Second place at the end of Friday at Assen

What a Friday at Assen! Speed, consistent pace, an explosive final lap, and all day inside the Top 5. The connection between Balda and this track is nothing short of special.

In FP1, #34 took a couple of laps to find the right rhythm; an initial pit stop to fine-tune the setup, and then 18 consecutive laps, riding a convincing 1:34.5 towards the end of the session. Good pace, always in the high 34s, confirmed a solid FP1. He finished fourth overall, half a second off first place. Not a bad debut at Assen aboard the Ducati Go Eleven!

Free Practice 1: 
P 1   N. Bulega   1.33.952
P 2   I. Lecuona   + 0.256
P 3   S. Lowes    + 0.476
P 4   L. Baldassarri   + 0.575

For FP2, the schedule includes a first run focused on race pace and finding something more for the long distance, followed by the final minutes dedicated to testing the SCX, the qualifying tyre here in the Netherlands. This choice was dictated by the fact that very cool conditions are forecast for Saturday’s first session, which isn’t ideal for the extra grip of the soft tyre. Twelve laps, all between 34.5 and 34 high, giving extra motivation for the race. With fifteen minutes to go, Balda switches to the soft tyre; on the first lap, he drops a few tenths, then on his penultimate attempt, he manages to get the best out of the first and second sectors, finishing second, breaking the 34 barrier. A perfect session to say the least, which bodes well for Saturday!

Free Practice 2: 
P 1   N. Bulega   1.33.687
P 2   L. Baldassarri   + 0.276
P 3   I. Lecuona   + 0.330

The tyre choice has already solved on Friday at Assen; the solution for the race will be the classic SC0. Physical condition is also positive; the risk of arm pump seems avoided by the moment. The goal remains the top five, which will be difficult, with all the riders from second place onwards being very close, and a lot will depend on qualifying!

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider): 
“Today was a fantastic day, we enjoyed the Assen circuit on this amazing Ducati! I’m happy with the atmosphere in the garage; we’re working step by step, but well, and improving with every run. We’ve managed to be consistent and progressive, so I’m happy with my race pace. I expect our rivals to improve a lot tomorrow, and we need to do the same. I’m focusing on qualifying; here I feel like we can bring home a good result!”

A solid comeback for Baldassarri among rain and clashes in Race 1

The weather promised instability, and the typical Dutch rain came right on time midway through Race 1, making it difficult to manage the final laps. Balda fought like a lion after going wide in Turn 1 at the start, climbing from fifteenth to eighth place. Contacts, raindrops, and comebacks—a day full of unexpected events, but done and dusted getting many points in the standing.

In FP3, Balda was only able to complete one good lap in the whole session, using SC0 race tyres. First, a pit stop for the usual post-engine change check, then a red flag caused by Chantra’s crash, and finally several crashes by other riders on the track, resulting in the cancellation of two laps for the number 34. A good shakedown to find the right direction for qualifying.

Free Practice 3: 
P 1   I. Lecuona   1.32.823
P 2   A. Lowes  + 0.259
P 3   A. Bautista    + 0.354
…
P 18   L. Baldassarri   + 1.396

In Superpole, number 34 used the first run yo get used to the SCX and a faster track than yesterday. On his second outing, he struggled in the first sector, but then in the second half of the track he performed a “miracle”, saving the qualy. Ninth place, two tenths better and it would have been a top five finish; two tenths worse and it would have been a fifteenth. Third row, still an excellent position to attack in the races.

Superpole: 
P 1   N. Bulega   1.32.144
P 2   S. Lowes   + 0.329
P 3   I. Lecuona   + 0.423
…
P 9   L. Baldassarri   + 0.964

Team Go Eleven’s first race has been affected immediately at Turn 1 at the start; to avoid Petrucci, Baldassarri was forced to go wide, finishing fifteenth. He began his comeback, battling with Surra and Bassani, passing them both. The pace was fast, so much so that he even attacked Montella a few laps later. The number 34 was quicker than the group ahead, battling for sixth place, but while trading positions with Oliveira, he lost his line between Turns 6 and 7, sliding down the standing, leaving everything to rebuild. With eight laps to go, rain hit the TT Circuit. The drops forced the riders to slow down, closing the group; Balda waited, then launched an attack in the final two laps, passing Montella and Gardner, and on the final turn, the famous “S,” he made a surgical pass to take eighth place. A fine comeback, a great demonstration of good management of hard moments.

Race 1: 
P 1   N. Bulega   33’12.444
P 2   I. Lecuona   + 1.618
P 3   S. Lowes   + 2.923
…
P 8   L. Baldassarri   +18.550

Today’s realistic goal would have been a top six, and it was within reach, but given how the race unfolded after the first few laps, Balda showed he had the guts and speed, managing the rain when needed, and then attacking in the finale. Stunning overtaking moves from number 34 put on a real show on the track. We’ll try again tomorrow, a double chance to improve further!

