It’s been a rollercoaster 12 months for Joe Roberts. Having learned last summer that he’d missed out on a MotoGP seat for 2025, his Moto2 title challenge was extinguished when he broke the scaphoid bone in his left wrist in October.
Recovery was slow. And the 28-year-old realized the class had evolved in his absence. Throw in an enforced crew chief change, due to Mario Martini’s health concerns, and it’s understandable why the American endured a slow start to the year.
Yet Roberts was back to his best in Czechia over the weekend, where he claimed a third Grand Prix victory. Cycle News spoke to the Californian after Sunday’s win.
On his latest win…
“The last four races I’ve really been finding my feeling back on track,” Roberts said. “I almost feel better than last year when I was in my best form. A lot of things in the team have turned around, and I’m very excited for the rest of the season.”
On the past year…
“It’s been a tough 12 months,” Roberts admitted. “Last year, we showed our full potential. Injuries that were my fault really set us back. As a rider, you build a lot of confidence going into the next season. We knew what I could do in this championship. But I had a rude awakening at the first test. Not only has the level gone up. My wrist was just not there. I couldn’t ride the bike the way it needs to be ridden.
“The style in Moto2 has changed compared to last year—now it’s much more about how you use the rear tire compared to the front. The front tire is smaller [for 2025] and more on the limit, especially with the softer rubber we get on the rear. I feel I had to slow down everything, rethink how I’m riding this bike, and get this new style that I started seeing with a lot of the other guys.
“I’ve never worked so hard with the data, studying other riders, than I did this year. It was very easy to panic at the start of the season and think we’d never reach this point again. But my team stayed calm. It’s so nice to come back to win and in a dominant way.”
On how he’s recently adapted his riding style…
“When you get the [super soft Pirelli] SC-X tire, that first touch of throttle is so crucial,” Roberts said. “That’s what I was lacking with my wrist. I didn’t have that fluid motion at the start of the year—it was more locked up. You need to feel that first touch. When I’ve studied the data from Manu [Gonzalez, Moto2 championship leader], the amount of lean angle he has and the amount of throttle he’s using is impressive. It’s something I didn’t see last year.”
On how this win compares to his other two…
“I love all the wins I had!” Roberts enthused. “But this one definitely means the most, considering what we’ve been through recently. When I saw they put this track on the calendar, I said, ‘I’m fricken’ winning Brno!’ And this morning, too, I said, ‘This is my race.’ ”
On his MotoGP dreams…
“I’m signed to Moto2 next year, but if a MotoGP ride comes around, I’m still available for that,” Roberts said. “I believe I’m fast enough to be in MotoGP. If I had the chance this year, I think I could’ve showed it. I’ve always felt my riding style suits a bigger bike anyway. So, I haven’t given up on that dream. I have targets in mind for the rest of the season, and I want to hit them.”
Read the 2025 Czech Republic MotoGP News and Results article here.
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