Mandy Kainz Interview: Suzuka Podium Has Been on My To-do List for 20 Years

The first half of the season was both good and bad, but so we know that YART was the fastest because we took both pole positions in the first two races. In the season opener at Le Mans we finished one position lower in 2nd but we were on the same lap as the winners. Points are especially important in the season opener, and since all three races besides Suzuka are 24-hour races, we went with a strategy of preserving our engine to try for a solid points score. So even though we didn't win, we were satisfied with 2nd.

The riders did a great job in Belgium at Spa. We got pole position and were leading the race when we had to retire at 18 hours with engine trouble. We still have a chance to win the title though, so at Suzuka we have to gain back the points we lost.

With no Yamaha factory team at Suzuka this time, I think this is a chance for us to show that YART is the top Yamaha team, and that we have the best bike and riders. Our three riders are young, good friends, highly motivated and super fit. Being honest, there is no number one rider in YART. We have one hundred percent team players who all work hard for the team. There is no such thing as a special "star rider" and we honestly don't have one "fastest" rider. All three are the same, and they're all at a high level. Even if I were allowed to choose any riders on the planet, my lineup would still be the same. I would pick these same three riders. It's really a dream team. The only thing that can stop us is bad luck.

Speaking of bad luck, I think the reason we've been having some might be that all three riders are so fast that we're putting stress on the bike. The other bikes can rest because of the slower paced riders, but the YART bike doesn't have time to rest for 24 hours. All three keep pushing and stressing the bike and maybe that takes it over the limit.

Another thing is that YART's way of competing might also have an impact. Even though this is endurance racing, for us it's always a sprint. Right now, the level of EWC is so high that you can't win any other way. Endurance racing is unique. You don't have to be the number one fastest to win, but you can't win unless you're fast.

I think endurance racing is like gambling. Fast bikes and fast riders alone are not enough to win here. There are too many factors that can't be accounted for or pre-calculated. I've competed in over 100 races in 20 years, and in every single one I've been surprised, like, "Why?!" That's what makes it interesting, but I think the life span of an endurance team manager might not be very long!

I'm happy to have the chance to compete at Suzuka for the first time since 2019. One big reason is that for the past 20 years, "Suzuka Podium" has been written on my to-do list. During that time we once finished 4th with all the factory teams there, which is amazing now that I think about it.

The Kawasaki and Honda factory teams will be strong at Suzuka this time. Normally I'd say that I don't think we can win. However, with two factory teams, there is the possibility that they will put stress on each other, which could help us out. Other teams like FCC and Yoshimura have an advantage as it's their home race, but that also gives them more pressure. The three YART riders also have some small pressure, but not as much as their rivals, so I think they can stay cool. These kinds of things give us an advantage and become strengths for us.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to Yamaha. Without Yamaha, we would not be able to race in Suzuka. In endurance racing, you cannot win a trophy by yourself. We'll have Yamaha and the fans behind us, so our three riders and the crew can work as a single strong unit to achieve our dream of a podium finish, and even a victory. We're counting on lots of cheers for Yamaha from the grandstands.