Danny Webb confident ahead of ‘big year’

British 125GP rider Danny Webb is confident he can make a big impact in 2009 as he prepares to ride a factory-backed Aprilia machine for the first time next month.

While 125GP testing kicked off in Jerez earlier this week, Webb is continuing his intensive training schedule in the UK with fitness trainer, racer and brother James.

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Webb’s 2009 machinery is not ready yet, but Webb is keen to check the performance of the new bike when his own testing schedule starts in Spain with the Dutch-based Degraaf outfit.

“This year is very important for me.  I have been giving a big opportunity by having a factory bike to ride.

“The team is looking strong for this year and we will be working more with Aprilia, so we can have the best-prepared bikes possible.

“It is going to be a very competitive year, there are a lot of good riders out there this year but the team and I are still looking to challenge for the title,“ said an ambitious Webb, who scored a career best result of fifth in Estoril last season.

Webb has again been working closely with his sports mentor in a bid to prepare him better mentally for the 17-round world championship, which kicks off on April 12 with the second ever night race under floodlights.

Webb added: “During the winter I have been working with my sports mentor to try and calm myself down a little.

“I knew I was fast enough to win last season but when I was trying as hard as possible I tried a little too hard and that didn’t work.”

Working with brother James, who will ride in the British Supersport series, on a rigorous training regime, Webb said he was also going to be physically better prepared than ever before for his third season at world championship level.

He added: “I’ve been doing a lot of fitness training with my brother, who is a fitness trainer, mainly working on upper body so I am strong for the start of the season.

“I was struggling sometimes with my shoulder last year after Donington where I broke my right collarbone and I have been trying to get it back to full fitness.”