This is a track I really enjoy. A place where I’ve had great satisfaction — and taken a few hard hits too.
They call it the Cathedral, the University of Motorcycling… not just because they’ve been racing here for over a century, but because there are corners where you just close your eyes, open the throttle, and let go. Without fully knowing what’s happening (and it’s probably better that way).
After Silverstone and the comebacks at Aragón and Mugello, we knew we were competitive. That we could be in the fight.
What we were missing was a good qualifying. Starting from at least the second row — that’s where the real races are built.
And finally, we nailed it.
“Quand la zira, zira.”
When it clicks, it clicks — that’s how we say it in Romagna.
I started P5, my best qualifying of the season. I was fired up for the Sprint.
Lights out — I held my position, made a couple of clean overtakes, and tucked in behind the Marquez brothers. The pace was there. I tried to close in, hold onto that podium spot.
I was riding on the edge — a few moments on the limit, a couple of big moments.
Finished with a beautiful podium. The kind that lights a fire for Sunday.
In warm-up, my pace was solid. I knew it would be a war, because everyone’s strong at Assen.
Race starts. I stay in fifth, then make a move on Alex Marquez: hard braking, just on the edge — got him.
Next up: Pecco. He’s always quick here. Tough to pass, but I found a gap and went for it.
My rhythm felt great. In front of me — Marc. I locked onto him.
I got close. In some sectors I could reel him in, in others he pulled away.
It was like an elastic band — gaining, losing.
I tried to push harder, but I was reaching the limit.
In the last few laps Marc kicked it up a notch — those two tenths he found, I couldn’t pull them back.
Second place.
And it means a lot.
As soon as I hit parc fermé I jumped into the team — we all went crazy.
Races like this… they’re pure joy.
Because to get here, we’ve worked our asses off. Hours and hours.
Tough days, long tests, figuring things out, believing even when the results weren’t coming. But now? Now it’s starting to pay off.
We’ve got two weeks off now. A few days to let this adrenaline fade, then back to it: garage, gym, data, laps.
Head down. Eyes forward.
