Friday

Perfect conditions for the WorldSBK protagonists on the first day at the Portimao track; Andrea Iannone and Team Pata Go Eleven found good confidence right from the start on the Ducati V4-R, confirming themselves around the Top 5 in both sessions, with a final fourth place. Today the work was focused on the race, without looking for a qualifying lap.

In FP 1 the number 29 was slightly delayed in the first few minutes due to a small problem with the rear brake, then once sorted out, he took to the track with the 125, the new development solution at the rear, immediately finding a good connection with the ups and downs of the Autodromo do Algarve. Several laps on the low 41/41 and a half, improving especially the T 1 during the session.

Free Practice 1: 
P 1    N. Bulega   1.40.977
P 2    A. Bautista  + 0.019
P 3    A. Bassani   + 0.069
…
P 6   A. Iannone   + 0.208

FP 2 started with a new set of tyres, with the aim of gathering as much information as possible in view of the main races. Andrea showed a good pace, finding the best lap in the twelfth, going down to 40.5, an even faster laptime than last year’s qualifying. Too bad for a small crash in turn 5, but no major damage to the bike and rider ok, it just unfortunately compromised the last ten minutes of the session. Fourth place overall, still convincing and positive, considering the clear improvement compared to the difficulties faced on this track in 2024.

Free Practice 2:
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu  1.39.995
P 2   N. Bulega    + 0.299
P 3   M. Van der Mark  + 0.511
P 4    A. Iannone   + 0.600

In the evening, technicians and the rider will meet to analyze the data and try to improve mainly the second and fourth sectors, where the main gap is currently accumulated, while the third sector is a good strong point. With the close gaps seen today, qualifying takes on even greater importance, so it will be crucial to get ready and find a perfect lap.

Andrea Iannone (Rider): 

“Today I am quite satisfied with the work done. Compared to last year here in Portimao we are clearly ahead and the feeling is positive. There are still some areas to improve, especially in the second and last sectors, where I lose a bit compared to the leaders. We finished the day in fourth place, always using race tyres, which makes this Friday positive. In the evening my team and I will analyse the data to try to improve further, tomorrow it will be important to get a good qualifying. Compared to the tests, we have made a step forward, now we still need a small step to fight in front.”

Saturday

A strong comeback from P16 to P7!

Saturday of lights and shadows for Team Pata Go Eleven and Andrea Iannone at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve; FP 3 and Qualifying struggling, where the changes made to the Ducati Panigale V4-R did not give the desired results, to which a penalty on the grid for Race 1 was added. When the green light came on, however, a super comeback began that brought the number 29 to seventh place in the final standings, improving his best lap after lap.

In FP 3, starting with a used tyre from yesterday altered the values ​​on the field, not allowing to understand the direction of the changes, then with the SCX, trying the time attack, the difficulties in the second and fourth sectors were accentuated, the two areas of the track that are causing the rider from Vasto the most difficulty. At the end of the session, while slowing down in the middle of the track after a grip lost, forced Andrea Iannone to suffer a penalty of three positions on the starting grid for Race 1.

Free Practice 3:
P 1    T. Razgatlioglu   1.39.446
P 2    D. Petrucci  + 0.356
P 3    A. Bautista   + 0.555
…
P 12    A. Iannone   + 1.514

In qualifying, Andrea opts to start with the 125 tyre (the race one), but in the first attempt he makes a mistake in the second sector, never finding confidence with the rear; in the second exit he switches to the SCX, but does not go beyond the thirteenth time. Disappointing Superpole, but it is part of racing and what matters is to focus on recovering in the Race. A step back in terms of set-up going towards the best sensations found between the various sessions.

Superpole:
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu  1.39.081
P 2   N. Bulega   + 0.245
P 3   D. Petrucci  + 0.402
…
P 13   A. Iannone   + 1.285

When the lights went out in Race 1, Andrea got off to a good start and, taking advantage of the chaos of the first lap, crossed the finish line in twelfth position. He overtook Lecuona to enter the Top Ten, battled with Alex Lowes, then the British rider slipped on turn 1, leaving the way open to number 29. Towards the twelfth lap, the race of the Pata Go Eleven rider ignited, and, improving his Best lap after lap, he recovered until he was battling with the GRT Yamaha duo for seventh position. Best lap six laps from the end, so much so that Andrea, at that point, was in line with the podium times. Double overtaking on turn one, taking home P7. A true fighter’s race, pushing right to the finish line. Unfortunately, starting from the back penalises him, but the pace shown in the second part gives hope for Sunday.

Zero points last year in Race 1 at Portimao, nine points this year, the goal of improving has been achieved, but there is certainly the potential to achieve more. The fourth sector is where the biggest difference is found compared to the Red Ducatis, a sign that the margin is there. Finding something from the data of Race 1, we can aim for the Top 5 tomorrow.

