It’s been very good and I definitely remember that day, typical Le Mans weather started the race out dry and by the end it was raining a lot. Conditions were very difficult and it was a great race, standing on top of the podium and beating everyone else there.

It’s been a slow start to the season, on the top of a sluggish finish last year, where is the team at?

I think the team has a done a great job this year and I think the biggest thing is that it’s MotoGP, the elite of motorcycle racing. You know some of the other manufacturers have taken bigger steps forward then we have right now, I think there is a lot of potential in the bike. We were quite quick in the last few GP’s early on in the weekend and for whatever reason we haven’t had great results because of some issues with the bike.

Are you satisfied you can be competitive in 08?

Yeah definitely. That’s the thing you know, there’s a lot of riders out there who have won championship races and it’s never easy. I think we can be competitive and I’m looking forward to this next part of the season when we get into full swing in Europe. You know five races in seven weeks and I think we can step on the podium more frequently.

You’ve had a couple of things go wrong, things that shouldn’t happen. That must be hard to accept?

You could say that. The first one was a Bridgestone tyre that was faulty and in the last race in China it was a very rare thing where a chain and sprocket, for whatever reason, malfunctioned and the chain dropped off. It wasn’t very good for me I didn’t get to finish the race. It’s a real shame, but I know a factory like Suzuki won’t let that happen again and they’ll be doing everything possible to make the bike better for Le Mans.

Did you feel any added pressure after winning in LeMan and then having the success in the states?

No not at all. I knew that I could win at this level. Last year we had four podiums, two second places which were close to wins and I’ve been quick in all conditions dry, hot, pouring with rain, so I knew that I could do it myself, I just want to do it a lot more now.

Suzuki must expect more now?

Yeah definitely. From a factory point of view they expect more, but they also realise we need the equipment to do it and right now we’ve had two non-finishes out of four races , but I’m sure as soon as we get things right they’ll expect good results and so will I. Hopefully I can deliver.

These next few races will make or break your year. What are your thoughts on the next six weeks?

I’m really looking forward to Le Mans. Obviously it’s a circuit I go back to where I won last year. Then we go to Mugello which is a real classic circuit, it’s not a circuit I’m real comfortable with at the moment. I’ve been there twice and it’s very difficult to learn, a blind circuit, it’s bumpy and the Italians go well there. Then we head to Barcelona which is a track I’ve been quick at. I’m really looking forward to that race. Then we go to Donington in England, a track I know very well, I’ve been quick there in wet and dry. Then to Assen, Sachesring and then Laguna Seca. Obviously a few tracks there I go well at. So I am looking forward to this next part of the season, but the races are so close anything can happen. If we are struggling with certain parts on the bike it’s very difficult for the factory to make new parts and bring them to the next race because they are so close together, but saying that I’m sure we’ll be competitive and I’m looking forward to it.

You’ve never been not competitive at Laguna on all sorts of bikes. Will that be the same in 08.

I think so yeah. The Suzuki worked really well there the last couple of years and I really enjoy the circuit. Just looking forward to going back there again.

What’s the future hold for you?

I’m not sure. Still in MotoGP, on a competitive machine, still at Suzuki and winning lots of races.