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MotoGP, Iannone: "I am holding some good cards"

Andrea fifth at the end of the first day: "I still struggle too much on turns and with grip, but we know how to solve these problems"

MotoGP: Iannone: "I am holding some good cards"

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The first day of free practice at Rio Hondo had Andrea Iannone’s Suzuki shining. At the end of the two sessions, the Italian rider is lying fifth in the combined standings, although he has to reckon with a one second gap behind the leader. Despite the gap behind Marquez’s Honda, The Maniac shows confidence, because he knows how to bridge that gap.

“It was a positive day – number 29 began – I am not someone who settles easily since I always want more. Unfortunately, in the afternoon I was missing something compared to FP1 – he admitted – In fact, in FP2 I struggled and consequently we need to close the gap. However, I think that I have good cards to play.”

Therefore, Andrea prefers to see the glass as half full.

“In any condition we are able to perform well – he pointed out – I struggle less than in the past and I feel the right confidence with the bike, although in the afternoon I struggled a lot with the win in terms of stability. We definitely have various data that will let us solve some problems.”

Iannone then went into detail.

“Speed on the straight is good, whereas I need to review something on the turns – he admitted – We got off on the right foot although, as I said, in the afternoon I lost something in terms of competitiveness. A lot of riders struggled more, other less, so I need to recover on corners and with grip.”

A comment on the tyres was not lacking.

Today I used all the available tyres and I felt good – he revealed – I need to check the medium on the front, because I still have some doubts.”

One of the new factors this weekend is also the resurfaced track, an aspect that particularly characterised the morning.

There are fewer dips and it is undoubtedly better – number 29 pointed out – However, I must say that it hasn’t changed much compared to before, since the grip is not the best, so let’s hope it’s different tomorrow.”

At the end of the day, his expression appears calm and relaxed.

“Credit to the planets aligning – he joked – I solved various problems to be able to move forward, so consequently everything is going rather well.”

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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