Loris Baz is the only Frenchman on the grid this year, and will be the centre of attention for his home race at Le Mans this weekend. Baz was present at the pre-race conference to speak about the upcoming event in front of his home crowd.
As a child, Baz attended Le Mans where he witnessed some of his heroes as they rode on the historic circuit. Baz reflected on this as he spoke of how great it feels to be able to join them.
“I remember when I was coming as a child to watch the GP and push Randy [De Puniet] riding in the 250s. I remember this really well and now I’m really happy because I’m in the other part, I’m on the grid with these guys. It’s just an amazing feeling and I know where I come from and manage to enjoy it a lot.”
The best result achieved by the Ducati rider this season has been a thirteenth place finish at the fourth round at the Circuit de Jerez, Spain. He gained three points, add this to the one point he gained when he finished fifteenth at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, he currently sits in nineteenth in the championship. This is as a result of crashing out of the first two rounds of the season at Qatar and Argentina.
“Of course we had some problems at the beginning of the season, we were able to score some important positions in Argentina and Texas but we were missing some luck, especially in Argentina. In the end this is racing and I was maybe in the wrong place at the wrong moment.”
Baz was disappointed in his last performance at Jerez which spoiled his race. However, being at home he is remaining optimistic.
“Also in Jerez where I was in an incident in Turn 6 so I had to start from last again and this changes the whole race. Nobody is waiting for you. Hopefully I can score the first top ten this weekend, that’s the target.”
Baz’s appearance at the press conference came after he spent the previous day at the Chateau de Lude, Sarthe, with riders Tito Rabat, Johann Zarco, Alexis Masbou, Niccolo Antonelli and Fabio Quartararo. They were able to experience life during the Renaissance, where they explored the 10th-century building and its surroundings in period dress learning the history of the location occupied by the Countess Barbara De Nicholay and her family for 260 years.
