WorldSBK riders replicate on the various ups and downs of Mandalika

2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship

Spherical Two – Mandalika, Indonesia

Quotes

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Alvaro Bautista

“It was an unbelievable day. The whole lot occurred, first within the Superpole Race then in Race 2. I crashed within the morning as a result of after Jonathan overtook me I went on the soiled a part of the monitor. The beginning from tenth place in Race-2 was not simple additionally as a result of this can be a circuit that doesn’t supply many factors to assault. Then, after the purple flag, I assumed I couldn’t catch Rinaldi who had a really quick tempo. Ultimately, although I acquired nearer and I used to be in a position to take the primary place. We have now a number of confidence and we need to proceed to show that we’re aggressive”.

Jonathan Rea

“It has been a really troublesome weekend, with not so many positives. We, step-by-step, discovered a greater path. The monitor right here in Mandalika has been fairly inconsistent from Friday, when the grip degree was actually low, however we understood on raceday that the grip degree was extremely excessive. So, we by no means nailed the set-up completely, however I felt that we acquired higher. Within the races I felt my rhythm was OK however sadly within the Superpole Race I discovered some visitors in entrance of me and it was very troublesome to move. However I felt my tempo was fairly good. In Race Two I misplaced the entrance. Not precisely fairly positive why, however it’s fairly windy in that space. I believe the wind simply picked the entrance up. I’m annoyed and I discovered it very troublesome to move anybody on acceleration or on the brakes. I used to be using over my head typically on the brakes and within the corners making an attempt to stick with the group. However, we have now to simply accept this robust weekend, attempt to study from it after which put it behind us after we head again to Europe. We may have rather more data now. So at the same time as we’re upset, we have to hold our heads up and hold combating. I really feel Assen is a superb monitor to return again to with some sturdy outcomes.”

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

“This weekend for me was not really easy, as a result of I’m not beginning sturdy. We attempt to discover one of the best set-up however anyway, within the final race I’m feeling the bike is significantly better than yesterday. Within the Superpole Race I simply strive my finest and eventually win – this season I take first win in Mandalika! My focus was on the second race, as a result of necessary for the factors – only a bit unfortunate with the purple flag. If no purple flag, possibly I’m potential successful once more as a result of I already noticed Rinaldi’s tyre begin to drop. Generally you perceive the restrict, you assume – this place is sweet – however typically you have got an opportunity to battle. At this time, I perceive Bautista was sturdy on the finish of the Race 2 after restart, I attempted to catch him however not potential. Ultimately, we completed on the rostrum and I’m blissful. We’ll hold combating for the rostrum and for the win – this yr, all riders actually sturdy however we have now many races.”

Andrea Locatelli

“It was one other nice weekend as a result of in the long run we had been on the rostrum twice. Sadly we misplaced one other alternative in Race 2 due to the purple flag, I restarted additional again after I went huge at Flip 12, however normally I’m actually blissful as a result of we had been quick – we confirmed our velocity in qualifying and the races and acquired a number of good outcomes, so I believe we could be proud. We labored rather well throughout the weekend as a workforce and my crew gave me bike to maintain pushing and keep in entrance, no errors, so we’re blissful! Trying ahead we have to try to enhance a bit bit extra and I have to study one thing about this weekend and in addition from Phillip Island. It’s simply the second weekend, however we have now began in a very great way so we’ll see what’s going to occur throughout the season – however for positive we’re able to battle once more.”

Michael Rinaldi

“I’m upset and that’s inevitable. The beginning in Race 2 was sturdy, the sensation within the first laps was wonderful and I even managed to take the lead by margin. Then I noticed the purple flag: crucial factor is that nobody acquired damage, nevertheless it’s clear that I got here again to the field upset as a result of I felt I had all of the playing cards to win the race. After the second begin, I held the lead till the entrance drop allowed me to keep up a suitable tempo and on the finish, I virtually crashed. Nevertheless, we have now to take a look at the great issues we have now executed and from these, we should restart in Europe”.

