Ten Questions Challenge – Johan Fredriks

Ten Questions Challenge – Johan Fredriks

Twice championship runner up within the IRRC Superbike series, leading Dutch road racer Johan Fredriks is the next rider to take part in Road Racing News, ten questions challenge.

Johan’s answers to the popular series of questions, are as follows:

Q1: Favourite National Roads Meeting?

“For me that would be Frohburg for mutliple reasons. Apart from the fact that I love this track with its high speeds and fluent corners, I have a long and good history in Frohburg. I have been riding there each year since 2006 and the last 4 years I was almost always riding for top results.

This track suits me well but I also like the atmosphere, the spectators and the organisation. Also it is the last race of the season, that gives it something extra special.

But of course all of the other IRRC events are also special in their own way. Imatra because its so exotic, Hengelo because it’s my hometrack and because of the superb organisation, Chimay because of the layout and Horice both because of the layout and spectators.”

Q2: Favourite Racing Bike?

“I think that 500cc two strokes are the ultimate racing bikes. I was lucky enough to have raced a few of them. For example, last year I participated in a classic race in Chimay on a 500 Konig from 1972.

The sound, the characteristics, its just amazing. I also rode last year in a demo race on the Honda 500 3 cylinder and Suzuki RG500 from the 1980’s.

Regarding the modern day bikes I’m riding at present, I obviously like the ZX10R (Kawasaki) very much, I think it is the fastest stock bike in terms of horsepower, its also a very stable bike and offers good mechanical grip.

The only disadvantage is, is that it is more difficult to ride compared to for example a BMW S1000RR. Everyone can go fast on a S1000RR but once you have the click with the ZX10R you can be just as fast or even faster. In that sense its a real racing bike.”

Q3: What’s the best part of competing on the roads?

“I think the atmosphere, both on and of the track is one big adventure. You go to places you would never go to, you get into contact with people you would never get in contact with, and on the bike you experience things you would never experience with something else.

So it’s a combination of multiple extraordinary things that make it so special.”

Q4: TT, North West 200 or Ulster Grand Prix?

“I only have experience with the North West 200, so I cannot really judge the other events.

I really liked the North West, I have also heard it’s the biggest or one of the biggest sports events in Ireland and I can imagine this is true.

The first few laps were actually quite frightening on the 1000, you cant compare it to any other form of racing. I learned quickly and eventually managed to get some decent results.

I can imagine that the TT is of another level, because the track is the longest, because the event lasts 2 weeks, because of the history and tradition and because it must be the most epic of all road races.”

Photo by Rod Neill

Q5: Most Respected Rival?

“Didier Grams. Because he is a good rider and a fighter on the track, but also because he is a very good bloke off the track.

He knows very well what true sportsmanship means and I admire that he has been riding for such a long time at a very good level.”

Q6: Best roads moment thus far?

“There are so many good roads moments that I have had. I really liked the battles I have had in Frohburg with Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter and other guys of the same status.

But winning the race at a wet Hengelo with an advantage of 13 seconds over former Moto GP rider Sebastien Le Grelle was also a great experience.”

Q7: Is their one place or country in the world, where you would like to see a roads meeting held?

“Yes, I think Vila Real in Portugal would be a great place. I have seen footage of the races there in the 1980’s and I think it would be sensational to have a road race over there nowadays.”

Q8: Who’s your road racing hero?

“All of the road racers are heroes, but I think I have the most respect for Michael Rutter.

He seems to be a very intelligent rider who prefers to go fast based on riding skills instead of taking risks.

The fact that he is on top of this game for such a long time and at so many different tracks, and in many disciplines is remarkable.”

Q9: Supersport or Superbike?

“Superbike, because a Superbike is so fast and has brutal acceleration. Also for me a Superbike suits my style better.

I have to say that the horsepower doesn’t make you necessarily faster in terms of laptimes, often the difference is just a second or two between Superbike and Supersport. But the thrill of riding a Superbike definitely beats riding a Supersport 600 in my opinion.”

Q10: Pole position or fastest lap?

“That’s a good question. I think fastest lap, because it’s a sign that you are on a good level in a race.

If someone uses a qualifier in qualification he might set the pole position but it doesn’t mean he will also have the right pace for the race.

That said, at our national roads events its important to be up front from the start in order to have a chance of winning the races.”

Words by Stevie Rial

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