Andrea Iannone and Team Go Eleven take top 5 result on Friday at Misano

It was a positive start for Team Go Eleven and Andrea Iannone on their home weekend at the Misano track. Top 5 in both sessions, a solid and constant race pace, but above all a linear Friday, facing all the comparisons foreseen in the program.

FP 1 started in a rather surprising way after the last tests carried out; Andrea immediately found a good feeling with the Ducati Panigale V4-R by Go Eleven, managing to consistently riding in 34.5. As the laps went by he was able to slightly smooth out the third and fourth sectors, respectively the weak point and the strong point of the Romagna track. The data collected in the two days at the end of May certainly helped to improve some areas since the beginning of the session. He carried out the entire session with the same pair of tyres, thus saving a couple for the rest of the weekend.

Free Practice 1: 
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu   1.33.448
P 2   A. Lowes   + 0.560
P 3   N. Bulega   + 0.581
P 4   A. Bassani   + 0.797
P 5   A. Iannone   + 0.872

n FP 2 we chose to start with the new rear solution; a Pirelli specific halfway between the SCX and the “old” 900 used up to Assen. Five laps in a row, very fast, between 33.9 and 34.0, proving great consistency and repeatability of the time. At the end of the session, new SCX tyre, two tenths improved, enough to enter the top four.

Free Practice 2:
P 1   N. Bulega   1.33.511
P 2   A. Bautista   + 0.402
P 3   R. Gardner   + 0.410
P 4   A. Iannone   + 0.449

Despite it has been one of the best Fridays of the year, in terms of position and consistency, there are still some points on the track where the gap with the top riders is more than expected; the technicians’ work will be focused in the first and third sectors, so as to find the classic “tenth” for Saturday. Qualifying will be on the edge of a hundredths, with many riders competing for the first two rows. Starting from the front means a lot, but it is certainly important to see Andrea with a smile on his face and a much better feeling with the bike than yesterday!

Andrea Iannone (Rider): 

“I have to say that in the tests I struggled more, thanks to the data collected in those days and then analyzed, we managed to fix some details that allowed us to improve today. However, let’s not forget that it is only the fourth race after 5 years, it’s important to keep my concentration high but also to be able to wait the right moment. I’m very happy to have been welcomed by so many fans here who are ready to support me, I’m grateful for all this support because it helps to make me feel good. The goal for the next few hours is always to fight, push and do well!”

Team Go Eleven are the Best Independent Team in Race One

A Saturday conditioned by the extreme heat in Misano, over 30° in the air and almost 50° on the asphalt which slightly changed the values ​​on the field. In qualifying a slight crash deprived Andrea Iannone of the front row. In the race the pace was a little slower than expected, but the rider still managed to defend seventh position. Best Independent at the finish line, parc fermé conquered, but this time there is a bit more gap from the first.

In FP 3, the rider from Vasto confirmed himself in the Top 5, testing a long run with the qualifying tyre. 33.3 on the sixth lap, constant pace, fast and above all a good test for tomorrow’s Superpole Race. No changes to qualifying, it’s about finding the perfect lap.

Free Practice 3: 
P 1   N. Bulega  1.33.114
P 2  A. Bautista   + 0.011
P 3   R. Gardner   + 0.218
P 4   A. Iannone   + 0.229

Superpole proved to be the most complicated round for Team Go Eleven; after a very fast first attempt, placing himself in the top three, on his second attack at the time, while Iannone was completing an extraordinary lap in line with the front row, he crashed at turn 14. A low speed crash which unfortunately forced him to start from third row, in seventh position.

Superpole:
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu  1.32.320
P 2   N. Bulega   + 0.236
P 3   R. Gardner   + 0.586
…
P 7   A. Iannone   + 0.868

There are two races left tomorrow, in which we will need to find some changes to face the problems that came in Race 1 today. Taking points and being consistent can still be the key to fighting for a significant result at the end of the Championship!

