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Simon Crafar, 42 years of age from Waiouru in New Zealand, is a former international calibre rider who took part full-time in World Superbike from 1994 to 1997 as well as a few sporadic appearances from 1989 to 1993 and in 2000. In his Superbike career he scored six podium finishes, five of which in 1997 on a factory Kawasaki, finishing fifth overall. This year Crafar has a dual role within the SBK paddock: on the one hand he is the coach for the newly-created European Junior Cup, the one-make series that gives a chance to youngsters to square up on the track on Kawasaki Ninja 250R machines, and on the other he is team manager of the Racedays Kawasaki team in the European Superstock 600 Championship, which fields the young American Josh Day, third on the podium at Monza. In this interview with WorldSBK.com, Crafar takes a look at the two championships in which he is involved and gives his view of the 2011 World Superbike season.


Your team, Racedays Kawasaki, had a fantastic week-end at Monza, with Josh Day scoring his first podium finish in Superstock 600. Did you expect that so soon?
"Yes, we all expected Josh to do that well. The reason we believe in Josh so much is that we have seen that if his equipment is up to it, and he learns the track, he is as fast as anyone. We believe he can win races, so yes I expected him to go this well, just not from 14th on the grid as he did in Monza!"


Josh Day seems to be a very good combination of speed, talent and focus...
"Again these are the things we liked about Josh when we first saw him. He is a worker and a real gentleman also."


"What about the European Junior Cup? How is the championship coming along?
"Great. It's having small teething problems like any series. A few people were scared to pay their money and enter the first year in case it did not happen and so the grid is a bit smaller than we had hoped for - but this is normal when something is new and as it is a long term project, the organizer took the commitment and it's looking great for the future. It's the perfect start point for a young racer. 19,000 Euro gets you entries to the races, a new bike prepared to the identical spec as all the others in the race, transport for the machine to all the races, tyres and fitting, fuel, leather suit, helmet, gloves, boots etc, a work station and tools at the circuits, bike servicing during the season, and help with the riding technical and safety side from me.. All you have to do is turn up with your 1 x helper and go racing at beautiful European tracks in front of the WSB fans. Then, at the end of the season, you keep your bike and gear. Incredible value for money, no? Now I finally realize what I put my friends and family through with my racing. I am working closely with Josh Day and all the young EJC competitors so when they line up for a race I worry about them getting hurt. Riders don't realize how stressful/emotional it is for the people who care about them. Racers just think 'what are you worrying about, I am the one riding it?'


You're a former World SBK rider and a race winner. What's your opinion about the season so far?
"That Aprilia was fast at Monza. The Duke sure was slow, so Carlos will be happy to go back to some tighter tracks. Makes a change. Dukes were always fast in the past with the capacity advantage. I was very happy for Eugene Laverty (another real gentleman) and sorry for all the boys taken out in the first corner incident of heat two at Monza. The Yamahas looked good there and I am happy for Andrea Dosoli (the Yamaha WSB team manager) to have this success in his first year. I was an Ohlins technician for Andrea in 2001. He is a very good man and I imagine there is a good atmosphere in that team. I have many friends in the WSB and Supersport Championship. Of course I want them all to do well, but mostly I am happy to have them as friends and I prefer them to not get hurt."



Source: World Superbike

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