Interview with Moto2 Rider Iker Lecuona

Essentially Sports recently reached out to 18-year old Moto2 rider Iker Lecuona. The young Spaniard made his motorcycle racing debut in 2016 as a replacement for an injured Dominique Aegerter. In 2017, he made his full-time Moto2 debut and finished the season in 35th. Lecuona is currently competing in the 2018 Moto2 season alongside British rider Sam Lowes. He currently races for Swiss Innovative Investors racing team with the number #27. The opening round of the season was fairly rocky, with both riders retiring from Qatar. In Argentina, he finished in a career best 11th.

Q1. You made your Grand Prix Motorcycling debut directly in Moto2, before that, where were you racing?

I have started competing in the Liga Inter Escuelas (A league with different racing schools), after this it became the LEM championship (Liga Española de motociclismo ). Then I raced at Cuna de Campeones for a couple of years. In 2015 I raced in super motard Spanish championship winning my category and then directly to European Moto2 championship.

Q2. You are one of the youngest Moto2 riders, does it help in gaining experience for a future MotoGP ride?

Being the youngest rider has its good and bad things. I have arrived here without any experience in road racing and with a lack of laps in the circuits, despite this fact, I am in the top 15, being 2 or 3 years younger than the rest.

Q3. With an experienced teammate in Sam Lowes, Is he a benchmark for your performance, considering his MotoGP experience?

Yes, I agree. At the end is my reference, my team mate and my rival at the end. But on top of everything, he is an incredible team mate. He helps me a lot when I am new on a track and he explains me how to do some of the corners, and that helps me to improve.

Q4. Who inspired you to get into racing?

My father, he used to race and I always liked the bikes so he bought me one.

Q5. In 2019, the FIM will be introducing an all electric racing series, namely Moto E, What are your thoughts on the concept of electric racing bikes?

It is interesting, isn’t it? Mainly the reactions of the audience and the riders that have already tried them. In my particular opinion, I don’t really like them 100% because I love to hear the engine noise, I guess that we have to wait how it will evolve in the near future.