Race 1: 
P 1    T. Razgatlioglu   33’07.016
P 2    N. Bulega    + 1.782
P 3   A. Bautista   + 3.176
…
P 7   A. Iannone    + 16.637

Andrea Iannone (Rider): 

“Yesterday I felt a better feeling, today, as in previous rounds, with the higher temperatures it was more difficult. It went slightly better towards the end of the race, but we definitely need to review some details. We will work to try to improve in view of tomorrow and understand why there is a lack of grip in acceleration. We are still the first independent team, but we need to refine various aspects and try to fight higher.”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): 
“We couldn’t hide that we could have expected more from today’s race; Andrea did his best, but here in Misano we’re not 100% with the bike and we’re chasing the riders at the top. We find ourselves competing with official teams and it’s never easy. Today’s temperatures certainly didn’t benefit us, but the conditions are the same for everyone and they will be the same tomorrow. Now let’s try to work hard, find something new that can help us and tomorrow we will give everything to improve the result of this Saturday. I want to thank all the fans who are here and our guests; the atmosphere is amazing here at the circuit!”

Andrea Iannone finishes fifth in the Superpole Race, but outside the top ten in Race 2

A bittersweet Sunday at the end of a solid weekend in terms of points, but in which Andrea Iannone never got a good feeling with his Panigale V4-R. Fifth place in the Superpole Race, an improvement compared to Race 1, then in the final manche a gamble on the rear tire didn’t pay off, worsening the consistency of performance.

In the Warm Up the rider from Vasto opted to clear up a doubt regarding the front. Here Pirelli had brought a new compound, with which it had not yet been possible to carry out a real comparison. Ten minutes to test it and decide whether to discard it or try it in the race. No particular benefit at the end of the Warm Up, therefore it is better to continue with the “safe” SC1.

Warm Up:
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu   1’33.049
P 2   N. Bulega   + 0.195
P 3   A. Lowes   + 0.675
…
P 14   A. Iannone   + 1.513

In the Superpole Race Iannone showed, as has happened since the beginning of the season, that he has a good feeling with the qualifying tyres, the SCQ. Immediately at the start he managed to overtake a couple of opponents, exchanging positions with Locatelli. In Alvaro Bautista’s fall he lost a couple of seconds, when the bike slid back towards the line, and was then too late to come back. He defends fifth position, improving his start for Race 2 by one row.

SP Race: 
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu  15’36.088
P 2   N. Bulega   + 1.651
P 3   A. Lowes   + 4.779
…
P 5   A. Iannone   + 10.913

In Race 2 the Team and Andrea Iannone took a bet; the new 339 rear tyre. Unfortunately this weekend the rider’s feeling has never been the best, so in the last chance to try something different, we opted to take a risk, aware that it could have gone in either direction, better or worse. After a super start that thrilled the entire audience in the stands, the problem with braking and not being able to close the corner worsened further, leading Andrea to drop back to twelfth position. The central part of the race was really difficult to manage, only to then recover at the end, even riding at a pace in line for the podium, overtaking Sam Lowes and crossing the finish line in Rea’s slipstream. The bet didn’t pay off, but it’s right to take a risk with the goal of aiming for something much more ambitious! 4 points got, in a race where the risk of crash was very high.

Race 2: 
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu   33’06.338
P 2   N. Bulega   + 2.980
P 3   A. Bautista   + 6.920
…
P 11   A. Iannone   + 27.292

It’s a pity that the worst weekend of the season took place in the home race, but after the tests carried out here the Team and the rider were aware that it would be a complicated three days. The amount of 19 points is the positive aspect of this round, where however no important mistakes were made. Every now and then it’s important to know how to defend yourself, especially in a Championship with so many points to get. WorldSBK moves north to the UK to Donington Park in mid-July!

Andrea Iannone (Rider): 

“I was aware that it wouldn’t be an easy Round after the feeling in the Misano tests, with the high temperatures we suffered a lot. In Race 2 we tried the new tyre, but the feeling wasn’t good and it didn’t turn out to be the right choice. It was perhaps the most difficult weekend for me, but I’m still satisfied with having taken some points. We still are the first independent team, there is room for growth and we have to work as a team to always try to do better!”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): 
“After yesterday’s race, to try to close the gap from the fight for the podium, we needed to make some important changes which certainly involved risks. This morning in the SP Race we were not as constant as we would have liked in terms of pace, but we brought home a fifth place and the second row for Race 2, so in any case we improved the position. For Race 2, the choice of the medium tyre, the new one from Pirelli, was certainly wrong, and it influenced the result. It was a bet, it could have been good or bad… That’s how it went! Andrea still collected data for the next stages, he scored points, but we all have a higher goal. I have to say that it was a great round in terms of atmosphere, with many friends and supporters , a fantastic and warm audience that gave us emotions… Thank you Misano!”