It was a tough weekend in Qatar where from the beginning we had difficulty with the setting. In FP we couldn’t get the pace to get into Q2 and in Q1 we were narrowly out.

There is a lot of work, but in the race at the end we manage to have a good pace. Saturday in the Sprint I had fun, but in the first few laps I struggled to find my rhythm: between some stability problems and the new tire, I couldn’t push like I wanted to. Then, as soon as I got confident, I was able to make good overtakes and really have fun.

Sunday in the race we took a small step forward: the bike was a little more stable, although we had to sacrifice some power. We are still not where we want to be, but we are working in the right direction. It will take a little more patience, but we remain focused and positive.

It was not an easy weekend, in fact, probably one of the most complicated since the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, starting behind in this MotoGP immediately complicates everything for you: if you’re not in front, you’re forced to chase, to work twice as hard to get half the result. Yet, there are also positive things to take home from this race.

The second half gave me so much charge. Lap after lap I started to feel better, more comfortable, more “in tune” with the bike. I started riding the way I like, having fun, pushing. I made good overtakes, good braking, I recovered … and when it happens like that, even if you’re fighting for positions that don’t fully satisfy you, it triggers something inside you.

Too bad about that one lap down, because I was catching up hard on Jack (Miller) and maybe I could have gone for it. Maybe the result didn’t change, but another attack I would have pulled it out, for sure. And it’s those things that stay in your head after the race: not so much the placing, but the feeling. And those, today, at the end, came back good.

Of course, we need to fix things upstream. Qualifying remains our weak spot. With the new tire, the bike moves so much, it’s much more nervous, and I struggle to find the right limit. I want to push, but I can’t push too hard, otherwise I risk throwing the lap away. It’s a difficult balance to find: pushing without pushing too much. At that stage there, the bike is not yet “mine,” and this is also reflected in the first few laps of the race.

We are working to make the bike more stable, more precise. I know that as soon as we can make a step there, everything will change. Because when I can find rhythm and confidence, I can play with the top guys.

Now head to the next one. There’s more work to be done, more filing, but I’m taking this second half of the race home, because it reminded me how good it is to fight. And I want to go back to it right away.

Il weekend in Argentina era iniziato nel modo giusto. Durante le libere mi sono sentito subito bene, il ritmo c’era e sono riuscito ad accedere direttamente in Q2. Ma quando si è trattato di spingere per il giro secco, sono tornate fuori alcune difficoltà. Sul passo riesco a guidare bene, ma nel time attack, quando devo davvero stressare la moto, faccio ancora fatica a tenerla sotto controllo. Così sono partito dalla P9, non certo la posizione ideale.

Nella Sprint del sabato, però, è andata meglio. Ho chiuso in P6, con bei sorpassi e devo dire che mi sono anche divertito. Sentivo di poter portare a casa un buon risultato anche nella gara della domenica, ma purtroppo ho sbagliato in partenza. Ho frenato troppo tardi alla prima curva e ho toccato Fabio Quartararo, compromettendo non solo la mia gara, ma anche la sua.
Mi dispiace davvero tanto per l’errore, soprattutto nei confronti del mio team e dei miei tifosi. Quando succedono episodi del genere, rimuginarci sopra non serve a nulla. Preferisco concentrarmi su quanto di buono ho fatto fino ad ora e lavorare per migliorare dove ancora faccio fatica. So che manca davvero poco per riuscire a stare stabilmente con i primi e darò tutto per fare quel passo avanti.
Ad Austin ci aspetta uno dei weekend più duri dal punto di vista fisico, ma voglio affrontarlo al massimo per accorciare il gap e dimostrare tutto il potenziale che stiamo esprimendo gara dopo gara.

Il weekend in Argentina era iniziato nel modo giusto. Durante le libere mi sono sentito subito bene, il ritmo c’era e sono riuscito ad accedere direttamente in Q2. Ma quando si è trattato di spingere per il giro secco, sono tornate fuori alcune difficoltà. Sul passo riesco a guidare bene, ma nel time attack, quando devo davvero stressare la moto, faccio ancora fatica a tenerla sotto controllo. Così sono partito dalla P9, non certo la posizione ideale.

Nella Sprint del sabato, però, è andata meglio. Ho chiuso in P6, con bei sorpassi e devo dire che mi sono anche divertito. Sentivo di poter portare a casa un buon risultato anche nella gara della domenica, ma purtroppo ho sbagliato in partenza. Ho frenato troppo tardi alla prima curva e ho toccato Fabio Quartararo, compromettendo non solo la mia gara, ma anche la sua.
Mi dispiace davvero tanto per l’errore, soprattutto nei confronti del mio team e dei miei tifosi. Quando succedono episodi del genere, rimuginarci sopra non serve a nulla. Preferisco concentrarmi su quanto di buono ho fatto fino ad ora e lavorare per migliorare dove ancora faccio fatica. So che manca davvero poco per riuscire a stare stabilmente con i primi e darò tutto per fare quel passo avanti.
Ad Austin ci aspetta uno dei weekend più duri dal punto di vista fisico, ma voglio affrontarlo al massimo per accorciare il gap e dimostrare tutto il potenziale che stiamo esprimendo gara dopo gara.

