Who the hell is Garrett Gerloff?
WSB gets a new American for 2020 and he’s not coming to make up the numbers
Ten American riders have won World Superbike races since the inception of the series way back in 1988, notching up a total 119 victories which is beaten only by the 259 of Great Britain. As a new decade looms, the Stars and Stripes return to the grid thanks to GRT Yamaha’s latest recruit, Garrett Gerloff; a man tipped to go all the way by former champion Ben Spies. Gerloff hails from Texas and, like five-time World Champion Jonathan Rea, got into road racing thanks to his passion for motocross. He was MotoAmerica Supersport Champion in 2016 and 2017. While in the Superbike class, he was third overall this year courtesy of four wins and an impressive total of 15 podiums, just missing out on the title to Cameron Beaubier in September’s final round finale at the Barber Motorsports Park. MCN caught up with the 24-yearold American during his first test at Aragon in Spain.
So why has there been a general shortage of American talent in recent years?
I’m honestly not 100% sure. There are guys who want it, but it’s a risk for any WSB team to take an American; a lot of people don’t fully know the level of MotoAmerica. I’m glad they have taken a risk on me. I’ll try to do everything to prove them right! I had a lot of great people behind me like Ben Spies and Josh Hayes plus Keith McCarthy from Yamaha USA. I couldn’t have done it on my own. I wanted to come to a World Championship and ride with the best guys, trying to improve my level to one day win a world title.
How did it all begin?
I was a motocross kid when I was four. However, when I was 12, my brother and my dad were interested in road racing. When my brother got his Metrakit bike, we took it to a parking lot. I remember having motocross gear on, riding this road race bike, touching my knee down! From that moment, I switched paths to road racing: the Jonathan Rea path!
You were born in 1995. Who do you remember watching growing up?
I didn’t know road racing existed until 2006! I started riding that little bike, I started to watch professional guys. I’d heard stories about Nicky Hayden and thought, ‘That’s so cool! I want to be that guy some day!’ I started following people like Stoner and Rossi. At the same time, Cameron Beaubier was riding the KTM 125 as Marc Marquez’s team-mate. I looked up to Cameron a lot: the American against the odds, trying to make it happen.
When did the World Superbike dream get real?
I’ve been pretty vocal the last few years about wanting to come to a World Championship. Since Laguna Seca this year, where I won one of the MotoAmerica races before the World Superbikes, I’ve been trying to talk with teams. When I made the trip to Magny-Cours I was really able to talk; I think they appreciated how I went all that way. I want this really bad and wanted to convey the passion.
Are European tracks very different from American ones?
In America they use different compounds in the asphalt to tackle the very high temperatures. I like the fast, flowing layouts of European tracks: that’s definitely my style and Aragon was very nice. American tracks are tight and choppy, which isn’t really how I like to ride so I felt at a disadvantage.
What is the ultimate target?
Definitely MotoGP. I would love that. Right now I’m 100% focused on World Superbike but hopefully it opens the door to MotoGP because that would be awesome: the pinnacle of motorcycle and man. It’s the ultimate.
‘I like the fast, flowing tracks around Europe’