Nyhetsbrev

Kawasaki offisielle nyhetsbrev

5 MINUTTER MED GILLES STAFLER

Gilles Stafler has ‘green blood’ running through his veins, having worked with Kawasaki since 1993 and more recently creating up an impressive series of Championship wins in French Superbike and the Endurance ‘Classics’ with his SRC team.
We have always run the Superbike and Endurance teams side by side, and our victories in both have been very similar. We won the French Supersport title in 2010 and 2012, took the Superbike title every year from 2012 and are leading this year’s series with Gregory LeBlanc. At the same time we have taken the 24H of Le Mans and Bol D’or three times each. To manage both activities is quite intensive, and we must always try to be very organised.

If I have a preference it is for Endurance Racing, because the job is more challenging and the strategy is very important on all levels. To win the Bol or Le Mans is of course a great feeling also.

The most difficult thing is to manage everybody during one whole week of racing and keep them motivated whether they are Mechanics, Staff, Riders or Hospitality. Since 1993 I feel like we have been practicing Endurance Racing; and every year you learn the job a little more. I've been working with the same mechanics and staff for a long time, for me, if you want to win, you must have very stable staff; it's the key.

I raced a long time ago in the legendary RD350LC Cup in 1983. It wasn’t a great success for me, in fact, I realised that I was a better mechanic than a rider.

I always seem to running out of time, which is funny in endurance racing, always we are pushing for the next race or in fact for the next year. I’m passionate about this type of racing which you need to be in this type of job, and want to spread the word!