EXCLUSIVE Matteo Ciprietti: "Goal? Have fun, everything becomes easier"

Matteo Ciprietti played his first season in the CEV Moto2. In the meantime, he also helps in the family business and thinks about the university. Here's what he told us.

A busy first season for Matteo Ciprietti, one of the Italians making their debut in the CEV Moto2. An important change compared to the Italian Championship, but it was a year in which the Abruzzo driver, hired by the Stylobike Team, made constant progress. Petrol "lost in time" in the family business, Ciprietti is also planning to enroll in the telematic university to study motor sciences (after leaving engineering in the past for lack of time). "I can't stand still!" he confessed to us after just a week of complete rest. So many goals ahead of him, one of these continues to grow in the CEV Moto2, with a dream come true: the World Cup.

How did this first season go in the European Championship?
The beginning was difficult. We had made some private tests in Estoril, but by the first round the weather had completely changed: a crazy cold, rain, wind. I had lost my points of reference, it was an uphill start. However, race after race went better and better. In Valencia we won the first points, then there was the top ten in Barcelona. In Aragon we faced the rain again, but we still improved. The stop in Jerez was difficult due to an accident in the timed sessions, while in Albacete, despite some technical problems, we went back up. In the final round I struggled a little to get into the rhythm, but we got closer to the first.

You were coming from the CIV: what were the biggest differences?
First of all, the races are much longer. In Italy you then did a race on Saturday and Sunday, in the CEV you have two competitions within a couple of hours. You have to learn to keep your concentration for longer. Meetings of the World Cup, or that have been in the past. We are talking about a very high level, even among pilots, given that there are boys who have raced in the World Championship. One of these, my boxmate Niki Tuuli. In addition to this, I had to learn to drive a totally different bike than I was used to.

You also met new circuits, a team you didn't know.
The tracks were all unknown to me. The team was also a novelty, but I had a great time. I came from a national championship, they taught me an international working method. I had to learn a lot, including some Spanish! I thank them very much: I was at the beginning, but they understood very well right away how they could help me.

Where will we find you in 2020?
I had some offers to play in the Italian Championship, but my intention would be to continue with Moto2. The idea is the World Cup, but to get there you need to continue on this path. The goal is to race for another season in the CEV Moto2. We are in talks with the Stylobike Team, I felt good with them and I don't see why I should change. At the moment, however, there is nothing confirmed.

Need to change something in terms of training?
Yes definitely. In any case, I like to play sports, I can't stand still for long. I rested for a week, then started again. Between gym, mountain biking, running … I got passionate about a bit of everything. However, we have to work a lot, in order to arrive in the best way at the beginning of the championship. We want to be competitive right away and not almost at the end of the season, as happened this year instead.

What are the 2020 objectives?
Goals … I mainly think about having fun, so everything is easier. Clearly then I want to do well. I have so many ideas in mind, but it doesn't even make sense to think about it too much. Yes, I'm superstitious! (laugh) I think it's a characteristic of us sportsmen. I am part of that group of pilots who prefer not to say anything! Seriously, I mainly think about having fun. I would like to be close to the top ten anyway, and then improve constantly.

During the winter there will also be something else besides sport?
When I don't give a hand in the family business, I'm a gas station attendant. It is a job that I also need to grow on a mental level: you come into contact with a more 'real' world. I am also thinking of enrolling in university, I would like to study motor sciences. A telematic university, however, there is one nearby, private studies. In the past I had tried engineering, but I could not take courses. We try again this way: it will still be tough, but I'll give it my all.