#USWorldSBK: “I ENJOYED RIDING AGAIN A LOT”
From halfway point during Saturday afternoon’s heat one at the Californian Laguna Seca Raceway, the 27-year-old German Honda rider rode a determined race.
After hot temperatures on the previous days, it came not surprisingly that the first race of the series visit to the United States took place under enormous heat. For Stefan Bradl and his crew of the Red Bull Honda World Superbike team, Saturday began with a pleasing fact as the all-new engine has brought that improvements they hoped for, even if Superpole1 did not turn out perfectly. Bradl, who started from P17 on the grid, experienced a rather turbulent start, and after a cautious initial stage of the race, the Bavarian got into a significantly stronger rhythm.
The lights also will go out for race two at the Laguna Seca Raceway on Sunday at 11:00 pm CET. Austrian’s broadcaster ServusTV starts its live coverage already half an hour earlier.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team, Honda CBR1000RR SP2), 11th – Championship position 12th (59 points):
“Although I wasted my start pretty much, I’m really satisfied with today’s race. From halfway point, I enjoyed my ride out there to its utmost since a while. The result, however, is nothing great, but I’m happy that I was able to fight till the line and to gain one position during the last lap. In addition, another swap to a new engine has paid off. The engine we used yesterday afternoon was not rideable in terms of its configuration. With this new sealed engine, I had a better feeling straight away.”
“Nevertheless, it took a while to work on a basic setup with regards to the electronics. In this respect, but especially regarding to our tyre choice for the Superpole session, we were a bit wrong unfortunately. We opted for the harder option, but this did not give me a good feeling. Beyond that, it’s that much hard for me to take full advantage from a new tyre. This was again our handicap today, both during Superpole as well as during the opening stages of the race. This of course costs us many positions every time, while our competitors are able to use the tyre better in full lean angle and they also have a better drive in acceleration in corner exit thanks to more grip. At first, however, I left the line badly because I could not gear into neutral at the starting position after the warm up lap. Therefore, the clutch became somewhat hotter until the lights went out. Apart from these circumstances, I started somehow well, though. But it was impossible to make up positions until the first corner, and then I was a bit intruded there.”
“During the first half of the race, I was just riding along instead of being more aggressive. The rear tyre did not produce anything that I could use to my advantage. But as soon as the tyres started to drop by the other riders, I noticed that I still have better reserves in this regard for the closing stages. I was able to close the gap to the riders in front of me quickly and then to fight with them. From this moment, the race was fun and I’m happy that I could enjoy the second part of the race to my utmost. We experience a difficult phase at the moment and such highlights are simply good for me as well as for the entire team. We definitely can build on these positive things from today’s race and we also try to carry this momentum with us tomorrow.”
#USWorldSBK – Result Race 1 (25 Laps):
1 Chaz DAVIES / GBR / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale R / 35´14.812
2 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / +1.202
3 Tom SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / +5.798
11 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team / Honda CBR1000RR SP2 / +44.961
WorldSBK Standings 2017:
1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / 316
2 Tom SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / 262
3 Chaz DAVIES / GBR / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale R / 210
12 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team / 59