20 questions: Marcel Duinker

Top WSB crew chief talks about life in the fast and slow lane.

Q1. What are you riding?
I am too ashamed to tell you.

Q2. Who do you admire?
Rossi. He’s a legend.

Q3. Your worst riding habit?
Not riding my bike enough. Once the season starts I don’t get the time. It’s terrible.

Q4. If you could have a riding super skill, what would it be?
In general I’m way too slow, but I as long as you’re having fun it’s OK.

Q5. What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone on a bike?
I’ve done 175mph on an old carburetted Blackbird on a German autobahn. It was ages ago and it scared me.

Q6. When were you last scared on a bike?
Apart from the Blackbird in 2005, I lost the front under braking at a trackday at Zolder, but I didn’t crash.

Q7. How many miles have you done in the last year?
400 miles.

Q8. Highest mileage in a day?
500.

Q9. What irritates you on a bike?
The rain.

Q10. You’ve got two weeks off: where are you going?
I’d love to go on a road trip in the USA and experience the same things that happened in the Wild Hogs movie.

Q11. Got one pearl of wisdom for new riders?
I’m a Dad now, so I think a little differently from a few years ago, so I’d say be wise and keep yourself alive.

Q12. Ever fallen off somewhere embarrassing?
No, but on my first bike, a Honda Dominator 650, I stood on the seat when I was riding in with friends and one foot slipped off. I swerved all the way down the road, but I managed to stay on. It was stupid and I must have looked ridiculous.

Q13. Do you have one indispensable item of kit?
My leathers from 22 years ago, which I’m embarrassed to wear now, but I’ll keep them forever.

Q14.Who would you invite on a Sunday blast?
Tom Sykes, Iain MacPherson, my brother and father.

Q15. Do you have a tool you couldn’t live without?
The most important tool I have is the feedback from the rider.

Q16. Do you adjust your suspension?
Yes.

Q17. Which of your old bikes would you want back?
My RC30.

Q18. What bike would you never buy?
A custom bike.

Q19. Which road or track would you have on your own island?
Philip Island.

Q20. If you ruled the world, what new law would you pass?
Get back to me.

 

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