed you like they say, is it worth while KTM being in America?

Beirer: You should know, from knowing me for so many years, that I always see the positive, so we don’t see the negative now and we just look at the positives and I believe KTM should be in America, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be.

Ray Archer images