Garrett Gerloff’s secret: this man makes all the difference

In his second season with Kawasaki, Garrett Gerloff is performing significantly better than he did during his difficult debut year in 2025. The American has recently been a regular feature in the top 10, has attracted attention with strong performances and currently sits in eleventh place in the Superbike World Championship. Gerloff credits his crew chief, Les Pearson, with playing a major part in this development.

The pair have known each other for many years. They had already worked together successfully at GRT-Yamaha, and later found themselves reunited in the Bonovo-BMW team. After going their separate ways for a while, the duo are teaming up again at Kawasaki in 2026 – and Gerloff can clearly feel the difference.

“He just understands what I mean,” Gerloff explained in an exclusive interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. “When I have problems, he knows what we might be able to change on the bike to make me feel more comfortable. Of course, it doesn’t always work. Assen, for example, was a really bad weekend. We were all struggling and there was also a bit of friction between us. You can’t always be perfect.”

Trust and atmosphere more important than data logs

It is precisely this openness that defines their working relationship. “I understand him, he understands me. I trust him and he trusts me. That sort of thing isn’t easy to find,” emphasised the Kawasaki rider. “I’ve worked with various crew chiefs. They were all good and had a great technical understanding. But for me, Les is the one I’ve always enjoyed working with the most.”

Yet their bond has long since gone beyond the purely professional level. “He’s also important to me as a friend, not just as a colleague. I want to be successful, but I also want to enjoy working with people. I think that’s a good combination for both of us.”

Gerloff generally attaches great importance to a family-like atmosphere within the team. He maintains a close relationship not only with his crew chief, but also with the mechanics and electronics technicians. “I want to have a good, relaxed relationship with everyone I work with,” explained the 30-year-old.

The Superbike World Championship is no walk in the park

At the same time, he is well aware that top-level sport requires a delicate balancing act. “We’re racing motorbikes. It should be fun, but at the same time it’s serious, of course. There’s a lot of money at stake and high expectations. That’s why you have to find the right balance. Good results naturally make everything easier and create a better atmosphere.”

Gerloff became particularly aware of just how big the difference is compared to last year during difficult phases. “Last year we tried everything and still struggled. The atmosphere in the team wasn’t good as a result. It’s no fun turning up at the circuit like that.”

That’s why Gerloff considers close personal relationships to be indispensable, especially in difficult times. “When things aren’t going well, you need strong relationships with the people you work with. Then you have to pull together as a team and fight your way out of this situation together. That’s why it’s important for me to have close people around me.”