Karel Abraham: I’m not afraid to open the throttle!

Karel Abraham has joined Tito Rabat in the Reale Avintia squad this year. The Czech rider has been an asset in the paddock for quite some time. We sat down with him in between practice sessions in Assen to talk about riding styles, a tough to handle Ducati and the MotoGP races in general.

Assen is an unmissable event in this sport. I’ve been racing here for many years. I’ve also raced a lot of different lay-outs and I’ve seen the track continuously evolving over the years. It’s a great circuit and I always look forward being here.

Is this a circuit that suits your style?

My style mainly suits fast corners, so I’d say it suits me pretty well apart from turn five, the hairpin before the back straight. That’s one nasty corner I really dislike.

How would you describe your riding style?

I’d say I have a fairly aggressive riding style. I’m definitely not afraid to open the throttle. Nowadays we have traction control, which makes life easier, but even before I had that, I always really pushed the throttle. Because of my aggressive riding style, the rear tyre does most of the heavy lifting.

Our strategy is very straightforward - to collect as many points as we can. That has always been our goal. At this point we’re happy with one, but if we can get more, that would be even better.

How’s the Ducati working out for you? It’s said not to be the easiest bike to ride.

The Ducati is a very particular bike. It’s a really good bike but not everyone can get the hang of it. I personally feel that it really suits my style - some riders have it and others don’t, I guess. For me, though, it works exceptionally well.

It’s an important brand for the sport and it’s a lot more than just the products. The way the brand communicates also adds value to the event. I also just met Sam, the Motul Superfan and I love that idea. It’s an opportunity that gives fans the experience of a lifetime and opens up the sport in a way that is usually impossible.

Do you think the MotoGP races should be more open to the public in general?

Actually, I think they’re doing a pretty good job on that point. I think it’s pretty open and the public has a lot of access. Of course, it’s always something to look into and keep innovating and improving the possibilities. Personally, I think the riders couldn’t really do too much more because our days here at the track are already quite packed.