Following his maiden World Superbike win at Donington Park, WorldSBK.com caught up with Italy's Marco Melandri, who rides the No. 33 factory Yamaha YZF-R1 for the Yamaha World Superbike Team. Melandri is a newcomer to World Superbike, having spent the past seven seasons in MotoGP. Prior to moving up to MotoGP, he won the 250cc World Championship for Aprilia in 2002. After taking his first World Superbike podium with a third-place finish in the second race of the season opener in Philip Island, Australia, Melandri won the first race of the second round at England's Donington Park and backed it up with a second-place finish in the second race. He currently stands second in the championship standings with 72 points, 19 points behind current leader Carlos Checa.

You have spent more than a decade riding purpose-built race bikes and prototypes. How difficult has the transition to production-based bikes been, and how have you had to adapt your riding style to suit your new Yamaha?

"The biggest difference is the weight of the bike and the braking, I think everything else is relatively similar and I haven't had any difficulty adjusting. The only big difference is having to adapt your riding style that is used to MotoGP tyres, to a style more adapt for our Pirelli Superbike tyres. "

In the first two rounds, you often appear to be stronger than the others entering corners. Can you please explain your apparent strength going into corners on your Yamaha?

"I think that's just down to getting the right balance and having a good feeling with the bike. I feel my R1 is working perfect with my style of riding, so I feel very comfortable on it and am confident entering into the corners."

Is your background as a 250cc rider been an advantage or disadvantage in coming to grips with the production-based Yamaha?

"I think it was an advantage. I believe riding a two stroke bike is always the best way to learn how to use the throttle and therefore my experience on a 250 cc really helped me to master that."

Now that you have contested two rounds in the Superbike World Championship after spending seven years in MotoGP, please talk about the level of competition in the two series.

"WSBK is more competitive. I think many different bikes, manufacturers and riders are in with a good chance of winning a race. And that makes it so much more exciting. In MotoGP however, only 2 or 3 riders are really in with a chance of winning, so every race is always the same. You go there and you try you hardest, but in the end of the day, you are just a number."