Outspoken forward of Assen
Chapter three of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is about to happen on the legendary TT Circuit Assen within the Netherlands. Numerous classics at this observe and in addition in current rounds imply that 2024’s Pirelli Dutch Spherical is destined to be one for the ages; we caught up with the principle stars on Thursday throughout WorldSBK’s media day.
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Staff): “We wish to be on the rostrum!”
After a powerful Barcelona, the podium is the purpose for home-hero Michael van der Mark: “It’s all the time good to reach at your private home observe once you’ve had some first rate outcomes earlier than. In Australia and particularly Barcelona, we had some actually good outcomes. We come right here with confidence and figuring out the bottom now we have is actually good. We wish to be on the rostrum, and we’ve had a very good begin to the season. We now have a very good base and we’re quick. It might be good to be on the rostrum. It’s a pleasant affirmation figuring out you have got a motorbike that may struggle for the rostrum and victories. It takes a little bit little bit of stress away. We all know the bundle is there, we simply must finetune it and concentrate on driving. Truthfully, the one factor I can do is ship outcomes. I’ve been unfortunate the final two years. I’m match, I’m feeling good on the bike and all I can do now’s ship outcomes.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Staff): “I’ve a dream this yr to win the Championship”
Two wins final day out at a observe he and BMW had by no means gained at, Assen has additionally been a spot the place Toprak Razgatlioglu and BMW haven’t mounted the highest step: “I’ve by no means gained right here at Assen within the Superbike class; I hope I can this weekend. It seems to be a little bit unusual because the climate can all the time change simply. It’s chilly however I’m able to race in each moist and dry races. I’ve a dream this yr to win this Championship; I can’t say earlier than the top of the season. My dream seems to be potential. I’m pleased with Michael as a teammate and the ambiance within the storage is excellent and we work effectively collectively. If BMW ask me, it’s straightforward to say Michael, he’s a very good teammate, a very good man and respectful; we work collectively within the race and Superpole. Perhaps at this observe, he’ll assist me as he is aware of it higher than me –within the moist, he’ll present me the most effective line!”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I’m not in a rush to decide”
With foolish season in full circulate, Alvaro Bautista’s future might maintain the important thing to many for 2025: “To win a race is all the time crucial, however particularly after coming from a tough winter for me with my harm and in addition the sensation I began with the bike in testing that was not the most effective. It was crucial to get better the nice feeling throughout the Barcelona weekend. I believe the win was the consequence of this sense and from my bodily situation. It gave me numerous confidence for the remainder of the Championship. Truthfully, I don’t have something on my thoughts about my future. It’s been very powerful for me. In Barcelona, I recovered the nice feeling. I all the time say I hold racing as a result of I’m having numerous enjoyable driving my bike and with a very good feeling. It’s vital to have a very good feeling on my bike and attempt to all the time enhance. With this loopy grid, you need to be a good higher rider than earlier than! I attempt to all the time be a greater rider. I’m simply centered on this and attempting to be higher and higher. I’m not in a rush to decide.”
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “This might be probably the most tough race for me”
Again after arm-pump surgical procedure, Nicolo Bulega says this might be his most tough spherical but: “I had some issues throughout the races so I made a decision to have the surgical procedure earlier than Assen as this observe is a bit tough bodily, with the change of course. With the Superbike, it may be exhausting. I made a decision to do it earlier than this race and I’m nonetheless not at 100% however I’m recovering daily and I can trip effectively. I all the time push at 100% once I’m on the bike; this might be probably the most tough race for me as a result of we’ve had the check earlier than the opposite races. I additionally come right here after the surgical procedure, with no check, so maybe Friday will probably be tougher for me. I’m pleased as a result of it’s a observe I like rather a lot and I’ll attempt to do my finest.”
