#AusWorldSBK Race II: JUST A SINGLE POINT AGAIN FOR A HARD JOB
In the second Australian race, too, Stefan Bradl couldn’t reach more than a disappointing 15th place on Sunday afternoon.
The 27-year-old German rider wasn’t also able to shine likewise the wonderful summer weather this weekend at Phillip Island. Fundamental problems with the engine of his race bike prevent him massively to show his full potential. Therefore, the second race went as disappointing as the championship’s opener on the previous day.
Round two of the FIM Superbike World Championship will take place in Thailand in two weeks. Bradl will spend the break in his Bavarian home.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team, Honda CBR1000RR SP2), 15th, WM-Position 18 (2 points):
“My start was quite good today, but in the first corner I was a bit pinched. So, I lost all the positions that I had won at the start. In the end, however, it was a similar race as yesterday. I’m very disappointed because we’re simply not able to find any ways to improve the bike. We’re deeply in the clamp although, we could achieve a few improvements with the front with which I felt a lot better. However, any changes we’re doing in terms to the throttle response and loads to the rear tyre, it seems to go up in smoke.
“We’re simply not able to manage to put the engine power to the tarmac because the power delivery is much too aggressive. We do our best to try and solve the problem by throttling the electronics but the engine’s characteristic is too aggressive innately. It’s frustrating because it’s clearly to see that we can keep up with the top guys in terms of the riding’s potential easily. Today I was able to maintain my position in that group for a long time. But with a look on the tyres after the race, it becomes creepy: apart from blistering, smaller parts were missing on the tread which happened due to the violent power delivery so, during the later stages of the race the resources were lacking in order to stay and fight till the line.
“In accelerating, we’re easy prey for our opponents. In corner exit, they whoosh from the left and right. In any case, I didn’t give up till the end but to give more wasn’t possible because it makes no sense to risk a crash as we need every single kilometre to collect valuable data. We have to use the break until the next race intensively in order to make our homework accurately.”
WorldSBK Phillip Island – Result Race 2 (22 Laps):
1 Jonathan REA /GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R/ 33´52.785
2 Chaz DAVIES / GBR / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale R / +0.025
3 Marco MELANDRI / ITA / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale R / +0.249
15 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team / Honda CBR1000RR SP2 / +28.440
WorldSBK Standings:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / 50
2 Chaz DAVIES / GBR / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / 40
3 Tom SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / 26
18 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team / 2