Friday – Best lap was cancelled, but positive feelings in Magny-Cours on day one.

The first day after five weeks of summer break turned out to be warm, unexpectedly warm for the Circuit de Nevers, conditions that complicated the day for the riders; many crashes, little grip and several red flag stops. Philipp was able to get the Ducati Panigale back into his hands, regain the feeling and still show good condition. A bit unlucky in the afternoon where the two best laps were canceled due to crashes by others, but the important thing was to find a good set-up for the weekend, where conditions will remain fairly stable.

In FP1, Team Go Eleven used the same tyres for the entire session, thus evaluating their drop; Magny-Cours is a rather particular track, with many accelerations and restarts from low speed, which require great traction at the rear. Thirteenth position, best lap arrived towards the middle of the session, then Philipp was able to maintain good consistency by riding in the low 38. The first sector is the strong point here, while there is something to improve in the most important braking areas.

Free Practice 1: 
P 1   J. Rea   1.36.900
P 2   G. Gerloff   + 0.157
P 3   A. Locatelli    + 0.160
…
P 13   P. Oettl   + 1.214

FP 2 hard and difficult to manage; many crashes, with annexed laps cancelled, red flags and a “treacherous” grip that did not give the riders maximum confidence. Oettl immediately started strong with the SCX, riding below 38 and entering the top 5, then the lap was canceled due to the yellow flag, and unfortunately due to the rear tyre drop he was no longer able to replicate the excellent time. On two other occasions, when he had scored excellent references in the first splits, he had to close the gas due to further crashes. Best Lap, in the end, arrived with harder tyre, still saying he was satisfied with the feeling of the bike. Here too the gaps are very close, so much so that the first twelve are all within one second.

Free Practice 2:  
P 1    M. Rinaldi     1.36.973
P 2    G. Gerloff   + 0.008
P 3    T. Razgatlioglu     + 0.141
…
P 13   P. Oettl   + 1.324

Philipp Oettl (Rider):

“Interesting day, we finished both session in P 13, it’s not too bad cause I have been five weeks off the bike, while some others riders tested in Aragon. Today we found out a lot from the bike, the set-up was quite ok from the beginning. It’s really hot, I didn’t expect such warm temperatures here, but conditions will be constant for the weekend. We tried different tyres on the rear, we still have to choose which is the best option. Today we were really good in some parts of the track, so we have to keep working to be more comfortable in all the track. If we put everything together we can have a really good result tomorrow!”

Saturday – Philipp Oettl back into the top ten for a strong Race One.

An excellent Saturday, with the flavor of rebirth, back into important positions. Constant in all sessions, fast in the Race, demonstrating a reduced gap from victory and podium, Philipp and Team Go Eleven got 12 seconds from the first, with the ninth position achieved. Convincing day, ended with a return to the Top Ten, which had been missing since the Donington Round

Since FP3, the German rider has been determined and motivated to demonstrate his full potential. A good pace with the race tyre, then with the move to Q he was able to improve markedly, taking ninth place, just two tenths from fifth. Precise, clean, a good feeling with the Ducati V4-R, everything seems to be going well. On his way back to the pits a technical problem stops him, luckily with an easy solution for the mechanics.

Free Practice 3: 
P 1   A. Bautista   1.35.895
P 2   G. Gerloff   + 0.427
P 3   M. Rinaldi    + 0.536
…
P 9   P. Oettl   + 0.992

Here at Magny-Cours the Superpole gave the desired results. Both with the first and then with the second tyre, Philipp always set good times close to the top ten. In the second time attack, he had to abort a first fast lap due to traffic on the track, which always creates further pressure and agitation, as the difference between starting in the first 4 rows or further back is huge. In the last minutes he was able to take advantage of a good track placement and was able to get into eleventh position. Excellent result, and excellent “grid position” for Race 1 and Superpole Race.

Superpole:  
P 1    G. Gerloff    1.35.453
P 2    A. Bautista   + 0.059
P 3    M. Rinaldi     + 0.367
…
P 11   P. Oettl   + 1.040

The Race was definitely the best of the season for Team Go Eleven, following the 2023 opening weekend at Phillip Island. Oettl got off to a good start, immediately attacked Van Der Mark in the first corners, then set a great pace, following the group of Petrucci, Redding and Locatelli, also managing the tyre drop well. Towards the middle of the race he caught Baz, passed him, without ever allowing Aegerter to get back on him. Lots of laps on the high 37, a really good and constant pace taking advantage of the excellent first and second sectors. The Top Ten was missing from Donington at the end of June, here it arrived with a capital performance also in terms of gap; 12 seconds from victory, 8 from the podium. 7 points won, followed by a convincing feeling for tomorrow’s races.

Race 1:  
P 1    T. Razgatlioglu    32’31.978
P 2    M. Rinaldi    + 2.656
P 3    J. Rea   + 4.773
…
P 9    P. Oettl   + 12.623

Small adjustments for the last part of the race, where Philipp had to increase a few tenths, and tomorrow there will be two more opportunities to achieve a good result. Morale is high, Oettl rides really well through Circuit de Nevers, the goal is to bring home as much points as possible on the scorching French Sunday!

