Looking at the pre-event Thursday, anyone would have signed up to go home with a fourth and a third place and P3 in the Championship on equal points with Locatelli; but today perhaps it is more the disappointment and regret of having missed at least one great chance.
In the Superpole Race, a mix of emotions hit the Go Eleven team and Andrea Iannone. He was in the lead for half the race, then when it seemed like a gap could open up, the classic and unexpected technical problem, left handlebar grip came off and in the meantime the suit’s airbag opened. The rider from Vasto tried to find a temporary solution, trying to reinsert it, a very difficult operation at over 300 km per hour, but was unable to do so. From that moment on he could no longer push, so he could only finish the race. Missed opportunity, very high regret within the whole team. It’s even more disappointing since the feeling is that Andrea really could have finished in the podium area.
Superpole Race:
P 1 A. Lowes 15’00.995
P 2 A. Locatelli + 1.157
P 3 T. Razgatlioglu + 1.738
…
P 14 A. Iannone + 7.814
Race 2 starts with a notable delay due to oil on track after the Australian National Championship; lower temperatures and fresh wind which further alters the conditions compared to the Superpole Race. Andrea starts tenth, following the inconvenience that occurred in the morning. Three incredible laps, in which he makes overtakings, attacks, different lines to get into the leading group; he makes good use of the moment of chaos generated by Toprak’s failure and jumps to third place with a double overtaking in Turn 1. Red flag for the crash that occurred to Rea, then, when the race restarts Andrea doesn’t find the same feeling with the rear tyre, losing a lot in the left corners. However, he remains in the fight for the podium and in the final he tries to defend himself from the return of Danilo Petrucci. He made a spectacular double attack on Rinaldi and the Barni Racing rider at the start of the last lap, but the podium went for a couple of cents.
Race 2:
P 1 A. Lowes 16’27.565
P 2 A. Bautista + 0.048
P 3 D. Petrucci + 1.178
P 4 A. Iannone + 1.275
Certainly not a very lucky day on Sunday at Phillip Island for Team Go Eleven. The first round of the season ends with a hint of bitterness in the mouth. But just the thought of being slightly disappointed after two amazing races, always with the front group, in the first real race, gives you an idea of how the bike-box-rider package is working in the right direction. A bit of rest, perhaps enjoying the replicas of the races more calmly, and then it will be time for Barcelona, the second round of the season, preceded by a two-day test on the Catalan track!
Andrea Iannone (Rider): “This morning in the Superpole Race, we were in the right place, I was in the lead, I think we could have finished the race in a completely different way but a technical problem stopped us. I felt very good in the race, I was quite fast and had recovered a lot of positions, then with the red flag and the change of the rear tyre I didn’t find the same feeling as the first start and I struggled with the grip when entering the corners. We still reached fourth place, we return home with a podium in the first race of the year after a long time and with valuable information for the team. We could definitely have achieved more but it’s all experience for the team. I want to thank Ducati for the support, my team and the people who contributed to my return making it possible. Now let’s think about Barcelona!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): “We can’t say we’re not happy because it was a positive weekend and we returned to the podium. Andrea surprised everyone, I don’t think anyone expected to see him already so strong and I have to congratulate him! Unfortunately in the Superpole Race we had a technical problem, things that shouldn’t happen, but it happened and we missed an important opportunity! In race two he was going very fast, the feeling was that we could fight for the victory, then on the restart after the red flag, the new tyre didn’t work in the same way as the first one and Andrea gave his all, finishing fourth in the sprint with Petrucci. We’re going home satisfied and even more excited for future races!”
 Guardando al giovedì pre event, chiunque avrebbe messo la firma per tornare a casa con un quarto ed un terzo posto e la P 3 in Campionato a pari punti con Locatelli; ma oggi forse è più la delusione ed il rammarico di aver mancato almeno una grande chance.){kind=link}