Il weekend in Argentina era iniziato nel modo giusto. Durante le libere mi sono sentito subito bene, il ritmo c’era e sono riuscito ad accedere direttamente in Q2. Ma quando si è trattato di spingere per il giro secco, sono tornate fuori alcune difficoltà. Sul passo riesco a guidare bene, ma nel time attack, quando devo davvero stressare la moto, faccio ancora fatica a tenerla sotto controllo. Così sono partito dalla P9, non certo la posizione ideale.

Nella Sprint del sabato, però, è andata meglio. Ho chiuso in P6, con bei sorpassi e devo dire che mi sono anche divertito. Sentivo di poter portare a casa un buon risultato anche nella gara della domenica, ma purtroppo ho sbagliato in partenza. Ho frenato troppo tardi alla prima curva e ho toccato Fabio Quartararo, compromettendo non solo la mia gara, ma anche la sua.
Mi dispiace davvero tanto per l’errore, soprattutto nei confronti del mio team e dei miei tifosi. Quando succedono episodi del genere, rimuginarci sopra non serve a nulla. Preferisco concentrarmi su quanto di buono ho fatto fino ad ora e lavorare per migliorare dove ancora faccio fatica. So che manca davvero poco per riuscire a stare stabilmente con i primi e darò tutto per fare quel passo avanti.
Ad Austin ci aspetta uno dei weekend più duri dal punto di vista fisico, ma voglio affrontarlo al massimo per accorciare il gap e dimostrare tutto il potenziale che stiamo esprimendo gara dopo gara.

Finanlemente we begin. Here we are at the first GP of the season. Testing over, now comes the time that matters most, the time when we have to put all the work we have done on the track.

Compared to testing, we found ourselves in much warmer conditions, and this complicated our work a bit: high temperatures made the track more challenging. In Friday’s free practice we lapped well: n n spite of a crash, I managed to hit direct access to Q2 with a good time attack, which gave me confidence for the rest of the weekend.

On Saturday, however, things became more complicated. Right from FP3 I struggled to find the right feeling with the bike. In Q2 I couldn’t get a good rhythm in the time attack and I slipped in the final. P8 on the grid. A position that penalized me n n the Sprint: the box was dirty and I drifted at the start, which forced me to start from the back. Being so far back and having so many bikes in front caused overheating and lack of fresh air, making it difficult to maintain a good pace.

Sunday’s race was tough but at least I got a good start by keeping my position. I stayed behind Raul Fernandez for too long, which compromised my progression. Also, the high temperatures caused problems with the front tire overheating, with all the alarms going off. Eventually I managed to recover to P6 with some good overtaking and keeping a good pace.

Despite the difficulties, I am proud of the work done by the team. The other Aprilias, especially Ogura ‘s, also kept a good pace, showing that our winter work is paying off. This gives me confidence for the upcoming races.

Now is the time to analyze the data, work on the weak points and prepare ourselves in the best possible way for the next appointment. Next race in Argentina, one of the tracks I am closest to….

What a test guys!

We started in Malaysia where we started working hard and already in the first tests the improvements were really important. After the first laps in Sepang, in Thailand we made a good step. It was not easy – new bike, new team, new challenges. And with Jorge’s injury I had to give even more in development. A great challenge, but also great opportunity and great charge to work to the maximum. So much so that by the end of testing I was really finished….

We worked hard: setup, race simulations, time attack, tire management. The first day I finished in 1’29.794, but I knew I could do more. And in fact on the last day boom! 1’29.060, just 0.205 off the best lap of Marquez’s Ducati.

There is still work to be done, especially in braking with the new tires when the bike becomes more nervous. A few little mistakes in time attacks, but the pace is there and with Albarosa the feeling is growing every day.

Now it’s getting serious. In two weeks we are back here in Buriram for the first race. In testing you can try whatever you want, but in the race it’s a different story: zero margin for error.

I have a crazy team and a great bike. The season will be long, but the basis for fun is there….

Precedente
Successivo

I had to wait until the day of the official presentation to tell you what the new bike is like, but I confess that Jorge Martin and I peeked a little earlier-how could you resist? There it was, covered like a Christmas present, and we couldn’t wait to find out what was in store for us. We snuck like thieves into the Noale pits, moved the “DO NOT TOUCH” sign, and discovered it: it is truly BEAUTIFUL!

