A quick glance at former 125cc Moto GP rider Harry Stafford's Twitter page*, and you'll soon come across the words: 'Is it a race or a chase?'. In truth, the British racer's career has been a story of both so far. I caught up with Harry, to look back, at the present, and to the future of his impressive career on two wheels:
How did you first get into racing/why?
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My dad used to sponsor a racer on a 600 and we were
watching him at Donington Park. They were only using the National Circuit, so
the Melbourne Hairpin wasn’t being used and a mini-moto race meeting was on the
Hairpin. I sat on a bike and said I could ride one of these to my Dad. I was
seven I think.
What happened after that first meeting with a mini-moto
then?
My dad bought me a bike (mini-moto) and I used to ride
it down at the go kart tract at Hindleys Community College (In Shepshed, my and
Harry’s hometown). I think they’re are astro pitches or netball courts now!
Must have been quite a moment when you realised Dad
had got you a mini-moto! Can you remember it?
Yeah there is a store room at the back of the shop and
I went into there and looked to the side of the door and saw it. I couldn’t
believe it because for so long I had loved bikes and now I had my own.
I Bet that moment will stay with you forever! Your
first race/championship win; remember it?
I didn’t win my first championship until 2005 on a
50cc bike. It was a great feeling because I was so dominant in the class and to
know I out rode all of the other riders all year was brilliant.
So after that first championship, was it a case of
doors opening for you in your career? Or did you have to dig deep in terms of
sponsorship/opportunities to carry on your love for racing?
Well I was a factory rider (for Conti) then and they
wanted to keep me for the year after, but for me I wanted to move onto
something bigger and better so that I could move on my career. Sponsorship is
always difficult but when you’re younger the level of sponsorship is much less.
Sounds as if you were eager to move onwards and
upwards through the ranks; would you say it’s that attitude that caught the attention
of Red Bull?
Well I did the trials for Red Bull at the end of 2007
for the 2008 season. I was riding a 125 in the UK at the time so my results got
me to the trials.
Was that in the British 125 Champs?
No just club
at the time.
With Red Bull being such a huge brand with enormous
backing, how did it feel to make it on the international stage? How did you
handle the ‘pressure’ of it all?
I turned up at the first race and there was the huge
hospitality, huge team, loads of people working in the team, racing in Moto GP.
It was all so big and daunting so it took me all season to be settled down and
to be able to ride like me.
Quite a big step up then in terms of the size of it
all off-track then, but did you still have that same enjoyment-factor you got before the Red Bull Rookies (RBR),
when it was visor down, lights out?
Yeah it was a huge step up and the enjoyment went
down. The results were harder to come by and the pressure really started to get
to me so it crossed my mind whether I should give up racing. I thought maybe I
had reached my level but I carried on working hard and the results started to
come.
Having stuck with it, despite a huge crash at Jerez (I
can remember that one!), did you find that with the results starting to pick
up, so did your enjoyment/passion for racing?
Yeah that crash was my first race in my second season
of the RBR. I was battling for the lead at the time so I had improved
massively. I had half the season off to recover so then it was starting from
scratch really building my confidence back and getting the results.
With a string of strong results afterwards, followed
by the graduation to the 125cc World Championship, would you go as far to say
that crash in Spain was a turning point?
Yeah I think so. It made me more mature as a rider
after recovering. My third season in the rookies cup was much more successful
but a little bit of misfortune stopped me challenging for the championship. But
I was ready to move into World Championship Grand Prix racing. Even people like
Kevin Scwantz said I was ready so that was the step I was making next.
Having clearly proved your resolve and talent in the
Rookies, was the jump to GP 125’s a matter of teams falling at your feet, or
did you have to go knocking on doors, and ringing up team managers? Did the
backing of Scwantz help you progress to GP in any way?
Well at this point in my career I realised the reality
of a professional career in motorsport and sport in general, that money speaks
and talent doesn’t come to the fore as much. I had to get a manager and to
search for sponsorship so that I could go race at GP. The costs are
astonishing, but to race at the top level, you have to pay. With the lack of tobacco sponsorship now, this
is the reason it costs so much to the rider.
With so much effort clearly gone into clinching sponsorship,
gaining contacts and promoting yourself as a serious contender for a ride in
the 125’s, would you say that the season itself justified all that time and
effort? Was it a case of ‘living the dream’ or more a case of ‘pressure to
deliver’?
Yeah it was something I had worked for since I use to
imagine being there when I was little. It was so difficult not having the
equipment of the top teams so I had to ride at 100% all the time. It made me a
better rider but it was so demoralising. But it was such an experience travelling
the world and doing what I love.
Have you got a specific favourite memory from that
season with Ongetta Racing?
My favourite memory was probably when I got my first
points. It was at Brno in the Czech Republic and I had problems with my bike in
Qualifying so I qualified 31st. But I had a brilliant race and was
in the battle for 9th, ending up 13th but the change in
result over night was brilliant and I was proud of the team. We showed real
determination.
So after such a brilliant season racing at the highest
level possible around the world, just how hard was it for you this year (2012),
having to take a step back from racing/why?
Well for me to watch it on TV is difficult, but I’ve
had to accept the fact that in sport this happens. Opportunities aren’t easily
come-by and unfortunately I didn’t get an opportunity to race again this
season. But I carry on working hard training, and trying to get back where I
want to be. I did one race in the British Championship and won it, and I’ve
recently done some testing for KTM, so this year hasn’t gone to waste.
Despite these positives taken from 2012, are we right
in saying that a return to full-time racing is the goal for 2013? Is anything
beginning to fall into place?
Yeah
that's the goal. Where I'm going to race I don't know but it would be nice to
be on a competitive bike. I could be doing a lot of testing next year also, so
what I'm doing exactly is unknown. I'll know more in the New Year.
Do you see yourself ever reaching the heights of 2011,
back in the GP?
I
hope to be back there. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and going down a
different route maybe to get there again but it’s possible and I will always do
my best.
Biggest
inspirations?
My
biggest inspiration has got to be Valentino Rossi. He has the skill on the bike
and he has the personality in the paddock to be the people’s champion. I see it
as the way to be the best.
Is
there set of words, or mentality that you have carried throughout your career
so far?
"People
ask me if I will be the next Valentino Rossi or Barry Sheene and I reply 'no', I
will be the first Harry Stafford."
*You can follow Harry on Twitter @HarryStafford21 ,aswell as leaving any questions or comments below.
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