Andrea Iannone and the Go Eleven team took the drapes off the Panigale V4 in the picturesque setting of Limone Piemonte. A totally new presentation for the Cherasco-based team, which wanted to put its trust in The Maniac again for 2025. We caught up with Gianni Ramello, the patron of the team.
The manager from Piedmont took a quick stock of the recently concluded 2024 season, talking about his hopes and goals for the championship to come. As always down-to-earth and no-nonsense, he said.
"We are very excited to present our team in a completely brand-new context like Limone," he said, "It feels like we are still living the Christmas period. Obviously the vacations are over and we are ready for the start of the new season. First there will be the Jerez and Portimao tests, then the start of the World Championship from Phillip Island."
Despite last season's market rumors, in the end the Iannone-Go Eleven pairing was renewed.
"When you're an independent team and you get positive results, it then becomes complicated to give the right continuity to the project, since you then have to compare yourself with the official factory team. With Andrea, however, it was different and we are happy that he stayed with us, in fact there is great trust and ambition. Inside of us, in fact, we wanted him to stay here with us and he did."
2024 was the debut year, now the bar is raised.
"Last year Andrea did not know the bike, let alone the Championship, consequently Superbike was all about discovery for him. However, we managed to have a great season, achieving podiums and winning in Aragon. Certainly this year the expectations are growing, but we are staying with our feet on the ground."
There is no shortage of expectations, however.
"In my opinion Andrea knows that he can fight for the top three places in the World Championship and our dream is to finish in the top 3. Realistically speaking, however, the goal is to be the best independent, knowing that it will not be easy. Of course the dream of winning a World Championship is always there, but in the end we must not forget that we are an independent team."
If the priority is the independent title, Ramello is aware of who the man to beat is.
"We will indeed have to deal with Petrucci, who will be our main opponent. We, however, are ready, aware that our package is excellent and Go Eleven's Panigale V4 has little to envy the factory ones."