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider): 
“I’m satisfied with how the race ended, even though after yesterday I hoped for a bit more. We could have done better, but in the end, eighth place is an excellent result in a crazy race like today’s. I gained a lot of experience on the track; on the first lap, I almost touched at the first corner, and to avoid crashing, I had to go really wide, losing a lot of positions. Around halfway through the race, it started to rain, making it difficult to stay focused, push, and not make mistakes. I made a lot of overtakes and had a great battle, and despite the contact with Oliveira, which cost me a lot of time, I managed to get back in the group for the final laps. We have to be satisfied with today; tomorrow we have two more opportunities, and I can’t wait to get back on track!”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): 
“Today was a positive day overall; we may have struggled a bit in qualifying, but Balda’s pace was fast in the race. Unfortunately, the first lap didn’t go our way; we went wide in Turn 1, and had to recover from fifteenth place. Then, however, we worked our way up to eighth, and it almost felt like we were limited because we knew we could gain a couple more positions. It’s important to remember, however, that this is only Lorenzo’s third race on this bike, and even today the conditions weren’t easy, with the rain and constant fighting. We’re scoring points, we’re continuing to prove consistency and solidity, and now the goal is to have a perfect race and get back into the top six. I have to thank the whole team; last night they worked till very late, and today everything worked perfectly in the garage!”

Sixth place in Assen with spectacular overtakes

Baldassarri bounced back in Race 2 at Assen; a spectacular sixth place, providing spectacular overtakes. The smile returned to the Go Eleven rider’s face after a great comeback in the Superpole race, which was ruined by a contact on the penultimate lap. Balda made no mistakes on the cold Dutch Sunday, improving session after session…but above all, the yellow Ducati put on a spectacular show on the track!

For the Warm Up, the technicians made small set-up changes, which nevertheless instilled great confidence in the rider, who said he was happy and satisfied with the bike’s reaction in his hands. Temperatures in Assen were cold, around 8 degrees.

Warm Up: 
P 1   Y. Montella   1.33.554
P 2   N. Bulega   + 0.066
P 3   S. Lowes    + 0.093
…
P 12   L. Baldassarri   + 0.755

The Superpole Race is perhaps the race that the Go Eleven team is struggling with the most in this positive season start. Here at Assen, the whole Go Eleven grid opted to race the sprint race on the softest tyre solution, the SCX. Balda had a negative start, colliding with Montella and immediately losing his right wing. Fourteenth in the first sector, he fought back aggressively, and the battle on the track was thrilling in the group behind the podium. With many riders within a few tenths of a second, #34 attacked and overtook Montella, Gardner, Oliveira, and Locatelli, grabbing seventh place. Just when he seemed fine to complete an incredible comeback, rain appeared and everything changed. Locatelli overstepped the limit at the final chicane (resulting in a penalty), taking Lorenzo out. With two laps to go, rejoining the group was impossible, thus finishing outside the points zone. A real shame, because it would have been a great result. Upon returning to the pits, Balda was quite nervous and annoyed by the missed opportunity. He needed to channel all his energy into finding the right spark for the final Dutch opportunity.

Superpole Race: 
P 1   N. Bulega   15’35.366
P 2   I. Lecuona   + 1.742
P 3   S. Lowes   + 2.632
…
P 13   L. Baldassarri   + 15.384

As in Portimao, the start of Race 2 was nearly perfect; he gained a position, and the first lap was the usual chaos. Two riders in front collided, Balda made a mistake but still managed to get Petrucci and Locatelli. He gained another position and moved into eighth place on the second lap. There, he set his pace in the low 34s, significantly faster than the group ahead. He closed on Vierge, getting him with a super-braking move at the final chicane, the Spaniard dived back into Turn 1, but Balda responded and took seventh. A few laps later, the same move allowed him to close in on Alex Lowes and take sixth place. From then on, he managed the situation, slightly closing in on the two Barni rider, but their laps were virtually the same until the end of the race. He finished sixth, without making any mistakes and taking home another important result!

Race 2: 
P 1   N. Bulega   32’58.347
P 2   I. Lecuona   + 2.724
P 3   S. Lowes   +5.257
…
P 6   L. Baldassarri   + 12.872

A solid weekend, in which Lorenzo and the whole team worked well, finding something in every session; in Race 2, Baldassarri felt comfortable with the Ducati, proving great confidence in overtaking. Today’s sixth place is real, with no crashes at the front, and a solid result. Scoring points and avoiding mistakes is the right way to have something to say in the overall standings. Well done, Balda, keep it up towards Balaton, Hungary, in less than two weeks!

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider): 
“This afternoon in race 2 I really enjoyed myself. I managed to make a lot of overtakes despite some contact on the first lap. Expectations were a bit higher here on Friday, but in the end we confirmed our speed and achieved our goal. The pace this Sunday was excellent, I felt good on the bike, and I’m satisfied with the result. I think I’ve almost completely resolved the forearm problem; I didn’t suffer here. Now I’m going to rest a bit, but not too much because we’ll be back on track soon at Balaton. For me, it’s best to get back on the bike straight away, so I can’t wait. I have to thank the whole team and the people who work with me; I think our level is rising race after race!”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): 
“Balda had a real strong and tough day! Unfortunately, two collisions affected us today, making him losing his right wing twice. In the Superpole Race, Locatelli’s clash ruined our race, and by finishing behind, he couldn’t start on the first two rows for race two. In the second race, not only was his wing damaged, but also his handguard, which hindered his riding. However, I think we had a solid weekend. Balda and the team worked well, improving, and the overall result gives us confidence and keeps our morale high. We’re having a lot of fun in the garage, the work is going in the right direction, and Lorenzo is riding the V4-R better and better. We still have several areas where we can improve and grow, but consistently being in the top six, three out of three races since the start of the season, is a super result!”