Gerloff: 'Damn right I can win’ in WorldSBK, wants to follow in Spies' footsteps

Garrett Gerloff believes he has what it takes to not only win a WorldSBK race, but possibly a world title if 'pieces come together'. 

Based on his performances as a rookie in 2020, then the first of those two scenarios would have been more likely than not, however, 2021 was quite the opposite. 

In what can only be described as 'down year' for the American, 2021 was far from what Gerloff is capable of. 

But with the American claiming to be in much better shape, both mentally and physically ahead of the new campaign, then there’s obvious reason to think the two-time MotoGP stand-in can at least deliver wins in WorldSBK. 

That’s despite being on the same machinery as current world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu who was beaten just twice by other Yamaha riders in the 34 races he finished last year. 

Talking to WorldSBK.com, Gerloff said: "Damn right I can win a race! All the pieces have got to come together. I know I’ve got the pace to do it but having the pace to do it and actually putting it together and doing it, a lot more things go into it.

"I feel fast enough, I know I’m fast enough, I just got to have the right race come together but I want to make it happen."

Towards the latter stages of 2020 Gerloff was able to get the better of both Pata Yamaha riders - Razgatlioglu and now BMW rider Michael Van Der Mark, along with six-time champion Jonathan Rea in more than a couple of races, highlighting his impressive talent. 

And although last season didn’t go to plan, performances in said 2020 campaign is what led fellow American and 2009 WorldSBK champion as a rookie, Ben Spies, to claim Gerloff has what it takes to be a Superbike champion. 

Gerloff's response… "I don’t think he’s wrong! Like I said, it’s those damn puzzle pieces. They get scattered sometimes and trying to put them together quickly is a bit of a challenge. 

"I know I’ve got all the pieces there so just trying to make a pretty picture at the end. It would be amazing. 

"I definitely want to follow in Ben’s footsteps, Nicky Hayden’s to a certain extent, Collin Edwards, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey… there’s so many guys that have come over here and had a lot of success and I’d like to add my name to that list on some level."