Italiano
TYRE DROP MANAGEMENT AND RACE PACE FOCUS IN JEREZ’S FRIDAY!
The final Friday of the season begins under the shining Andalusian sun, with temperatures around 30 degrees—ideal conditions for free practice. Balda and Team Go Eleven carry out their standard Friday program, focusing on race pace and tyre management. Lorenzo feels comfortable at Jerez right from the start, immediately positioning himself among the frontrunners!
During FP1, the team’s technicians and the rider—number 34—observed that at the Angel Nieto Circuit, fast lap times can only be achieved in the opening laps; tyre performance drops significantly by the third or fourth lap before eventually stabilizing. Balda quickly rode under 1.39, joining the group of Ducati riders, all of whom were closely matched. The second and fourth sectors proved to be particular strengths, with no particular weaknesses elsewhere. Midway through the session, the team tested a modification to the rear of the bike, slightly adjusting its geometry. This change boosted the rider’s confidence, and it was decided to keep the setup for FP2.
Free Practice 1:
P 1 N. Bulega 1.38.155
P 2 S. Lowes + 0.252
P 3 I. Lecuona + 0.334
…
P 7 L. Baldassarri + 0.526
In FP2, Baldassarri started strong right away, coming within a tenth of the morning’s benchmark despite the track not being in the best condition. He spent eight laps simulating race pace, maintaining a consistent rhythm without suffering too much from tyre degradation. A red flag midway through the session allowed the mechanics to make an additional adjustment—which remained on the bike until the checkered flag—though Baldassarri didn’t feel it provided any significant advantage. Nevertheless, the second part of the session was excellent: he completed 15 consecutive laps, all in the mid-to-high 1’39” range, making him one of the fastest riders on track. It is worth noting that some riders from other teams have already attempted a “time attack,” improving their lap times by about half a second.
Free Practice 2:
P 1 N. Bulega 1.38.309
P 2 S. Lowes + 0.150
P 3 I. Lecuona + 0.269
P 4 A. Surra + 0.310
P 5 L. Baldassarri + 0.488
Today proved to be very positive for Balda and the team; together, they managed to show strong single-lap speed early in the session, while also keeping consistent pace over subsequent laps. The data from today makes it clear that, through the race, it won’t be possible to push to the limit right from the start—everyone will have to manage their tyres and contend with the inevitable drop in performance. The focus now shifts to the flying lap; with all riders so close, starting near the front will be crucial!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider):
“I’m happy with how this first day went; we were fast, especially in terms of race pace—which is crucial here at Jerez for understanding how to approach the races. The feeling on the bike was good right from the start; now we’ll work on the details and look to take another step forward tomorrow. Here at Jerez, we’re close to the frontrunners—Nicolò has a slight edge of a few tenths, but the others aren’t significantly ahead. I’m confident; I’ll give it my all tomorrow and try to start near the front. Let’s hope the weather stays like this and doesn’t throw any surprises our way over the next few days!”
FRIDAY PICS: CLICK HERE
