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After the win in Austria, it seems nothing can stop Andrea Iannone. At Silverstone too - a track that he doesn't particularly like - the Abruzzo rider has shown the best of himself and the Ducati. The result sees him in first place with a decent advantage over all of his rivals: 3 tenths on Vinales, almost 5 on Crutchlow, more than 6 on Marquez and 8 over the Yamahas.
Iannone only hesitates when he is asked about his holidays on Santorini, referred to as “the island of love”. The Maniac simply laughs it off. Better to stick to track talk perhaps.
“'I'd say we've had a good first day, I was quite fast right from the off. Only a technical problem this morning saw me lose a little time - he explains - The sensations with the bike were good, better than my sensations with the track”.
In the afternoon it all came together.
“I analysed the data and understood where I could improve, I was hoping for a few tenths but I was able to do more than that - he continues - We also made a change to the bike that I didn't like, I went back to the Misano test set-up and got on better. This makes me think we can still improve further".
It seems the Silverstone curse has been lifted.
“In the end, when you go fast, you like the track - he jokes - it's very wide here and easy to get lost, and not find the right lines. We are doing a good job as a team, we have the potential and just need to exploit it. Also here there are points where we're suffering but we're able to make up for that with our strengths”.
Iannone is travelling with the wind at his back.
“A rider and a bike never stop improving, the Ducati and I are moving forward at the same rate - he continues - I compare myself to Dovizioso to understand where I can make refinements, in the end it's harder to make up a tenth by working on the set-up than by improving your riding style”.
And while Iannone celebrates, Dovizioso isn't too unhappy either. Despite being 8 tenths behind his team-mate.
“I'm pleased with how I've started, though in the afternoon I wasn't able to improve as much as I'd hoped - he confirms - Also my knee isn't limiting me in my riding, it's not painful”.
But the work is not yet finished.
“This is a very long track and so it's difficult to nail the set-up - he continues - To be competitive in the race, I have to work on the details. The tyres are OK but there's a significant drop after a few laps”.