The first tests in Valencia it was still in the neutral version, now the fairing is really crazy. Ride-wise, I honestly didn’t think it was so far along in development already, and at the first tests it already made us smile. So far it was love at first sight. The excitement during the presentation was huge. To find myself here, in an official team, on an Italian bike that represents a historic brand like Aprilia, is a satisfaction I can’t even describe. And then the environment is really electrifying. Everyone works with incredible passion, the atmosphere is close-knit, positive, and I already feel at home. I have come from a year that was not easy. I suffered, I learned, and now I am ready to start again with all the determination I can muster. I have a lot of nerves to throw out and I can’t wait to do it by giving this beast gas. I’m motivated to the max and I know I have all the support here to do the best. Racing on a team with Jorge Martin, who is the current world champion is an incredible stimulus and a unique opportunity to grow and improve. With Jorge it will be tough because he is the strongest in the world right now, but it is a good chance to grow. It will be important for our project to work together. Having more strong riders fortifies the package, we need to adapt quickly and work together especially from the first tests. And now…? Now I can’t wait to get on the track. See you soon in Sepang for testing, where we will start pushing in earnest. I will definitely be at my best to bring home the results that Aprilia deserves and to best represent this brand that is an Italian pride. The desire to start is so much, and I am ready to give everything I have. Thanks to everyone for the support, and remember: always hammer the gas!

It is difficult to put into words all the emotions of this incredible weekend in Barcelona, the last GP of the season. A weekend that began with a heart close to the people affected by the flood, made even more special by the extraordinary warmth of the fans who flocked to the circuit for this solidarity race.

But the most intense moment was undoubtedly the farewell to my team. A team that has been not only my team, but my family for the past five years. From Moto2 to MotoGP, they have accompanied me on an extraordinary journey of challenges, victories, difficult moments and continued growth. I wanted to dedicate the helmet to them for this race, carrying their dedications with me, over every turn, in every overtaking.

In the race I tried to keep my emotions at bay, but they were too strong. The race? It wasn’t bad, decent I would say, but I gave it my all. First I ran out of the front tire, then the back tire, and in the last ten laps I struggled to stay up. And at the end, there was a big tussle with Pedro (Acosta ed.).

This year has been complicated, yes, but also deeply meaningful. We never gave up, never stopped believing. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve grown as a driver and as a person, and so much of that I owe to them: my team. I will always carry them in my heart with infinite gratitude.

Now it is time to look forward. A new adventure awaits me, riding an official motorcycle: every rider’s dream. And I am ready to give everything, with the same passion and dedication that brought me here.

Thank you all for the support, for always being with me, on and off the track. See you soon, because the best is yet to come!

We arrive in Malaysia wanting to make up for the bad Sunday in Thailand. Qualifying leaves a little bitter taste in my mouth, I couldn’t find a good feeling with the mota: a lot of forward thrust but I can’t get into the corners as I would like. I start behind, from P14 it is difficult to climb back up, especially in the heat of Malaysia. In the Sprint I get a good start (finally) and have fun. I tangle with Jack (Miller) and Pedro (Acosta), then in the finale the tire gets hot and I have to give up. Sunday the race is tough, I manage to recover positions and start a nice bagaree with Johann (Zarco). Still in the final the tire is really hot, the conditions are on the limit and the bike very difficult to ride.

Now we have the last race ahead of us; we don’t know where and when it will be held. All we know is that the Valencia race was (rightly) canceled: it would have made no sense to race after what happened.

We arrive in Thailand charged and motivated, despite the difficult time. FP starts quite well, we make a few changes and in Q2 I manage to get close to the front row. A P4 that is a good base. In the sprint I struggle, especially in the first laps. A couple of mistakes in turn 3 complicated everything, staying in the slipstream for so many laps the soft got so hot and I couldn’t recover much. On Sunday I start off loaded, take a lot of risks at the start, maybe too many and probably didn’t get the rear tire up to temperature. I risk crashing right away, then I try to recover and in my eagerness I find myself on the ground. Nothing, back to work to do better at the next one in Malesaia.

It was a complicated weekend at Phillip Island, where we sowed well but reaped nothing. Two falls, the first in the sprint. Ugly.

Too bad, in FP and qualifying I had been doing well. After Misano we have a good base on which we are working, and the step forward from the first half of the championship, where we suffered so much was there. In qualifying I come close to the front row.

In the sprint I start well, stay in the top group until the second to last lap…. Good tussle until the penultimate lap. Maverick (Vinales) passes me on the straight. He passes me close and takes off early, at which point I found myself sucked into the slipstream. I tried to go to the right to avoid the suction, but I couldn’t, I ran into him. The fall was really bad for both of us.

