Moto3: Niccolò Antonelli, "This year I don't set myself any goals, I will always try to get the most"

Presentation Ongetta Rivacold – Team Ongetta Rivacold, which will take part in the 3 Moto2015 class motorcycle world championship, was presented yesterday evening. The two new riders, Niccolò Antonelli and Jules Danilo they will be riding the new Honda RS250RWs, which as you can see in the photo have a livery reminiscent of Freddie Spencer's Honda 500. During the evening we exclusively interviewed the rider from Cattolica, former Team Gresini, who did very well in the tests on the Honda, scoring excellent chronometric results.

We are with Niccolò Antonelli, who changed bikes and teams this year. What are your first impressions after the first tests?

“First impressions are very good. We rode in Valencia and Jerez and we were always there at the front, a very important aspect. I get along very well with the team, we have a great feeling, I'm very happy and I think they are too. Everything is going well, let's hope to continue like this."

The new Honda, although weighing a little less than last year's, is still heavier than the KTM. A point in your favor since you are "forced" by your weight to run with ballast, which however will be present to a lesser extent this year. (We remind you that there is a minimum weight given by the sum of the bike plus the rider).

“The fact that it weighs less than last year is still important (he says referring to the Honda), but it still weighs more than the KTM by about 3/4 kg, so I will have less ballast. Last year I had 5/6, this year it should be around 1,5 kg. I would say this is very very positive."

Did you always ride with ballast during the tests? And have you already found the right location?

“We always shot with ballast because there was no point in doing otherwise. As regards its location, Honda gave directives in this regard and therefore they were respected, even if I honestly don't know where it was placed."

What are the main differences between the KTM you rode last year and this bike?

“I really wanted this bike. Luckily last year I had the opportunity to choose which bike to race with. I have always liked Honda. A deliberate choice and I'm very happy, because I'm going faster where last year I had more problems. When cornering I can drive better and how I want. When braking, there is still something to fix, but everything is "regular."

The goal for Qatar?

“In the meantime, we hope to continue like this in the next tests. Then in Qatar I don't want to set myself goals, because last year I did it and it didn't go as I would have liked. This year I want to start calmly, give my 100% and collect as many points as possible for the championship, then we will take what comes in a different way."

There is no longer Miller who went directly from Moto3 to MotoGP, there is no longer Alex Marquez (2014 champion of the category) who "rose" to Moto2, so who are the riders to beat?

“I believe that at least ten riders will be able to consistently fight for the podium. Certainly Fenati, the riders of Team Ajo (Oliveira and Kent), Bastianini, the young Quartararo and many others who perhaps don't come to mind, such as Vazquez, Kent.”