The most striking comments to Acerbis Italian Channel are available, while the Motul Fim Superbike world championship set is gathered on the Cremona circuit. A long-awaited return, pilots trying to forget their disappointment and others to bounce back: take out your popcorn to discover what the pilots have to say …
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Rokit BMW Motorrad Worldsbk): “I don’t know what to expect … After 10 laps, the motorcycle behaves completely differently! »»
Preparing for his first race in Cremona, Razgatlioglu said: “I am really happy to arrive in Crémone after missing the competition last year. I did tests here last year, but I only traveled 40 laps. I know the circuit, but we have no basic settings. I do not know if the circuit is particularly advantageous for BMW or for me, but I like it. I only did 35 laps. It is not a race simulation. I think I will do well, but I know that the ducati is strong here. Assen was difficult for Bulega, having two technical problems is difficult, but the second, when it was close to victory, is disappointing. It was good for me for the points, but I do not hope he has a technical problem. He and the other Ducati pilots are very strong this year, but we will see on this circuit. If we can improve something on our BMW, we may be able to reconnect with victory. But this season has been very difficult for me, especially in Assen. After 10 laps, my rear tire was destroyed. I was just trying to finish in a good position. I hope we will get a good result here, because last year, I was not there. I don’t know what to expect, because after 10 laps, the bike behaves completely differently. We will see tomorrow and I hope to be near the front. »»
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I think Ducati understands the problem and we will see if it works here”
About his mechanical problems in Assen, Bulega said: “After Assen, I went home and I needed a few days of rest, because it was a little difficult on Sunday. I was rather happy because I looked at the races and I was very fast each time, especially leaving 10th and arriving 1st. I want to draw the positive points and bring them to Cremona. I think Ducati understands the problem and we’ll see if it works here. For me, it was important to score points. I arrive here in confidence. In Assen, I was very strong, just like in previous races. I don’t really like this circuit because it does not really correspond to my piloting style. »»
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “From 0 to 100, I would say 99, but it is clear that it will be impossible to do better”
The author of the triplet of last year, Petrucci, said: “Crémone 2024 was one of the best weekends in my career. It was incredible to win in Italy, especially for my first races, and a hat -trick! I have very good memories and it will be difficult to repeat, but I will try. From 0 to 100, I would say 99, but it is clear that it will be impossible to do better. I would need pole position on Saturday to improve my result last year. The pressure is stronger following last year’s success, but I want to approach this race like any other. The podium would be a good goal, but if this is not the case, I would fight at least for the top 5. I lost a lot on Sunday in Assen, so I want to mark as much as possible to go up the slope. »»
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “As soon as I got on the 2025 motorcycle in November, I felt competitive …”
About his return, Rea said: “It’s good to finally be back. The path was long, but in reality, I only missed a few races; Every day, I have set myself the goal of coming back as quickly as possible. It was nice to look from far away, and “Loka” won her first WORLDSBK victory. Yamaha was also competitive during these first races, which gives us confidence and motivates us to know that all our winter work is bearing fruit. I will now be able to enjoy it tomorrow for the first time and enjoy the motorcycle. The first weeks, of course, I was plastered, so it was hard too, the pain was unbearable. I spent hours and hours every day in a hyperbaric box. As soon as I was able to start training, I went to Barcelona, where I spent the last 3-4 weeks. When you are on the ground and seriously injured, it is difficult to see how to move forward, but the important thing is that once you start to feel better, it improves very quickly. As soon as I piloted the 2025 motorcycle in November, I felt competitive, really good throughout the winter. I felt like I was one of the fastest motorcycles. So I knew things were starting to move. We see him now, so congratulations to Yamaha for his hard work. I feel functionally loud, I feel fit, but I don’t want to touch the motorcycle and think about my foot. I want to get out of the first turns of my head and get to work. Uri and the team have a great program for the weekend, I hope the weather will be there.
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Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “We will have a new ducati next year, and for the moment, I would like to pilot it”
Regarding a mixed start to the season, Bautista said: “It was an extreme start to the season, sometimes with podiums, but also three points without points. It is therefore not easy to recover from these three errors, but we have to go ahead, and the important thing is that the feeling with the motorcycle is much better than last year. Here in Crémone, this is a new page because it is a unique circuit, and most of us do not have much experience here, we started to run only last year. I have the impression of having more margin than last year and of not having to be constantly at the limit as last year. In Australia, it was a mistake on my part, because I did not feel the wind turn. In Portimão, it was not my fault. In Assen, I felt like I could be faster than the group in which I was, but I missed my maneuver and I made an error. I really enjoy this year than last year. In the end, the important thing for me is to continue to have fun in the race. Next year, we will have a new Ducati, and for the moment, I would like to pilot it, but nothing to report. The atmosphere is good in the team, but there are no news yet. »»
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “It is important that Jonathan can come back to the motorcycle … Everything is positive with Yamaha! »»
Returning to his first victory and turned to the future, Locatelli said: “I am very happy to be back home for this round. I live near Crémona, so it will be great, because many people will come to encourage us. I want to continue on this momentum, win as much podiums as possible. Let’s try to do like in Assen, to always attack hard, and to try to win again. Why not ? We feel intense emotions at the time of victory, and we take advantage of it, but at the same time, once returned, I took advantage of a few days before getting back to work. It is true that it is my first victory, but for me, it is not enough; I dream, I work hard and I trust myself. I want it more. It is important that Jonathan can come back to the motorcycle and try to roll again. It is essential that the team has a good reference within the box and I am delighted to have a strong pilot by my side. It’s early, but as always, it is never too early! We started talking about the future shortly after Phillip Island. Yamaha is happy to keep me in the team because I build my career around Yamaha. Everything is positive with Yamaha and I am more than delighted to work with them. At the same time, we must consider all the teams to which I could or not to change, and we must seek other options. I have to understand the best solution for me, my goal and my future in general. For the moment, I am rather satisfied with Yamaha. »»
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team): “We have to finish on Saturday, it’s not the right day for us!” »»
Montella has only one goal in mind: to put an end to her “curse” on Saturday. He said: “I thought about it recently, because I came to Crémona a few years ago with my training motorcycle at 13 or 14, because it was a difficult circuit. Now, I’m here for a racing weekend in Worlddsbk, it’s a bit with emotion. Our goal is a little different from that of Danilo, I think! We must continue to progress. We have more or less an idea of the areas we need to work on, as well as my piloting style. The situation is clear. You have to end on Saturday, it’s not the right day for us! The classification of the championship does not reflect our potential, because I have some white results. I fell on Saturday in Australia, Portimão and Assen. Every Sunday, I finish more or less in the top 10, in the points. »»
Axel Bassani (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team): “If we continue to work as in Assen, we can do well”
In anticipation of his first round at home of the season, Bassani said: “The last test at Assen went pretty well, it was our first arrival in the top 5. For a new motorcycle, it is a very nice goal that we achieved. The first race in Assen went well, but I made an error, so I’m sorry for the team. It will be our first participation on this circuit with this motorcycle, so I do not know what can happen. If we continue to work like in Assen, we can do well. I hope to continue this momentum here. There is a long straight line, so it will be difficult for us, because we have problems in this sector, we lack speed. At the same time, we are rather good in terms of balance between the track and the turns, and the motorcycle works well. The level of the worlddsbk is very high and everything can change overnight. At the end of last year, I started to be quite fast, but my problem was still the superpole. In Assen, we did a good job and I took advantage of the suction of Toprak, because we need it right now. If we go in good position on the grid, we can do a good race. We have to go in front of it because it is difficult for us to overcome. »»
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