Tuesday Conversation: Cameron Beaubier

Two years ago, Cameron Beaubier was one of three Americans called up to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, and he spent last year racing in the Spanish CEV championship as a part of the Red Bull MotoGP Academy. The young Californian has now moved up to the Red Bull KTM team in the 125cc Grand Prix series. We spoke with Cam prior to the opening round in Qatar.

RRX: How did the recent tests in Spain go for you?
Cameron Beaubier: It was okay. I tested two days in Catalonia and I’ve been testing in Valencia and Jerez a little bit earlier. I’m just trying to get used to the bike and my team and how everything works. It’s been going pretty good, though, so far.

After a few years, do you feel like you’re adjusting pretty well to the European life?
Yeah, I’ve kind of got a good idea of it and how everything works because I’ve been over there for a few years on and off—doing the Rookies Cup and the Academy and now beginning my first season in GPs.

Do you think the process you’ve been going through in the past few years has prepared you for where you are now?
Yeah, for sure. I don’t think it could’ve worked out better, at least right now because I’ve got a really great opportunity riding for Red Bull KTM this year. I think the Rookies Cup helped me out a lot. That was my second season on a 125—I had started racing over here in America—so it helped me get my name out there in Europe because all our races were at GP weekends and a lot of people would watch us. Because everyone is on the same equipment, the racing is really equal. They were really good races and because I did really well there, they promoted me to the MotoGP Academy. I started getting faster there and learning how a real race team works and how to set up my bike. In the MotoGP Academy, we raced in a Spanish championship that was tough—one of the toughest next to the World Championship. We had a three-man team last year in the Academy and were racing against Aprilias and Hondas. Looking at it now, they both were for sure really good stepping-stones.

Do you feel like there has been a big adjustment to the World Championship level of racing?
I’m just taking it step by step and learning as much as I can every time on the bike. It’s completely different from last year, so I’m getting used to that…. Everyone says that I don’t have too much pressure on me this first year because I’m new to everything and they don’t expect me to finish on the podium in my first season.

When you hear things like, that does motivate you to do better?
I want to prove to everyone that I’m fast enough, but I just want to take it step by step and not jump into anything too quickly. I’m going to do the best I can every weekend and stay in shape in the off-season so I can keep up with those guys.

Where do you see things going for you in the next few years?
I want to make it to MotoGP but take things step by step, like I said.

Do you feel like the path you’ve taken is the way to go?
Well, it’s worked so far for me, but everyone does things differently [laughs]. I mean, I’m not a superstar.

Do you feel like this your chance to establish American riders in the World Championship?
Yeah, I think it will definitely get some American recognition. A lot of Americans race here in the U.S. but don’t take it as serious as race teams in Europe. Here, it’s mostly just dads and their kids going out to the racetrack, but over there they have a full team with mechanics and everything. It’s just a lot different. When it was me and my dad, we went out and had a sponsor who helped us out with the bike, so it was completely different from a complete race team that we have in Europe. It was good having the Rookies Cup last year in America and seeing the Americans who did well head over to the MotoGP Rookies Cup. It’s good for us to get American kids over there, because in MotoGP it’s mostly just Spanish and Italian riders. There really aren’t that many riders from different countries.

Is it detrimental to American road racing for the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup to be gone?
I think so, yeah. It sucks that it’s gone.

Does that taste that we had last year give us more chances to get Americans in the MotoGP Cup?
That certainly makes people want to go race in Europe or at least get on a 600 here in the U.S. and get out into the new SuperSport class.