Jules, you were seriously hurt after your crash in Jerez one and a half month ago. How is your recovery going?
Very well. We’re right on time. I think that I’ll have full mobility in a week or two, meaning I’ll be able to get back to my normal training. It’s a bit early compared to what we expected and everything is going according to plan.

It’s been a month and a half since my crash so it’s rather good. It’s fairly early for this type of injury and I’m happy to be recovering this fast. After the crash, I still had one race left – the one with myself  getting back to full fitness the best way and as quick as possible. It’s not over yet but we’re definitely getting there.”

Getting back to training means you will also be able to ride again?
Yes, I’ll be able to get back on the bike. I’m also going to start back with cycling as part of my recovery. In a week or two, I should be able to practice any sport and this also means riding.

How severe were your injuries?
I had a tib-fib fracture in my left leg and also a fractured right fibula. There was a lot of work to do and it’s been done very well since my surgery in Jerez. After this I’ve been taken care of it very well. I’m staying in Spain in a famous physiotherapy center, used to take care of riders. I’ve spent eight hours and a half every day for the past three weeks in order to recover my mobility and 100% of my abilities.

Last month you signed a new contract to stay with MV Agusta in World Supersport next year. Could you tell us more about this?
I’m very happy to stay with MV for 2016. After all what we’ve done together and with the speed I can have on this bike, we surely can do great things together. Now’s the time to finish the job we started and that will be our goal for next year.

2016 will be your fourth season in this class. This year, you started with a few technical issues that cost you many points, most probably a couple of race wins, but you still managed to stay in the fight for the world title. Then came the crash in Jerez and it was all over. What’s your take on your 2015 season?
Incredibly unlucky. That’s the word that sums up my season. I’m proud of what I’ve done and it’s usually not easy for me to say this. I’m proud of what I did this year because I haven’t made a single mistake until this crash happened. I had never crashed less than this year. This last crash was the second of the year for me, the first was during winter testing. I had very few crashes but unfortunately I had to pay a very big price for the second one. I lost the front and I could have got away with a broken finger or so, but instead of that I broke both two legs. It was nearly impossible that such thing could occur but I was terribly unlucky. Now I have to think about 2016. What is done is done. I think that I’ve been the fastest all season. I’ll try to do exactly the same work in 2016 in order to win the World Championship, this is our goal.

Kenan Sofuoglu visited you in hospital on Sunday evening, just after the Jerez race, and he had some very nice words to say about you in his interview as newly-crowned World Champion. What do you make of his reaction?
I was surprised. I knew Kenan was a great guy but I was surprised to see him after the race on Sunday evening. We had fought fiercely on the racetrack, sometimes it’s been hard between the two of us because both of us give 100% and sometimes you get a bit angry but these things are normal. He’s still a human being with a big heart and he came to congratulate me. He told me I deserved to win the title. But that’s life. We’ll fight again next year. I think it was great coming from him. It did me good because my morale was very low after losing my chances to fight for the title and he helped me lift up my spirits by telling me that I had been a great rival and a great source of motivation for him. It was a nice visit. I’m glad to race again someone such as Kenan, who one of the best riders I’ve battled with. He makes me get better and if got to this level of performance that’s also because of him. I hope that we will have others fights together next year. Winning easily is never the best way. That’s why I hope he’ll be in great shape for next year, because I will be.