A unique day, which will remain fixed in the minds of all those who have entered Go Eleven, who have lived this year, who have enjoyed and suffered with the Italian team. Chaz Davies, one of the greatest performers in recent WorldSBK history finished his last race, saying goodbye to motorcycling fans!
The day at the Mandalika circuit is quite eventful. While the riders are lined up on the grid for Race 1, the sky clouds become grey and a few drops of rain fall. Not as strong as yesterday, but the slightly wet track forces the stewards to delay the start. The track still seems in excellent condition, so much so that the riders are all back on the grid with slicks. The race starts, and the third and fourth sectors turn out to be rather wet, with the riders entering the turns cautiously. The battle for the World Championship starts between Toprak and Rea, while behind Davies he climbs up with an excellent pace, also signing the provisional fastest lap. He enters the top eight, battles with Bautista and Sykes, and manages to contain the gap from the leaders well. As the track dries up, little by little the top five make the difference, but Chaz defends himself well and ends an excellent race in eighth position. Really good performance, especially in the first laps on a wet track!
Race 1:
P 1 J. Rea 32’12.219
P 2 T. Razgatlioglu + 0.670
P 3 S. Redding + 2.155
…
P 8 C. Davies + 14.509
In Race 2, a dejà-vù from yesterday welcomes the WorldSBK riders; all off the grid within minutes of departure due to a tropical storm. And here in Indonesia, the storms are intense, very intense. With wet riders and mechanics, the organization moves the final decision on whether or not to start Race 2, to 16.00 local time. The rain stops a bit and the race starts with very wet asphalt and only twelve laps. Unfortunately, Chaz never manages to find the pace to be in front, but the main goal is to finish his last race. After the finish line, passed in twelfth position, the emotion becomes protagonist; burnout, Prosecco, dedicated board and the whole WorldSBK circus awaits the Welshman with the number 7 for the last “Goodbye”!
Race 2:
P 1 J. Rea 20’53.598
P 2 S. Redding + 0.283
P 3 M. Van der Mark + 7.437
…
P 12 C. Davies + 50.591
Today the result for Team Go Eleven and Chaz Davies weren’t so important; today was Chaz’s day. After thirteen seasons racing at the highest level between Superbike and Supersport, 99 podiums and 32 victories, a World Championship won in 2011, three times second in Superbike World Championship, but above all one of the best, most true, exciting and heartfelt people in the paddock greets the world of two wheels. From tomorrow a new life begins for you Chaz, your team wishes you the best for future projects; you wrote a page in the history of Go Eleven, motorcycling and Ducati. Thanks for everything Chaz, you have been one of our idols, you are a legend, it is an honor to have been with you in this final season!
THANKS WORLDSBK LEGEND!
Honorable mention to the new World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and the Yamaha Team. Toprak and Johnny put together the best WorldSBK season; fighting with them is something unique.
WELL DESERVED TOPRAK!
Chaz Davies (Rider):
“It’s good to race today here in Mandalika, the first race I was quite happy with, I felt Ok on the bike, I was quite fast especially on the beginning of the Race, I was catching the front group. Then when the track dried I lost a bit, but I was happy with P 8. Then the second Race, in the rain here is really high grip, I felt a bit strange during the race to be honest. I was really motivated to try to finish well, but after the delay I didn’t feel particularly normal. Maybe it’s to be expected, I try to tell myself a few times: “Just enjoy it”, but anyway it’s like this. Definitively the first Race is the highlight of the weekend. Just thanks to everybody for the support, to the guys, to the Team Go Eleven for supporting me so much this year, bringing me in like a family. It has been a difficult season, but I really enjoy the time in the garage and myself in general. Now I take the next step in life, which is to walk away from racing in motorcycle. It has been a great career and looking back it means satisfaction. I wish the maximum respect to all my competitors, congratulations to Toprak for the Championship, he did such an amazing job this season, and to Yamaha also. I hope to be back here in future, but obviously not on the bike! ”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“Having met and have been so lucky to work with a rider and, even before that, with a man like Chaz Davies, who has become a World Superbike legend is a great privilege! This was not a race for us, but a red carpet. I was excited from the first minute we arrived here at Mandalika until today. Not many people can know what it feels like when you change your life, no one can know what Chaz was thinking today, but I think everyone would have been excited looking him in the eyes! I don’t have much to say, just thank you Chaz for what you have given us and what you have given to this sport, you have left your mark in the hearts of all of us. Enjoy the next goals Chaz! “