Andrea Iannone (Rider): 

“This morning and up until qualifying we made a few mistakes on the set-up, the changes made didn’t give me a good confidence and I wasn’t able to improve sectors 2 and 4. Furthermore, in qualifying I didn’t have a good feeling with the first tyre, which complicated things. Starting from behind makes us losing a lot of time, but from half race on I found my rhythm and I came back, riding faster than the riders in front of me. A seventh place is still a good result, compared to last year zero, but I’m sure we can do much better. Tomorrow I hope for a good SP Race to be able to start with a better position for Race 2.”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): 
“A complicated Saturday, but where we came out with a solid result, by getting a seventh in race 1. This morning we hadn’t taken the right path, then the wrong qualifying, added to the 3-position penalty, further complicated things. Starting from so far on the grid is not easy even if you have a good pace. Andrea was particularly performing from halfway through the race onwards, with used tyres he was able to be very fast and in the last 8 laps he completed a strong comeback. Now for tomorrow we’ll try to find performance also in the first 5/6 laps of the race, this is our goal, and we’ll try to do something nice in the Superpole Race and Race 2.”

Sunday

Unlucky day for Andrea and Team Go Eleven

Unlucky Sunday to leave behind for Team Pata Go Eleven in Portimao, despite a big step forward in terms of speed compared to the past few days. If the Superpole Race saw the number 29 struggling, in Race 2 he was showing a great pace, recovering several positions. Unfortunately, the jump start of a few thousandths, and the consequent failure to realize the penalty (double Long Lap) led to the ride through and subsequent retirement. Zero points today, it’s a shame because the work was not rewarded, but today the correct path was found in terms of set-up.

In the Warm Up a comparison was carried out in terms of electronic maps, trying to improve the last part of the track. Positive feedback to bring to the Superpole Race.

Warm Up:
P 1    N. Bulega   1.39.968
P 2    D. Petrucci  + 0.463
P 3    A. Bautista   + 0.503
…
P 8   A. Iannone   + 0.736

In the Superpole Race Andrea finds the right space in the first lap, recovering two positions. He closes the gap on the group fighting for the Top 9, which is worth the change on the grid for race 2, but once he joins, he does not have the tenths of a margin needed to attack. Almost all the riders from sixth position down had similar laptimes, making overtaking difficult. Twelfth final place, zero points and everything postponed to the last race in Portimao.

Superpole Race:
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu  16’40.209
P 2   N. Bulega    + 0.055
P 3   A. Bautista   + 4.407
…
P 12   A. Iannone   + 12.598

To tell the story of Race 2, it is necessary to clarify what happened; Andrea starts early, taking the penalty for Jump Start, meaning double Long Lap penalty as per the rules. Given on the third lap, he immediately completes the first correctly, and at that moment the penalty disappears from the dashboard, suggesting that the penalty was served. The number 29 comes back very quickly, with laps in the high 40s, overtaking several riders. He passes the finish line of the eighth lap without doing the second Long Lap, but at that very moment the red flag appears. In the ten minutes spent in Pit Lane before the restart, despite the clarifications requested from Race Direction and from those present from the FIM, no one was able to give information either to the Team or to Andrea. The latter restarts the race, and on the first lap a Ride Through is given. The race is completely gone and there is no chance to recover. The main problem was the slow communication and the lack of clarity on what to do at the restart. The pace was there, in this Race 2 the Team found the way in terms of set-up, so much so that Andrea was quite happy with the feeling on the bike. Starting from here to get back to earning important points in Assen!

Race 2:
P 1   T. Razgatlioglu  18’22.895
P 2   N. Bulega    + 0.195
P 3   A. Bautista  + 3.512
…
DNF   A. Iannone

Andrea Iannone (Rider): 

“Today was an unlucky day for us, in the Superpole Race I wasn’t able to recover to get into the top 9, and in race 2 I had to leave the fight for the positions close to the podium due to a jump start. The communication on the Dashboard marked me with an OK penalty after the first long lap and there I didn’t realize I had to do one more. Then with the red flag no one was able to give us a correct communication of our penalty and as soon as we restarted they gave us a ride through. With that penalty the race ended. Today we had the pace to be in the Top 5, but we’ll make up for it in Assen!”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): 
“Today was a really unlucky day for us, which is a shame, because in race 2 we were really fast. The jump start, unfortunately, ruined our plans, but it can happen in racing, unfortunately Andrea released the clutch a moment earlier by mistake. I’m a bit sorry for the lack of clarity in the communication on the Dashboard, because maybe we could have scored some points, but it was pointed out to us that the marshals’ table at the finish line always showed the right penalty. During the red flag, I had a moment when I got nervous, because I didn’t receive any explanations from the race direction about what Andrea should have done at the restart. They probably already knew about the ride through, a timely communication would have been enough to inform Andrea, instead of keeping us in the unknown. In any case, there’s no going back, today wasn’t our day, but I can’t wait to go to Assen and get back to the front!”