MotoGP: Redding under no illusions for home race

Scott Redding says he’s going into his home race under no illusions about how easy the weekend is going to be for him, after a tough year so far on the factory Aprilia machine. Launching a furious outburst after last weekend’s race in Austria against the Italian factory, he admitted that this weekend is going to be one of his toughest ever home races.

“Every time I get on the bike its different. There’s always a problem with something, every weekend. I’ve tried to accept it and deal with it, but it’s a disaster at the moment and I’m not happy with it. This weekend was a reality check for me, and just riding around like that hurts.

‘You can’t make a piece of sh*t shine’

“Now I have to go to the next round at Silverstone, smile in front of everyone and say I’m going to do a good performance – and it’s all bullsh*t. You can’t do anything. You can’t make a piece of sh*t shine, but that’s what I’m trying to do. I know it sounds harsh and that I shouldn’t say it, but that’s what it is. You’re trying to make something average be better.”

The silver lining for him, though, is going into the race knowing that it’s most likely his final home MotoGP race (at least for now). Keen to mix it all up this season and enjoy his swansong as much as possible, he says he’s out to have the best weekend that he can with his fans. 

‘It’s going to be the biggest party of the season’

“It’s going to be the biggest party of the season – before, during and after the race! If it’s my last year in MotoGP then it needs to be special. I’ve been trying to have more atmosphere around all of my races this year, and I think that can be even better at Silverstone. It’s always nice to see the fans, to see more and more of them every year, and it’ll just be nice to be there.

“I was thinking about doing a special helmet or something similar, but if you’re not going to challenge for the victory then what’s the point? It’s nicer when you can back it up with a win, like I did in Moto2. The only thing is that you do things like that for a reason, because it gives you the five percent more on Sunday that you need to win the race. That’s going to be difficult on this beast unless it’s raining!”

Pick up this week’s MCN for an extensive, 36-page British Grand Prix preview featuring exclusive interviews with Rossi, Marquez and Lorenzo, a hot lap with Cal Crutchlow and the tech secrets between Marquez’ championship-leading Honda.

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