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “We now have to stroll earlier than we are able to run”
17 wins and 25 podiums: will Assen’s most profitable rider, Jonathan Rea, get his season off to a correct begin after six races the place he’s struggled: “I’m actually excited to be again at Assen, I just like the structure of the observe and in addition my followers convey some good vitality right here. It’s only a case of looking for some type and efficiency each from myself and the R1. I believe Catalunya Race 2 was my first regular race with no subject, so I banked some factors. What I realised was ranging from P13 is that it’s so tough to achieve that entrance group, so it was a race I began making progress. It’s not the positions we wish to struggle for, however now we have to begin someplace after numerous disappointments. Trying ahead to seeing if Assen can convey us some extra fortune. Trying again at earlier years, it’s a observe that fits not simply me however the Yamaha R1. It’s a spot we are able to make that step, however it’s a step by progress. We now have to stroll earlier than we are able to run.”
Andrea Iannone (Staff GoEleven): “My goal is to be in a manufacturing unit workforce… I felt curiosity from many producers”
Again at Assen and trying to his future, Andrea Iannone made a daring declare for 2025: “I’m a little bit bit excited as a result of it’s actually good to be again right here. I gained previously in my first yr in Moto2 and in addition, I’ve had actually good races kind of yearly at this observe. It’s the primary race we don’t have a check earlier than the spherical and I’m a little bit bit nervous as a result of I don’t know what occurs, however I hope we instantly begin in a great way. I don’t find out about my future. I’m pleased I’m being spoken about, however I don’t know in the meanwhile. I wish to proceed to stay this second and I’m centered on driving effectively as a result of I do know if I’m on prime, I’ve many probabilities. My goal is to be in a manufacturing unit workforce, however we’ll see. After a very long time, I felt many issues and I felt curiosity from many producers. I’m honoured. I believe after Assen, in Misano, we’ll know one thing extra about this.”
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Staff WorldSBK): “Something can occur when the climate’s a little bit bit inconsistent”
Within the prime three of the Championship, Alex Lowes is eager to point out Kawasaki’s potential at Assen: “Circumstances are all the time a little bit bit combined right here at Assen. I do know the bike and observe effectively, so I believe if there’s minimal dry time, it might be good for us. We now have to adapt effectively to the state of affairs. Something can occur when the climate’s a little bit bit inconsistent. We now have to ensure we make the correct choices, put ourselves in a very good place and I believe, dry or moist circumstances, we will be fairly optimistic in regards to the weekend. This weekend, if we are able to struggle for the rostrum, be within the combine with the entrance guys preventing on the entrance, I believe we will be pleased and that’s the goal. I don’t actually know in regards to the future, it’s very early. We’ve obtained a giant break after the Assen spherical with so lengthy till the subsequent spherical, so perhaps there’ll be some extra information within the break. From my aspect, I don’t know but. I began the yr actually robust with Kawasaki, I’ve modified a number of the working setting contained in the workforce so it could be good to maintain this development.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “Let’s push and see what we are able to do”
With a primary win nonetheless available, can pleased reminiscences from earlier Assen outings spur Andrea Locatelli on: “I’ve good reminiscences type Assen; I obtained my first WorldSBK podium right here in 2021 and I’ve had a podium each season with Yamaha right here, so why not attempt to repeat it this yr? It gained’t be straightforward and doubtless this weekend, we’ll trip in numerous circumstances with the forecast will probably be tough. I really feel snug although and OK with the bike, so let’s push and see what we are able to do. We now have a very good feeling and it’s a flowing observe, so it’s one other good observe to point out our potential and velocity. We’ll push for the utmost and see what now we have. Toprak was a giant shock for everybody as we didn’t suppose it might occur instantly however they’re working effectively throughout testing they usually discovered a very good resolution for the race. I’m pleased for him as a result of, firstly, he’s my good friend and I’ve a very good relationship with him. He’s a giant expertise; I despatched a message to him as a result of I missed him after the race. I wish to attempt to struggle once more this weekend.”
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