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Andrea Iannone, who today five years later was back on a MotoGP bike at the Sepang circuit, is certainly looking pleased with himself. A heartfelt and by no means expected return, made possible thanks to the VR46 Ducati GP23 left free by Di Giannantonio.
A first day of free practice for the rider from Vasto spent savoring and sizing up the evolution of the category, between innovations such as the lowerer and limits that seem unreachable for him coming from Superbike, all however without exaggerating and using a minimum of caution. Iannone thus clncluded two seconds behind Bagnaia's Ducati and said he is satisfied, not only for the opportunity to live this experience, but also for the knowledge that he can refine his sensations even more, and thus savor a race weekend in which he can compare himself unfiltered with riders at the highest level.
"I thought the gap would be 4-5 seconds," Iannone began, "but all in all it went better than I expected. It was already not easy to improve from this morning and we managed to do it. The truth is that it's hard to understand the limit, it's never there. So the whole day I only did 25 laps, you get there without testing, even superman would struggle! In the end I'm human too. It's okay though, I'm very happy with this opportunity. I raced alone though, I don't have experience with all this aerodynamics and I don't want to make mistakes, when you are behind 2 or 3 tenths then you can think about following someone."
This bike now also has a lowering device.
"In truth I was worried about this, and instead I found out I was good at using it. So we could propose to Gigi to put it on the stock bike too, so we can take it to Superbike! I thought I was going to struggle a lot more. It's been nice the thing, they tell me it goes down here and here and that's it, I activated it too early, thinking it would take longer I activated it earlier, I did the turn 5 and 6 like that and I found that you gain a lot. In my opinion it can be a thing for others too, there was no one lowered there, I was lowered and you go! I still struggle to do all the laps though, I don't have the automatisms. I tell you the truth, I did fifteen laps and at the end you find yourself qualifying. You find yourself two seconds behind the world champion, more than that I can't say anything."
MotoGP has changed a lot since the last time you were here.
"With the MotoGP I knew, it has nothing to do with it, and the last year it's not like it was ... - he continues jokingly - the thing I like is that what I lose I know where I lose it, I know what I have to do but I have to find the feeling. Compared to the Superbike braking is much more tiring, it destroys you, you need a lot of strength, but the agility and the handling, but also the electronics everything has improved so much. When you enter a corner the bike is more stable, it's easier. Before if you missed the pickup of the bike everything would move, now it's perfect. Talking to Pablo Nieto today I tell him that I want to take it easy to avoid disasters and he says, "For us there is no problem, it's more for you, the budget for the fairings is there you can do what you want," it's good to know, come on!", he jokes again.
With the carbon brakes, how did you find it?
"It's hard, it's not like I've never used them but not like this, I come in and caliper much harder than other Ducatis. I'm used to the steel ones, I feel it doesn't brake at the beginning and then I squeeze like hell, then the braking comes suddenly. I lack the automatism, if I took off 7-8 tenths I would already make a very important step."
Has the riding style also changed?
"Not so much, although the pickup of the bike is more exaggerated so the sooner you raise the sooner you lower the rear and the sooner you accelerate. It changes a lot the entry into the corners, there it's difficult to understand the limit, I'm not there yet, so I'm curious tonight with the data from Ducati to see how far I am from the limit on the front tire. Depending on what they tell me maybe things will get easier, it's not hard to get in, it's as hard as you can do it. Usually if you come in and lay down right away you understand where the limit is, but I would rather not do that."
Did you have fun on the track today?
"It was good, clearly in the first couple of laps you go slower, then you start to struggle, there you have fun and it's all wow but you struggle ... but on a feeling level compared to before it's incredible. You can't compare, it's nothing like it."
For tomorrow what expectations do you have, you have a busy day ahead with qualifying and sprints.
"In the end I think it's more difficult a day like this, I think tomorrow we can work and take a little bit more off. The real thing is that probably without VR46 and without Ducati I would never have tried a MotoGP again. Or maybe I would have, but not like this. To do it in a GP, to have the chance to compare yourself with others on the same day and at the same pace is a wonderful thing, it's incredibly nice."
Has anyone on the track surprised you?
"A lot of people have passed me, however, you know it's just a matter of feeling. From the data in corner exit I'm performing well. I lack the braking and entry part. If I can understand that limit we will take a step forward."
Bezzecchi: Iannone fared better than me at the start
It was also a complicated day for Marco Bezzecchi, who blamed the front end push problems on his GP23 as he has all season, narrowly missing out on the top ten and access to Q2, but the glass remains half full looking at the steps forward compared to testing.
"Compared to the tests we are on another planet - began Bezzecchi at the end of the first day of free practice - but I still struggle here. I have several problems. Well or badly the characteristics are similar to those in testing, although improved. When I put on the new tires I struggle, I can't get the bike to turn especially in turns 5-6, but also where I come off leaning from turn 11 on. There I always have that problem of pushing on the front. Direct access to Q2 got away from us and that is the negative note. The positive note is that I remember the feeling from the test well and it wasn't a big deal compared to today."
What was it like having Andrea Iannone in the box?
"In the pit box we saw each other very little however it is very nice, we did a few laps together on the track and then two chats after the session. The time to be together is short but Andrea is very nice and cool."
Did you give him a hand with all the devices that are on a MotoGP bike today?
"(Laughs) Well, in the end he did much better than me at the beginning, I was much more hindered than him at the beginning."
What expectations do you have for tomorrow?
"First we'll have to try to get into Q2, then we'll see from there."