Philipp Oettl (Rider):

“I’m happy and satisfied with this Saturday! We had a good qualifying, I was able to start from the first 4 rows. Nice first lap, I defended myself well, then I had an excellent pace, in the last 5 laps I struggled a bit to stop the bike, but overall it went well. I think we can find a good solution for tomorrow, but for today we can be satisfied. This weekend we worked calmly, maintaining this attitude, I’m sure we can achieve great results. The bike has improved, too, I feel like I can ride well and push. From this race we have collected a lot of data, and tomorrow we can still get closer to the group in front!”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):

“Well done Philipp, today we ended just 12 seconds behind the winner with a consistent race and with great determination. I’m happy with this result, we needed to get back into the Top Ten, close to the group fighting for the top 5-6 positions. We have to improve the drop of the front tyre, if we can find a few small solutions we can make a good step forward in tomorrow’s race!”

Sunday – Another top ten result for Team Go Eleven. Difficulty overtaking in the last lap battle.

P 10 in the morning, P 10 in the afternoon, two different races, but the same result for Philipp Oettl and Team Go Eleven. Solid, fast races, with an excellent race pace fully in line with the Top 5. In both races he just missed the last lap overtake, the crazy one in which to be a bit out of the line. In both races the toughest opponent was Vierge, in the morning fighting for the Top 9, which would have been worth the grid reversal, in Race 2 the eighth final position. Happy, yes, for the good performance throughout the weekend, but aware that we could have done even better!

The Warm Up, as throughout the year, is used to test the SCQ from a Superpole Race perspective. Good pace, constant performance, good feeling with the Ducati Panigale V4-R.

Warm Up: 
P 1   A. Bautista   1.36.183
P 2   T. Razgatlioglu   + 0.103
P 3   G. Gerloff    + 0.424
…
P 10   P. Oettl   + 1.213

The Superpole Race showed Philipp Oettl being fast and really strong in terms of race pace. He caught and overtook both Gardner and Van der Mark, then thanks to some contacts he found himself fighting for the grid reversal, for the Top 9 in the final laps. Opponent of the day, Xavi Vierge and his Honda; one against one for just one place in the points, the German rider tried to get in every way, but the Spaniard was good at defending himself and fight back. Tenth place, Top Ten, but it’s a shame not to get points.

Superpole Race:  
P 1    T. Razgatlioglu    16’06.697
P 2    A. Bautista   + 0.970
P 3    J. Rea    + 2.503
…
P 10   P. Oettl   + 8.476

In Race 2 Philipp started very well, even recovering positions, then in turn 5, he found himself on the outside, thus losing positions. In the first steps, a stone hit him on his foot, so hard that he thought he had broken it. Then the pain gradually improved, again managing to recover and easily close the gap with the front group, made up of Gardner, Vierge and Baz. He overtakes the Australian and the Frenchman, but then, as in the Superpole Race, he stops behind the Honda. Unfortunately here Philipp suffered in braking and acceleration, remaining faster in the center of the corner compared to the HRC. Failing to attempt an overtaking, Gardner rejoined, perhaps with less tyre drop, passing them both on the last lap. Tenth position confirmed, but this time we could have done better, the possible position could have been seventh or eighth. He’s left with a bit of a bad taste in his mouth about not overtaking, but the speed from the start of the season has returned anyway. Now we can be competitive and fight in the top positions.

Race 2:  
P 1    A. Bautista    27’32.363
P 2    T. Razgatlioglu   + 5.893
P 3    J. Rea   + 6.779
…
P 10   P. Oettl   + 19.986

A week’s break, then WorldSBK moves to Aragon, a spectacular and unique circuit, on which Ducati has always achieved great performances. The performance of Magny-Cours will have to be confirmed, but with the work and dedication of the whole team, the goal is to fight for even more important positions. Happy with this weekend, but halfway, because even better results could have been achieved!

Philipp Oettl (Rider):

“Overall it was a positive weekend, mainly in the Superpole Race we had a really strong pace. Before red flag, in Race 2, I had the right confidence, but then I couldn’t find the same at the restart. Anyway, the tyre was the same. Three Top Ten is fine, but I am a bit sad, cause we could have done P 9 in the morning and P 8 in the afternoon. The goal for Aragon is to confirm our good shape and maybe fight for even better places. The guys did a super job this weekend, I worked calm, we have to continue like this!”

Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):

“Today I’m just partly happy; we were fast, Philipp, when he has a clear track is one of the fastest riders, but we missed overtaking, thus losing positions and time. Furthermore, he was hit by a stone on the foot of the gear shift during the first lap, he lost sensation for a few laps and this made him lose the positions he had gained with a good start. 3 Top Tens are good, better than the last races, but we are struggling too much to overtake, today we lost two one to one battle with Vierge and we must try to work together to improve this aspect!”