Drivers - Keith Boston (Westwood), Nikolai Milkovich (Ingram), Romano Agostino (Fun), Lewis Ellington (Peugeot), Marcus Thunder (Downton), Karl Beckenbauer (Liverpool) PRESS CONFERENCE Q: Karl can we start with you. You suffered some pretty bad luck in the last race losing second place in the final few laps. That has to be hard to stomach?
Karl Beckenbauer: I think the bad luck is more than the last race. I lose second place in Bahrain. I’m blocked in Malaysia. I’d be a contender for the title if things hadn’t gone so wrong. One race out of the running and unless Franklin suffer somehow I’m out of the title race already. I’m fed up. Q: Even up to that point you were struggling to match Will. Are you worried Liverpool have now fallen behind in the development race? KBe: What is it with you? All you do is ask me questions to wind me up. Verpissen! (storms out) Q: Um.. right. Marcus, moving onto you. Downton have done incredibly well to get so far up the field so quickly, but thus far you have missed out on the action, with Nathaniel being the one to bring home the bacon with that podium. Will you be at the front soon or will Powers be the one to deliver? Marcus Thunder: I wouldn't say I've missed out on action. I was fighting towards the front in both Australia and Malaysia. In Bahrain it was my mistake in qualifying that left me so far down the field, and had I not made that mistake, I have every reason to believe I'd be fighting up the front once more with Nathaniel. That's not to take away what he did, it was incredible, and I was actually the first one there to congratulate him, but he's not the World Champion by chance. I've already proved I can beat him however, and I think it comes down to who each circuit suits better and who maximises the setup and gets the most from the car each weekend as to who will finish ahead. I have no doubt I can be at the front soon. Q: The IJGPC starts this weekend, I'm sure you will have an eye on it, how do you think your sister Kiara will get on? MT: Absolutely I will! I'll be in the garage cheering her on with the rest of the guys and girls. She's a real talent and certainly won't be taking any shit from the lads just because she's a girl. She's as quick as anyone out there and certainly isn't afraid to get her elbows out, or pull off the odd risky move or two. However she can get a bit hot-headed at times. Once during a kart race she flipped me over... Q: Wow, um coming to you Lewis, you are back in the car for this round, are you looking forward to getting back on track? Or are you worried having a race out may have affected you? Lewis Ellington: I can’t wait, I wasn't supposed to be coming back so soon so when I was told, I was so excited. No, you know, I don’t think it will have affected me. The car is pretty much identical to when I drove it last. I missed so much of last season and I don’t think one race will really cause that much trouble. Q:It’s fair to say you’ve had a bit of a love hate relationship with the team managers in this sport. What was the real reason you were removed from the cockpit last race, was there something more to it? LE: There were two reasons I was out of the car. Firstly, the team wanted to assess all of us as drivers so they know where we are and so that we have the best drivers for the season as a whole. Secondly, a more personal reason. I was in a state of mild depression, I had a few problems before, nothing major but the team were concerned about me. That was the proper reason I was out of the car. The break was great though, I had some real help and I feel completely refreshed and ready to go. Q: Keith, Westwood have made significant strides since last season, and you have been good so far. You and Tumo have been very close, and share the same number of points. Are you going to beat him this season? Keith Boston: (laughs) Yes I am very proud of the gains we have made in the team. But for some bad luck, we’d be in a much better position right now and I’m happy to have helped the team develop over the winter. Tumo is a great, fast guy and we do get on, but on track we are rivals and will fight to the flag. As a driver you have to believe you can beat your teammate; he has the same equipment as you. If you do not believe you can beat your teammate, you are accepting that you are slower than him. Q: It came as a bit of a surprise to the paddock that you got the seat over Douglas given how he beat you last season. Were you surprised as well? KBo: I was pretty surprised yes, as Douglas was a good driver and took home the majority of our team’s points last year. I worked with him a lot and still do. He’s a fast, experienced guy who has taught me a lot of what I know, and I sure am grateful to know him. I don’t quite know why I got taken on over Douglas, but it might be to do with the fact that (coughs) he’s getting on a bit in comparison to some of the young blood on the grid. Speaking of which, I’m also glad he can handle a bit of banter… Q: (laughs) Moving onto you Nikolai, you've impressed us all here with your performances in your rookie season, and you've taken that car to places it shouldn't be on occasion. Are the team working hard enough to get you up the grid? Nikolai Milkovich: Certainly they are. The car felt faster every race, but no-one stands still in this sport, so it tough to make gains. Considering our budget we do very well so far and I’m happy we will go further. Q: You’ve beaten your teammate – who put in some impressive performances last year – in every race so far. Have you to got to grips quicker, or are you just better? NM: Well so far I’ve been better! Diego is very competitive driver and although I’m in front at the moment, I can see him moving forward. Compared to my team-mates in other series he very quick. Q: So Romano, you’ve signed up for Fun next season already, in a deal that seems as much a coup for the team as a good deal for you. Are you concerned that they are focusing on this season so much seemingly, maybe next season they will suffer for it and fall back? Romano Agostino: I see no reason to talk about this. Now is now and next season is next season. I’m sure the team will figure out something great. Q: How disappointed were you to see Adrien slide up the inside at the final corner in Malaysia? RA: I can’t describe the disappointment. I didn’t talk to anyone for a few days after the race, I just sat in my little dark room listening to Joy Division. But I couldn’t have done anything, Adrien was just so much faster with fresher tires that it was only a matter of time when he would overtake me. Sadly the race lasted one corner too long. Q: And finally to all of you. We're still early on in this season, yet many drivers - such as yourself Lewis - are being replaced already. Do you feel that your race seat is in jeopardy, or that you are doing and will keep doing enough to stay in the cockpit? (silence) LE: Fine, I'll start seeing as I was in the question. No, I’m not worried, I’m in the car for good now! There is a reason I’m here instead of Fillipio, it’s obvious, I’m the better driver. The team want me not him, nothing more to it! MT: I've already proven I can beat a World Champion, have been getting good results, and I get on well with Bradley, so I'm not worried. He's already assured us - after the revolving door of driver's we had in the team last year - that neither of us will be replaced this year if he can help it. NM: I just drive the car. I would be very sad to lose my seat, but I’m sure Will would have a reason for it. Anywhere else I don’t know why they lose seat, for me, it is too early to judge. KBo: Right now I’d say yes. I’ve got the same number of points as Tumo who is no slouch and a great benchmark for me. I’m bringing the car home and enjoying doing it. I also know that my boss is cool and that he doesn't make knee-jerk decisions when it comes to these matters; I know he’ll give me the time to show what I can do, a lot like last season where Agostino and I each drove half the season. I’m confident that I’ll be in the car for a while yet, too. RA: Again, I see no reason to talk about this. I have contract with the team for this and next season and that’s it. I can see why Karl walked out...
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