Xavi Vierge

“I need to thank the workforce for giving me an incredible bike that allowed me to be aggressive. You’ll be able to’t consider how blissful I’m, as we’ve been working so onerous since final yr however have in some way by no means fairly been in a position to attain the rostrum. The beginning of the season has been very troublesome, however the workforce has supported me so effectively and, right here in Indonesia, they offered me with a motorcycle that allowed me to seek out good feeling and velocity. We continued to make progress over the weekend and now right here we’re. It wasn’t a straightforward day although, with two races and two purple flags. However we managed to maneuver up from thirteenth to sixth this morning in order that I may begin from the second row in race 2. Then this afternoon we had been in third place with good tempo and velocity once they stopped the race. The workforce as soon as once more supported me and I had religion, giving it the whole lot till the final laps. It’s true that Rinaldi ran huge, however we additionally had been on the restrict with our tyres and didn’t make a mistake. This podium is our reward. We’re enhancing race by race and can now do our greatest to proceed on this path throughout the subsequent rounds.”

Alex Lowes

“Arduous work and a chaotic day. The Superpole Race was good, when it comes to having tempo, grip and the bike felt good. I felt a bit bit stronger than Locatelli within the final couple of laps. I felt sturdy on the bike with gentle SCX tyre within the rear. The temperature was down a bit bit, which helps our bike. It’s at all times robust in these brief motion packed races. So to rise up off the bottom, exit on the spare bike and decide to a race like that, I’m actually blissful. However, the primary factor is to say get effectively quickly to Loris Baz. There was an incident the place I went to move him however I hit his leg. His leg got here out and I couldn’t actually keep away from it as soon as I had dedicated to attempt to move him. It was an actual disgrace. Within the lengthy race, I felt fairly good, I acquired as much as second place, feeling OK, then I began to have some inconsistency with the brakes. It induced me to run huge a bit bit. Then we had the purple flag. Within the Superpole race, throughout the purple flagged race, the bike was fairly badly broken. I used to be not ready to make use of the tyres from the Superpole purple flag crash, as they had been too badly broken as effectively. I had to make use of the tyres from the beginning of the second race, and I had just a few extra laps on them than a few of the different guys had on theirs. I assumed one of the best sport plan was to sit down behind the group, take care of the tyres and attempt to come ahead on the finish. However I struggled rather a lot with entrance grip. When the grip is just not there, we can’t experience the bike on the entrance. That is robust as a result of I really feel I’m using rather a lot higher than our place reveals. However that’s racing and we’ll strive once more in Assen.”

Danilo Petrucci

“I’m lastly again in parc fermé even when it’s ‘solely as one of the best impartial rider. It’s a pleasant confidence enhance for me and the workforce, who undoubtedly deserve it in any case their onerous work throughout this primary a part of the season.  We haven’t but reached our objective, which is the rostrum, however what ought to have been our hardest race turned out to be our greatest but, so we are able to solely be proud of that. It was a pity concerning the Superpole Race, it was like bumper vehicles – I don’t perceive the behaviour of some riders, however that clearly the way it goes.”

Remy Gardner

“Truthfully, I wasn’t positive I may race as we speak, however we made it! We tried our greatest within the Tissot Superpole Race, managing to recuperate eight positions. Afterwards, in Race 2, we additionally confirmed nice velocity, beginning as soon as once more from final. We should take the positives and sit up for the following rounds; we noticed we have now the velocity, we’ll hold working. Let’s concentrate on some relaxation now, use the time to recuperate totally, after which we’ll take into consideration what’s subsequent for us.”

Iker Lecuona

“It has not been a straightforward day and it rounds out what has been a really difficult weekend, however I need to first thank my workforce as a result of they labored onerous to restore the bike after three crashes, and in a really brief house of time. We had ups and downs throughout each session and in the long run, we simply weren’t in a position to put all of it collectively. My congratulations go to the complete workforce and my team-mate Xavi on scoring his first Superbike podium. Hopefully there shall be extra to return, for each of us, however for as we speak congratulations to Xavi – that is his day.”

