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MotoGP, Iannone: To improve we'll have to wait for 2018

Twelfth place for the team Suzuki Ecstar rider in Aragón: "We have many problems, the biggest one? I can't overtake"

MotoGP: Iannone: To improve we'll have to wait for 2018

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After his moderate optimism yesterday, tenth in qualifying and six and a half tenths behind Marquez, today Andrea Iannone was unable to finish in the top ten, crossing the line astride his factory Suzuki GSX-RR almost thirty seconds behind the winner.

Compared with the previous times, however, Andrea appears to be less discouraged and more optimistic: “If compared with recent weekends - Iannone explains - this one was positive for us. We contained the gap behind the best; in warm up there was a gap of just 3 or 4 tenths behind the fastest pace with the same tyres on. In the race we struggled with the higher temperature. The tyres slid around more and I lost in acceleration and braking.”

What is the most evident problem in your opinion?

We have several and they all need to be solved. In my opinion, the biggest problem is in the braking phase. On the braking sections I am unable to overtake because the Suzuki brakes well with the bike going straight, but going into corners with the brakes on, the front end suffers and you really risk crashing.

How can you overcome this problem?

I am meeting Suzuki halfway with the problems, adapting my riding style and trying not to stress the bike in its weak points where we suffer. Our strong point is our speed in turns, but obviously, in the race everyone brakes hard and as late as possible, even in mid turn, and that is precisely the moment when we lose positions and time.”

Today Aprilia and KTM were strong. Suzuki seems to be a taillight. Are you worried?

I am not at all worried. I know what the problems are and we know that we need to solve them. We have worked hard without being able to improve more than two or three tenths. New parts will arrive for us to test and we will definitely make a step forward, but we’ll need to wait for something really new to radically change and wait for next year.”

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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