Italiano
SIXTH PLACE IN ASSEN, PROVIDING SPECTACULAR OVERTAKES!
Baldassarri bounced back in Race 2 at Assen; a spectacular sixth place, providing spectacular overtakes. The smile returned to the Go Eleven rider’s face after a great comeback in the Superpole race, which was ruined by a contact on the penultimate lap. Balda made no mistakes on the cold Dutch Sunday, improving session after session…but above all, the yellow Ducati put on a spectacular show on the track!
For the Warm Up, the technicians made small set-up changes, which nevertheless instilled great confidence in the rider, who said he was happy and satisfied with the bike’s reaction in his hands. Temperatures in Assen were cold, around 8 degrees.
Warm Up:
P 1 Y. Montella 1.33.554
P 2 N. Bulega + 0.066
P 3 S. Lowes + 0.093
…
P 12 L. Baldassarri + 0.755
The Superpole Race is perhaps the race that the Go Eleven team is struggling with the most in this positive season start. Here at Assen, the whole Go Eleven grid opted to race the sprint race on the softest tyre solution, the SCX. Balda had a negative start, colliding with Montella and immediately losing his right wing. Fourteenth in the first sector, he fought back aggressively, and the battle on the track was thrilling in the group behind the podium. With many riders within a few tenths of a second, #34 attacked and overtook Montella, Gardner, Oliveira, and Locatelli, grabbing seventh place. Just when he seemed fine to complete an incredible comeback, rain appeared and everything changed. Locatelli overstepped the limit at the final chicane (resulting in a penalty), taking Lorenzo out. With two laps to go, rejoining the group was impossible, thus finishing outside the points zone. A real shame, because it would have been a great result. Upon returning to the pits, Balda was quite nervous and annoyed by the missed opportunity. He needed to channel all his energy into finding the right spark for the final Dutch opportunity.
Superpole Race:
P 1 N. Bulega 15’35.366
P 2 I. Lecuona + 1.742
P 3 S. Lowes + 2.632
…
P 13 L. Baldassarri + 15.384
As in Portimao, the start of Race 2 was nearly perfect; he gained a position, and the first lap was the usual chaos. Two riders in front collided, Balda made a mistake but still managed to get Petrucci and Locatelli. He gained another position and moved into eighth place on the second lap. There, he set his pace in the low 34s, significantly faster than the group ahead. He closed on Vierge, getting him with a super-braking move at the final chicane, the Spaniard dived back into Turn 1, but Balda responded and took seventh. A few laps later, the same move allowed him to close in on Alex Lowes and take sixth place. From then on, he managed the situation, slightly closing in on the two Barni rider, but their laps were virtually the same until the end of the race. He finished sixth, without making any mistakes and taking home another important result!
Race 2:
P 1 N. Bulega 32’58.347
P 2 I. Lecuona + 2.724
P 3 S. Lowes +5.257
…
P 6 L. Baldassarri + 12.872
A solid weekend, in which Lorenzo and the whole team worked well, finding something in every session; in Race 2, Baldassarri felt comfortable with the Ducati, proving great confidence in overtaking. Today’s sixth place is real, with no crashes at the front, and a solid result. Scoring points and avoiding mistakes is the right way to have something to say in the overall standings. Well done, Balda, keep it up towards Balaton, Hungary, in less than two weeks!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider):
“This afternoon in race 2 I really enjoyed myself. I managed to make a lot of overtakes despite some contact on the first lap. Expectations were a bit higher here on Friday, but in the end we confirmed our speed and achieved our goal. The pace this Sunday was excellent, I felt good on the bike, and I’m satisfied with the result. I think I’ve almost completely resolved the forearm problem; I didn’t suffer here. Now I’m going to rest a bit, but not too much because we’ll be back on track soon at Balaton. For me, it’s best to get back on the bike straight away, so I can’t wait. I have to thank the whole team and the people who work with me; I think our level is rising race after race!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“Balda had a real strong and tough day! Unfortunately, two collisions affected us today, making him losing his right wing twice. In the Superpole Race, Locatelli’s clash ruined our race, and by finishing behind, he couldn’t start on the first two rows for race two. In the second race, not only was his wing damaged, but also his handguard, which hindered his riding. However, I think we had a solid weekend. Balda and the team worked well, improving, and the overall result gives us confidence and keeps our morale high. We’re having a lot of fun in the garage, the work is going in the right direction, and Lorenzo is riding the V4-R better and better. We still have several areas where we can improve and grow, but consistently being in the top six, three out of three races since the start of the season, is a super result!”
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