Michael van der Mark

“I believe as we speak was not so unhealthy. On this morning’s dash race, my first begin was okay however my second begin wasn’t pretty much as good as I wished it to be. It’s troublesome to move on this circuit. To complete eighth within the Superpole race wasn’t that unhealthy as a result of our most important goal was to realize some positions for the grid of race two. I had begin however skilled some points once I tried to shift so I misplaced some positions. I attempted to remain calm and began to go ahead step-by-step. I had rhythm however I knew that with the tyre I selected, I’d get higher in the direction of the tip of the race. Sadly then in flip 11, I simply entered, misplaced the rear and had an enormous highside. It was a disgrace as a result of I believe we may have executed job once more, particularly in the direction of the tip of the race. Nevertheless it’s like that.  I’m fairly okay, I simply have a small fracture in my finger.”

Dominique Aegerter

“Within the Tissot Superpole Race, we wished to make progress to have a greater grid beginning place for Race 2. Sadly, the purple flag didn’t assist us in any respect. So, we needed to begin once more from P12 within the final function race, however unluckily I felt a bit worse than yesterday, and we struggled a bit extra with the tyres. As soon as once more, one other purple flag wasn’t precisely one of the best. Anyway, let’s transfer on; we take the great issues from the final two rounds. We proved to be quick, and now we’ll get pleasure from some relaxation earlier than coming again in motion to be prepared for the following rounds.”

Scott Redding

“Within the final race, I used to be fairly proud of the efficiency. I made one mistake within the first nook which value me a few positions. I used to be a bit upset about it however the circumstances had been actually difficult. It was once more additionally a bit unlucky as a result of I crashed when there was the purple flag after which they didn’t return one full lap so I went from eighth and I needed to begin from 14th. You understand that from there it’s already onerous. I made begin, I got here up by the sector a bit. However the subject is so tight in the intervening time that it’s actually onerous to make a distinction. The lap instances are very comparable so I completed tenth. I used to be blissful to complete the race; it was the primary time that I felt extra snug on the bike this yr. I hope now that we are able to construct on that for the remainder of the season.”

Garrett Gerloff

“It was a purple flag form of day! We made some huge adjustments to the bike as we speak. It felt a bit bizarre this morning within the Superpole race, however I may inform it was fairly good. It simply took me a while adapting to get used to it. The Superpole race was fairly okay, however we weren’t actually in a position to enhance our beginning place. We went out within the first a part of the second race with the toughest set of tyres, entrance and rear and it simply didn’t really feel implausible in comparison with everyone else. Fortunately or unluckily the race acquired purple flagged and we had been in a position to change tyres to the softer compounds entrance and rear. It simply reworked the bike and the whole lot felt simply so significantly better. It was so good to experience with Scott and a few the opposite guys. Once more, it’s not as far up as I clearly need to be, however contemplating the place we completed race one and the way race two went, I’m actually proud of the advance. It’s going to take a while to be persistently out on high, however I don’t assume we’re tremendous far-off so I’m blissful about that! But I really feel tremendous unhealthy for my teammate Loris. I noticed the video and that undoubtedly didn’t look good however I noticed he was in good spirits and I hope he heals up as quick as potential and comes again to Assen to race with us. I clearly additionally hope Michael is okay after his highside. It was a disgrace to see him go down.”

