The Formula 1 has taught us to live the races with the unknown of the pit-stop, today here at Phillip Island we have also lived in SBK!
Changing the weather conditions from the tests to the race the tires were no longer able to complete the race distance, and even the same compound could not guarantee the same performance, so the organizer Dorna, together with Pirelli, convened an extraordinary meeting of the teams, where it was decided to opt for a mandatory pit-stop.In SBK called “flag-to-flag”!
A solution that has created even more entertainment for the COMI guest that showed up at the event, and a beautiful final battle.
Canducci after doing a good job for the race, falls on the second lap at the fast corner, together with Soomer, but the circumstances of the fall are not clear yet.
Unfortunately Michael remains on the ground and is taken to the medical center. He has banged his head but from a first check he is conscious and has no pain anywhere in the body. In these hours are conducting further checks, but the scare has passed!
Epis, arrived here with great motivation to get immediately a good result in front of his audience, burns the clutch at the start and is forced to retire while fighting for the points area.
Roman has tested the new engine in 2018 configuration for the first time, much more powerful at low and medium regimes, so much to have upset the setting of the bike.
The unknown tires have influenced the results of the race, some tires was good, others not, race 1 is been completely conditioned by the performance of the tires which in some cases proved to be dangerous for the rider, inadvertently breaking out. Roman suffered the problem after just 7 laps and was been lucky to finish the race.
For race 2 the flag-to-flag has given security conditions, with the change of tires between 10° and 12° lap there was fear of a decisive race in the pits, instead the riders have fought until the end and Roman arrived at a blow from the top ten.
Roman Ramos 40 (WSBK race 1; 14th):“it was very difficult to finish the race today, the rear tire lost its characteristics after only 7 laps and I did not think I could finish the race. In the last two laps the tire lost the pieces, I was afraid of falling and I was been lucky to finish the race.”
Roman Ramos 40 (WSBK race 2; 11th):“I liked the flag-to-flag formula, I think it was spectacular for the public. My team was very fast and we took advantage of it. In the race, however, I struggled, this engine requires a different electronics set up, especially as traction control. We have understood many things and we should work hard to find the right configuration.”
Michael Canducci 65 (WSS; rt):at this time he is in the hospital for checking, he has not issued statements.
Lachlan Epis 83 (WSS; rt):“I made a big mistake at the start, I apologize to the team and all my supporters, unfortunately I burned the clutch with the restart, after the red flag. From the weekend I can say that I found myself very well with the team and the bike, we started an important work program and I am very confident for the championship.”
Denis Sacchetti (team manager):“I think that the Supersport started in the worst way for us, Michael is currently at the hospital, all the informations we have are positive, it should only be a big scare … but it was certainly not the start we wanted.
Also I’m sorry for Lachlan, I know how much he wanted to have a good race here in front
of his fans. In Superbike we have lived the problem of tires, it is a serious matter and we could only hope that the rubber that was destined for you was the good one! The solution of the flag to flag I find it apt, in my opinion it gave show while maintaining security.At technical level we are happy, now we have a better performing engine, but we have to work to make it exploitable.”
