SECOND MOTOE TEST IN BARCELONA: THE FELO GRESINI TEAM IS READY TO FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Barcelona-Catalunya, 5th April 2023. Three days of official tests for the Team MotoE FELO Gresini Racing in Barcelona, the last ones before the start of the championship. After the first test under the rain in Jerez, the sun is finally shining at the Montmeló circuit, giving the two Italian riders the opportunity to work hard on the set-up of their Ducati V21Ls in view of the first race of the year, which will be held at Le Mans next month.
Five sessions per day and a race simulation. Good feelings for Matteo Ferrari, who improves day by day until he finds the optimal set-up for his new Ducati #11 and he demonstrates it in the race simulation, where after an electronic problem at the start, he sets the second fastest time. The rider from Romagna finds himself outside the TOP3 by just two tenths in the three-day combined sessions, confident that the work done in these days will allow him to be competitive right from the first round at Le Mans, in occasion of the first race of the championship.
First time ever on the Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya for Alessio Finello, who takes advantage of the early sessions to learn all the secrets of this track. The rider from Turin manages to beat his lap-time in each session demonstrating that he is working in the right direction, setting his best time in the last session with used tires. The sensations on his Ducati #72 are good: he’s ready for the first race weekend.
4th – MATTEO FERRARI #11 (1:47.793; +0.572 – 84 laps)
“Three days of very intense testing: we’ve done a great job, the bike has always improved, we’ve found the right balance and I’m very happy with this. We finished fourth in the tests, but this position doesn’t reflect our real potential: in terms of race pace, we were very fast, without looking for the time-attack in the various sessions. Especially as regards the tire strategy, we preferred to work more on the race, putting the new tires in the time-frame we will compete on the race weekends and I’m sure this work will pay off. I thank the team for the excellent work, the bike has always been great. I was sorry not to be able to start in the race simulation, there was an electronic problem, but then I set the second best time after Granado’s, showing that we have good pace. In general, the balance of these tests is positive, we go home with that extra energy in view of Le Mans!”
16th – ALESSIO FINELLO #72 (1:49.670; +2.449 – 88 laps)
“Finally three sunny days, it was crucial for us to work in dry conditions. I used the first session to get to know the track, I had never ridden in Montmelò. We improved session after session, on the second day we took a big step forward, while on the last day I struggled more, even if in reality it was in the last session that I set my best time with used tires. This FP5 gave me confidence for the championship: we can play it with the group. We worked well, I thank the whole team and the sponsors, it’s always important for me to have their trust: now there’s a month left, I’ll try to train as best as I can to get ready for the first race of the season”.
