Italiano
BALDASSARRI’S RESPONSE, SECOND PODIUM OF THE SEASON ON SUNDAY AT BALATON!
After a crash like yesterday’s, it would have been easy to lose confidence; but Balda responded with two incredible races on Sunday in Hungary. A podium finish in the morning, fourth place, just close to third place in Race 2, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats for a great comeback!
Here at Balaton, the Warm Up was perhaps the most important session of the whole weekend for both Lorenzo and Team Go Eleven; it was crucial to check the second bike was working well, and the rider also needed to find the confidence for the races. After a few laps, he managed to get an excellent low 39; mental reset after yesterday was complete!
Warm Up:
P 1 N. Bulega 1.38.215
P 2 I. Lecuona + 0.350
P 3 S. Lowes + 0.583
…
P 8 L. Baldassarri + 1.239
In the Superpole Race, number 34 got off to a good start, closing the line in Turn 1, and thanks to the collisions around him, he found himself in first place! He barely had time to realize it before the red flag came out for yet another collision and subsequent crash. The race restarted, and Balda took third place at Turn 2, overtaking Montella. He set his pace, he is faster than the guys behind him, and no one could keep up. He remained focused until the finish line, got his second podium of the season, and his first in a Superpole Race! He had a fantastic race, incredibly fast, with only the two factory Ducatis ahead of him.
Superpole Race:
P 1 N. Bulega 13’10.468
P 2 I. Lecuona + 0.894
P 3 L. Baldassarri + 5.103
In Race Two, the first lap was an open battle; Balda lost a few positions, but by the final Balaton chicane, he was already hot on Bautista’s heels for third place. He tried, getting the inside, but he couldn’t stop correctly and was forced to cut the chicane. Montella passed them both and opened up a gap. To avoid a penalty for cutting the chicane, the Go Eleven rider slowed and let an opponent pass. He then overtake McKenzie and began his comeback on the number 5 Barni rider. The two rode similar, the gap was almost three seconds, but Balda didn’t give up; lap after lap, he snipped off tenths of a second, and in the final seven laps, he was clearly the second-fastest rider on the track, working his way up to Montella’s exhausts. At the end of the race, he crossed the finish line in fourth, half a second off the podium. Another amazing race, another result to remember! It’s a bittersweet feeling because the podium was right there, so close, and if he had lost less time at the start of the race, it would have been possible.
Race 2:
P 1 N. Bulega 34’39.980
P 2 I. Lecuona + 2.557
P 3 Y. Montella + 11.970
P 4 L. Baldassarri + 12.478
22 points earned this Sunday, a significant result for the Championship that almost erases yesterday’s zero. Four points from fifth place, 20 from third, prove an incredible start to the season for Balda and the whole Go Eleven Team. Today, an answer was needed, and the answer is stronger than any doubt: keep going, because with every race we’re getting closer to the red duo!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider):
“After what happened yesterday, it wasn’t given that I’d have a Sunday like this: a podium this morning, fourth place this afternoon. On the eve of the weekend, I would have signed up for two results like that, and today I almost didn’t race due to the consequences of the crash! Today, however, I woke up well, I wasn’t in too much pain, and I immediately regained the right confidence with the bike. I’m a little disappointed about the end of race 2. My pace was incredible and I knew I was faster, but I started from far away after the chaos of the first laps. This morning, however, the podium in the Superpole Race was incredible and perhaps even more valuable than the one in Australia, because it’s a race where I struggle. This weekend, I have to thank the whole team and the mechanics. They rebuilt a bike, they stayed up late last night to give me a perfect bike today. I’m happy to have repaid them with a nice third place!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“I’m really happy with the team today, and especially with Lorenzo, who gave a great response. After yesterday’s crash, it wasn’t easy to get going again, but instead he came back even stronger and more determined, demonstrating his maturity and professionalism with incredible grit. This morning’s podium is confirmation of his strength, and in Race 2, fourth place left us bittersweet taste. Maybe one more lap and we could have come home with another podium. The championship is still long, and we’re there in every race. We’re growing together, we’re having fun together, and we can achieve even greater results if we keep working focused and calmly on our path!”
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