Loris Baz

“I’ve left the hospital after some CT scans. I do know that there’s a fracture in my ankle and fibula. We had been simply tremendous unfortunate as we speak. We didn’t have sufficient tyres for Heat Up, so we didn’t actually use this session. I used to be actually assured going into the Superpole race. I had a good beginning place and had begin. Sadly, going into flip two, somebody hit me within the again and I ended up within the gravel with Alex. Alex informed me that Danilo took each of us out. It was a very huge one and I used to be fortunate that Alex’s bike didn’t hit me. Then there was oil on monitor. We tried to inform the marshals that they need to purple flag the race, nevertheless it was a little bit of a misunderstanding and no person did something. Then Johnny crashed on the oil. After I noticed the purple flags, I jumped on my bike once more and went again to the field. The blokes did an incredible job to allow me to restart. I felt actually fortunate in that second to have the ability to restart. I did begin once more, was fifth or sixth, actually assured with the bike and I felt significantly better than yesterday. The adjustments, the blokes made had been actually good. Sadly, going into flip 10 on lap two, I simply felt an enormous impression on my leg. Alex was making an attempt to overhaul me and simply bumped into my leg. I felt immediately that one thing was incorrect and damaged. I went again to the storage. It was actually painful, however fortunately now it’s a bit higher. I’m fortunately in a position to fly again dwelling tomorrow to get the job executed with the docs at dwelling to be prepared and match for Assen. An enormous thanks to my guys, we had unhealthy luck once more. However we noticed enhancements and we have now to maintain this in thoughts. Due to everybody once more, additionally to Eugene for being right here with me.”

Hafizh Syahrin

“At this time’s races weren’t really easy. Though we had been in a position to enhance our general bundle a bit, I used to be nonetheless too removed from the pack, solely in a position to follow them within the early phases actually. I proceed to lose velocity and day trip of the corners however I hope we are able to take a step throughout the subsequent race weekends. We’ve scored two factors, which is healthier than nothing, however I’m a bit upset that I can’t be there combating. I hope we are able to achieve this within the subsequent races, and we’ll hold working in the direction of that objective.”

Paul Denning – Pata Yamaha Prometeon Crew Principal

“It’s been day ‘on the workplace’ for the workforce! Following up the 1-2 in qualifying, Toprak and Loka’s first ever 1-2 as teammates within the Superpole Race was very good. Race 2 was a busy affair for everybody concerned. As a workforce, we want one of the best to Loris Baz and all the opposite riders that crashed as we speak, nevertheless it was a really constructive strategy to finish the weekend on Toprak’s aspect. The workforce considerably improved the turning of his R1 by the quick part of the monitor and if the race hadn’t been stopped, on condition that we had been compelled to restart on used tyres, we really feel there was an opportunity to have the ability to get nearer to Alvaro. Loka didn’t have nice monitor place on the restart, however made actually good passes and had strong tempo to proceed his wonderful begin to the championship with one other sturdy experience. We have now a two-day check at Barcelona on the finish of March, which shall be crucial to take one other step in our efficiency if we’re going to problem the championship chief.”

Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

“That was a weekend of ups and downs. Everybody struggled on Friday as a result of the monitor was not in such good situation. Nevertheless, that quickly improved and we had been in a position to construct on our efficiency right here final yr. Loris carried out very effectively in Superpole. Michael and Scott additionally each had superb laps, however they had been cancelled as a result of yellow flags. Garrett was nonetheless scuffling with the set-up. Race one was an unfortunate one for Scott. His tyre didn’t work, then he had a technical problem. Michael gave a really sturdy and strong efficiency to climb into sixth place. Loris needed to keep away from a crash firstly, however battled again to complete eleventh. Luck was undoubtedly not on our aspect on Sunday. Loris began the Superpole race from in the direction of the entrance of the grid, however crashed by no fault of his personal after the primary begin. His workforce did an excellent job to get his bike prepared once more so shortly. After the restart, Loris was actually unfortunate to be hit on his leg and suffered fractures. We hope he makes a speedy restoration! Scott and Michael had a very good race and lined up eighth and ninth within the second most important race. Sadly, Michael was compelled off the racing line and had a highside when he opened the throttle once more. He injured his fingers within the course of. Get effectively quickly, Mickey! Everybody needed to be on used tyres when the race resumed, and we had been sadly not in a position to construct on our efficiency. Scott and Garrett had a battle and got here dwelling tenth and eleventh. In abstract, there have been some excessive factors, however the weekend led to disappointment with two injured riders. Each now have just a few weeks to recuperate, and we hope they are going to have the ability to attend the Barcelona check. Nevertheless, we’ll hold our heads up, put together effectively, and sit up for the European season.”

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World Superbike Championship Factors

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