Locatelli on WorldSBK Podium Return: “This is a Huge Gift for Us”
Andrea Locatelli made a remarkable return to the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) podium with an impressive performance in Race 2 at Most, marking his first top-three finish since the Phillip Island Superpole Race.
Locatelli’s Journey
After finishing seventh in Race 1, Locatelli showed increasing competitiveness throughout the weekend. Starting Race 2 from sixth position, he managed to overtake Michael Van Der Mark and Remy Gardner, emerging as a strong contender. Reflecting on his performance after the race, Locatelli said, “I think we did an incredible job on Sunday because starting from P6 is never easy, and starting from P9 in the Superpole Race is also tough. We took step by step to improve the bike and the feeling. In Race 2, we made a big step forward and the feeling on the bike was much, much better.”
Overcoming Challenges
Locatelli faced significant challenges due to the intense heat, which made handling the bike difficult. “I was struggling more than on Saturday; it was really hot, so it was very hard to fight with the bike, but with the improvements we made, I had more confidence and maintained a good rhythm until the end,” he explained. The team and the rider managed to adjust the bike to deliver better performance, which was crucial for his recovery and success in the race.
Performance Assessment
Locatelli’s performance was not far off the leaders, such as Nicolo Bulega and race winner Toprak Razgatlioglu. Locatelli’s analysis indicated that the team made significant progress in specific areas of the track. “When we analyzed sector by sector, we weren’t so far off overall. We were missing something in sectors three and four; this was the main issue,” he said. Locatelli and his team learned a lot from the Superpole Race data and managed to improve the bike’s handling.
Impact and Future Expectations
Locatelli’s return to the podium represents a significant milestone for him and Yamaha. He views this result as a “huge gift” and a clear demonstration of progress made. The team is excited about the performance and optimistic for future races, believing that the advancements will have a positive impact on upcoming competitions.
With renewed confidence and continued support from Yamaha, Andrea Locatelli is well-positioned to face future challenges and continue his successful trajectory in the WorldSBK.
