My Bike and I

Gregorio Lavilla , riding for the Airwaves Ducati team in the British Superbike Championships 2005

Gregorio Lavilla, riding for the Airwaves Ducati team in the British Superbike Championships 2005

When did you start racing? In the 1991 Spanish Championship on a 75cc Derbi in the classic class.

How did you get involved in the sport? Near where I live there's a racetrack called Calafat.I was there watching a friend one day and I took a go on his bike and did some laps. I realised I was good, so I thought why not have a go at racing.

Your first machine? A Montesa Cota 25cc when I was 4 years old. My dad was always interested in bikes and I always had motorcycles since as far back as I can remember.

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Your current machine? A Ducati 999cc.

Do you have a road bike? Yes, a Ducati, of course. I use it to get around just during the summer because the Spanish roads get very busy and it's too hot to drive a car.

Are you interested in any other motorsport? Yes, I like all sports in general and I follow some of my friends riding in other disciplines such as the Enduro World Championships and the Dakar Rallye.

How do you keep fit for racing? I do many things, sometimes too much and I don't have time for it all. Riding my dirt bikes, cycling, working out at the gym and soccer keep me in good shape.

Is Superbike racing is a dangerous sport? It's certainly higher risk than other sports, but I don't think it's dangerous if you do in the correct way.

How did you become involved in the British Superbikes (BSB)? I was racing in the Spanish Championships on a 250cc bike and I found it very difficult to get sponsorship. When I got an offer to race Ducati in Italy I took it and that was the start of my superbike career.

Ever had any accidents? Accidents are part of the job. Sometimes they are silly crashes and other times they are more painful - but the joy of victory compensate for them all.

Your biking hero? They're not really biking heroes but I respect an awful lot what Wayne Rayne and Mike Doohan did for this sport.

What keeps you motivated? The ambition to win gets all my attention.

Congratulations on your victory in Round 5 of the BSB in Mondello. What's next? Thank you - Mondello was very good for the team and I was happy with our result. You never know what's going to happen next. I have a long season ahead in the BSB with a lot of races.

What's your long-term ambition? To become a World Champion and win the World Series.

For more information on the British Superbike Championships go to www.britishsuperbike.com