Currently sitting eighth in the MXGP standings and enjoying a brilliant season aboard his SM Action KTM, Alberto Forato’s impressively continued along his steady upward trajectory.

Having claimed 11th in the championship last term despite suffering a broken leg at the midway point, the charismatic Italian has been nothing short of impressive with his speed, fitness and consistency particularly catching the eye in his quest to reach the podium.

Regularly beating and holding his own with the factory riders, which has included some especially engaging duels with Jeffrey Herlings, it’s been so fun to watch the burly Forato in 2023.

A brilliant figure to have in the paddock, with his fantastic sense of humour and likeable personality accompanying his crafty riding nicely, the fact he’s picked up 13 top eight moto finishes (with a best of fifth), eight top 10 overalls, five top six results in the qualifying races (including a third in France) and banked three top threes in timed practice underlines his quality.

MX Vice Editor Ed Stratmann caught up with the hard working #303, who receives some support from KTM in the form of parts such as suspension, to get his thoughts on a forgettable round in Lombok, where sickness ruined his weekend even though he valiantly rode through the illness to claim eighth overall.

Question: Talk us through your weekend, it looked like a tough one as you were sick? How difficult was it with the heat and struggling for energy?

Alberto Forato: For sure, it was really, really, really tough. It was not normal, as I struggled a lot being sick. And then I had really no energy especially with the conditions being really hot and the sickness. When I closed my eyes, my head was spinning and I was almost like losing my balance and stuff so it was really, really tough. But luckily, I got through it and came home safe.

Q: When did you get sick ahead of the race in Lombok and are you feeling better now?

AF: I got sick in between the races, especially on the Friday before Lombok. And like I was just saying before ‘all good this time overseas, I’m good. I feel good and I have no sickness from food and stuff’. And then in the night at 3am, I woke up and started being sick. Now I’m getting better. I’m still not fully good, but we’re getting better.

Q: What did you think of the track at Lombok?

AF: I actually did not like the track. I mean the layout was nice, it was good with some jumps and some technical stuff, but the dirt man was insane. I don’t know why or how with fresh dirt, they could make such a rock hard and sketchy track like that. It was crazy, so sketchy and hot – was not the kind of dirt that I like.

Q: How was the tourist stuff while you were in Indonesia and how were the fans there?

AF: It was good also the tourist stuff, but we didn’t have so much time as we’re there to race. I mean we went to visit some places – I went to see some waterfalls and then to the zoo. And yeah, it was good, but you know we’re here to race so I always focus on that to be on top. The fans were crazy, the people were sending so much love and cheering for us. For sure, for them it is a really big event.

Q: How happy are you to be heading home?

AF: This is a really good question. I’m really, really so happy to be back home. Two weeks there was a lot.

Q: What are your plans to prepare for Loket – recover, some riding and relax?

AF: Yeah I will recover. I will go riding today (Friday) and riding up until the race? And yeah, for sure recover as much as possible and get back in shape to go for it in Loket.

Lead Image: Ray Archer

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