Italiano
P 8; SOLID COMEBACK FOR BALDA AMONG RAIN AND CLASHES IN RACE 1!
The weather promised instability, and the typical Dutch rain came right on time midway through Race 1, making it difficult to manage the final laps. Balda fought like a lion after going wide in Turn 1 at the start, climbing from fifteenth to eighth place. Contacts, raindrops, and comebacks—a day full of unexpected events, but done and dusted getting many points in the standing.
In FP3, Balda was only able to complete one good lap in the whole session, using SC0 race tyres. First, a pit stop for the usual post-engine change check, then a red flag caused by Chantra’s crash, and finally several crashes by other riders on the track, resulting in the cancellation of two laps for the number 34. A good shakedown to find the right direction for qualifying.
Free Practice 3:
P 1 I. Lecuona 1.32.823
P 2 A. Lowes + 0.259
P 3 A. Bautista + 0.354
…
P 18 L. Baldassarri + 1.396
In Superpole, number 34 used the first run yo get used to the SCX and a faster track than yesterday. On his second outing, he struggled in the first sector, but then in the second half of the track he performed a “miracle”, saving the qualy. Ninth place, two tenths better and it would have been a top five finish; two tenths worse and it would have been a fifteenth. Third row, still an excellent position to attack in the races.
Superpole:
P 1 N. Bulega 1.32.144
P 2 S. Lowes + 0.329
P 3 I. Lecuona + 0.423
…
P 9 L. Baldassarri + 0.964
Team Go Eleven’s first race has been affected immediately at Turn 1 at the start; to avoid Petrucci, Baldassarri was forced to go wide, finishing fifteenth. He began his comeback, battling with Surra and Bassani, passing them both. The pace was fast, so much so that he even attacked Montella a few laps later. The number 34 was quicker than the group ahead, battling for sixth place, but while trading positions with Oliveira, he lost his line between Turns 6 and 7, sliding down the standing, leaving everything to rebuild. With eight laps to go, rain hit the TT Circuit. The drops forced the riders to slow down, closing the group; Balda waited, then launched an attack in the final two laps, passing Montella and Gardner, and on the final turn, the famous “S,” he made a surgical pass to take eighth place. A fine comeback, a great demonstration of good management of hard moments.
Race 1:
P 1 N. Bulega 33’12.444
P 2 I. Lecuona + 1.618
P 3 S. Lowes + 2.923
…
P 8 L. Baldassarri +18.550
Today’s realistic goal would have been a top six, and it was within reach, but given how the race unfolded after the first few laps, Balda showed he had the guts and speed, managing the rain when needed, and then attacking in the finale. Stunning overtaking moves from number 34 put on a real show on the track. We’ll try again tomorrow, a double chance to improve further!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider):
“I’m satisfied with how the race ended, even though after yesterday I hoped for a bit more. We could have done better, but in the end, eighth place is an excellent result in a crazy race like today’s. I gained a lot of experience on the track; on the first lap, I almost touched at the first corner, and to avoid crashing, I had to go really wide, losing a lot of positions. Around halfway through the race, it started to rain, making it difficult to stay focused, push, and not make mistakes. I made a lot of overtakes and had a great battle, and despite the contact with Oliveira, which cost me a lot of time, I managed to get back in the group for the final laps. We have to be satisfied with today; tomorrow we have two more opportunities, and I can’t wait to get back on track!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“Today was a positive day overall; we may have struggled a bit in qualifying, but Balda’s pace was fast in the race. Unfortunately, the first lap didn’t go our way; we went wide in Turn 1, and had to recover from fifteenth place. Then, however, we worked our way up to eighth, and it almost felt like we were limited because we knew we could gain a couple more positions. It’s important to remember, however, that this is only Lorenzo’s third race on this bike, and even today the conditions weren’t easy, with the rain and constant fighting. We’re scoring points, we’re continuing to prove consistency and solidity, and now the goal is to have a perfect race and get back into the top six. I have to thank the whole team; last night they worked till very late, and today everything worked perfectly in the garage!”
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