Italiano
TWO TENTHS FROM THE FIRST, AN ASTONISHING FIRST DAY “BACK ON TRACK” FOR TEAM GO ELEVEN!
It was an excellent day for Team Go Eleven and Lorenzo Baldassarri on French soil as they returned to the track following the long summer break. What stands out is not so much the position—just outside the top three—but the close gap to the leader; this highlights the significance of what was the most competitive Friday of the season.
In FP1, the WorldSBK bikes turned on again after a break of about a month and a half; Balda used the session to shake off the rust and get the feeling back on the bike and the speed he has shown throughout 2026. Right from the start, the number 34 rider found the perfect blend of fluidity and aggressivity needed to be fast at Magny-Cours. He performed excellently in the sectors featuring chicanes, though there was still room for improvement in the final section of the track.
Free Practice 1:
P 1 N. Bulega 1.35.556
P 2 S. Lowes + 0.284
P 3 I. Lecuona + 0.433
…
P 7 L. Baldassarri + 0.891
During FP2, track temperatures reached nearly 50°C, reducing the grip of the aphalt. The Go Eleven rider conducted a front comparison test that yielded positive results. In the final half-hour, he completed a long run, demonstrating great consistency and solidity while steadily improving his lap times. He set his best lap—a 1:36.1—on tires with 16 laps of wear, placing him fourth, just two-tenths off the top spot. It was his best Friday of the season—the perfect way to get back to work with the right mindset.
Free Practice 2:
P 1 N. Bulega 1.35.916
P 2 Y. Montella + 0.125
P 3 S. Lowes + 0.215
P 4 L. Baldassarri + 0.229
While Lorenzo seems to have found the right lines in the middle sectors, the focus needs to shift to the first sector and the final chicane, where a few more tenths can still be shaved off. See you tomorrow for Superpole and Race 1!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider):
“Returning after the summer break was immediately positive; I managed to quickly regain my feeling on the Ducati, the whole team and I worked well together, and I feel ready for the race. We used the second session to run some comparisons we had in mind, but when it came time to push, we were solid and fast. I’m feeling good about Superpole, too—I think my all-or-nothing is pretty strong—but I’ll need to avoid making any mistakes so I can start up front.”
FRIDAY PICS: CLICK HERE
