Moto2: exclusive interview with Lorenzo Baldassarri

Lorenzo Baldassarri – one of the best Italian Moto2 riders told us how this difficult start to the Championship is progressing after the excellent conditions at the end of 2016.
Unfortunately at the moment there are quite a few difficulties but, also together with his Team, Lorenzo is working hard to return to the levels he deserves.

– Lorenzo, how do you evaluate the start of this season, also thinking about the spectacular end of 2016 with your victory at Misano?
“I'm not very satisfied since I would have expected to occupy better positions than these. It's a shame because we worked very well during the winter but part of that work was lost due to tendonitis in my left arm.
However, the first races of the season weren't bad, but from America onwards the difficulties arose. That empty joke, due to a contact in which I was blameless, weighed heavily. Then in Jerez I had a problematic weekend, and in Le Mans I still had zero points due to a small mistake on my part."

– What is your goal from now until the summer break?
“My target is to get back among the top, where we should be. With the team we are giving our best, working very hard to regain the feeling we had last year, in particular when I won at Misano."

– You are about to race your home race at Mugello, what does it mean to race in front of your own fans?
“This race always brings me a great boost that comes from the energy transmitted by the fans. This allows me to have a lot of fun, also because this track is truly spectacular. When you have tension you don't have fun, so it's always good to transform it into a positive charge."

– Which do you feel is your true home race, Misano or Mugello?
“Both: Misano is closer to my home – just 10 minutes – but Mugello is an extremely spectacular circuit.”

– At this point in the season, what feeling do you have with your bike?
“The bike certainly has good potential but we still haven't managed to find the right balance, like we had last year with the old version. I don't want to say that 2016 was better but just that I had found a better understanding."

– What are the aspects to intervene on?
“I definitely need to improve the feeling when entering corners”.

– You often train with other Italian riders who then become your direct rivals on Sunday, how do you deal with this situation?
“It's a special thing, but it's a great opportunity to be part of the VR46 Riders Academy because training all together and then exchanging opinions is a great privilege. It's a bit strange but we still manage to maintain good harmony between us off the track."

– Pecco Bagnaia is your roommate, how is living together?
“Very good, we see each other so little at home... Just in winter we happen to be together more often, but with the start of the Championship we are really rarely at home, it's easier to see each other in the gym. However, even according to him, I'm the more tidy one! ”

– Have you ever had tough fights on the track and then found yourself on the sofa arguing about it?
“Yes, big brawls and blowouts on the track have happened but always without crossing the limit; and then we laugh about it at home.”

– Plans for 2018?
“Not yet, I'm extremely focused on this season with the aim of becoming competitive again.”