MotoGP, Iannone: I am enjoying the Suzuki

The mental factor is fundamental in a rider, and Andrea Iannone is showing that once again. The Italian lad arrived in Jerez fortified by his podium in the last Grand Prix and he cannot help but be happy with his fourth place today on Spanish soil. “I am very happy with the day today – number 29 – given the laps turned in the low 39s and the good job we’ve done. I think that we are on the right path, having a good pace right now. Obviously, we need to continue in this direction already from qualifying, where it will be important to take a good spot on the grid no farther back than the second row.”

We spoke about the Austin weekend, and The Maniac also pulled it out to show the quality of the work done.

“I found the same sensations as in Austin, even managing to improve something for this track. This is an interesting aspect since we struggled here last year, so being fast was not a given. I am enjoying the Suzuki and its positive points, which at the moment outnumber the negative ones; from Argentina we worked to maintain the strengths and improve those weak areas, like braking and going into corners, and unlike last year, we are succeeding.”

Could it be the third podium in a row for Suzuki? Andrea is making no predictions.

“It’s difficult to say now. It’s too early. Up to now, the pace is good and we aren’t far off, but tomorrow I think the Ducati’s and Yamahas will be in the mix, with the Hondas already competitive. The time attack? Today I am not very satisfied, even if I am just one tenth off pole, since I didn’t take full advantage of the soft tyre, which we will need to do tomorrow. To do that, I think we will need a bike with a specific qualifying setup, whereas the other will have a race setup.”

In closing, the Italian couldn’t pass up the chance to put in his two cents on the heated exchange of opinions between Jorge Lorenzo and Carlo Pernat (his manager), but joking about it.

“I think that Carlo often says too much. It is a negative part of his character that you have to accept and one that you can’t change at 70 years of age. He has a lot of positive aspects, for example he is a good looking man (laughing) and he knows a lot about bikes. Every now and then he loses his way and when that happens, not even a TomTom can find him (laughing).”