I am dazed, go to the medical center, fortunately there are no fractures. They still take me to the hospital for a more thorough checkup. I am told that I will have to serve a long lap penalty in the race, I accept the stewart’s decision-.

On Sunday I wake up with the aches and pains from the day before, I know I can still do well in the race. I get off to a strong start, can keep up with the pace of the front runners and feel good. After a few laps I stretch to serve the penalty luckily I don’t lose too many positions and put the knife between my teeth to get back up. Only I make a mistake and end up on the ground. I get the bike back up, start again. By now the race is gone but I still want to run my best. I do some good laps, the pace is good. Knowing that we have good potential charges me, the crashes of the weekend we put behind us and already look forward to the next stage in Thailand. No quitting!

It was a weekend full of different feelings, but overall positive. On Friday with the rain, I had a good feeling on the track. Although we struggled a bit with the time attack, I managed to take Q2 (by a hair). It was something we expected, because the grip here is greater than in Mandalika, and these conditions are always more complicated for us. In any case, we continued to work, knowing that the weather could also play an important role on Saturday. On Saturday in the dry we struggled more, both in qualifying and in the Sprint. The grip conditions are very different here and I still didn’t feel completely comfortable. Nevertheless, we gathered some important data for the race. Sunday went a little better than Saturday, although I got stuck in traffic at the start. The sprint was good, but then I touched with Alex (Marquez) and had to recover. In the first 6-7 laps I was able to pass the Aprilias and then also Jack (Miller), not for the top positions, but it was still fun. The feeling in the overtaking was good, and in the final I got closer to Franco and Brad (Morbidelli and Binder), doing a bit of rubber banding with Fabio (Di Giannantonio) as well. Overall, it was a solid weekend that gave us good feedback to keep improving.

What a weekend here in Indonesia! The reception upon arrival in Mandalika was really amazing, a flood of cheering fans welcomed us and really made us feel at home. In FP I am doing well and manage to hit direct Q2. In the last run of qualifying I get a good start, then I saw the yellow flags. I get distracted for a moment and … I find myself knocked out …. I quickly get the bike back up, think maybe I’m in time for one last run and guess a great lap. P2!! In the Sprint things didn’t go as I hoped. We were really fast and really close. At the chicane between turns 8 and 9 I had a bump on the bike, an abnormal movement that had already manifested itself during the weekend. Then, when I got to turn 10, I had a problem with the brakes: the pads opened and I had to let go of the lever to brake again, going long to avoid Pecco (Bagnaia). I tried to recover, but unfortunately I couldn’t. The important thing though is that we were there, fighting. I had a different compound from the others, it wasn’t a gamble, but the one I felt best with. For Sunday’s race I was still positive, because I’m driving well and I knew I would have other opportunities. And Sunday’s race was a good battle! I tried until the end, but I was definitely more on the limit than Franco (Morbidelli), who was in front for the whole race in the fighting group. It’s a pity that a technical problem at the start penalized us: the front lowerer didn’t engage three times, so I practically started in reverse of the others. Despite everything, the choice of soft proved to be the right one, allowing me to drive as I wanted and make my race. Even if the podium didn’t come, I’m happy, because battling is always an incredible feeling. And now, head to the next race, with even more motivation!

There are weekends that charge you with energy and prepare you for future challenges. This was one of those weekends, where I picked up important sensations and took a good step forward. In FP I struggle, although the feeling in the saddle was not bad. I was slow in the straights and we still don’t fully understand what happened. The chrono was far from expectations, but I didn’t let it get me down. In the afternoon, the change I was hoping for came: I immediately felt better, tried both compounds on the rear, and the feeling improved. We managed to make a good step forward, but the times of the top riders really impressed me. The goal was clear: to get the first two rows to be ready for battle. In qualifying I find good feelings again, although I was expecting a little bit more. In the Sprint I got a pretty good start, I followed Fabio (Quartararo), but I immediately started to struggle with the front tire temperature. The bike wasn’t turning as I would have liked, while Fabio was able to run it better. I pushed hard in the last laps, I tried, but he passed me back. Sunday brought many satisfactions, although the podium eluded me by a whisker. But I’m happy anyway: it was crucial to have a solid race, to fight with the strongest and show up. I took a risk with the soft rear, but it was the right choice for me. It allowed me to brake the way I wanted, and it was good. In the last two laps I started to struggle, but overall it was a good race. And now, it’s off to Asia. There are some of my favorite tracks there, and I can’t wait to go back. Gas!

When you are used to fighting with the top guys staying behind is tough.
In the first few races of this world championship I struggled so much to find the square but I knew where I needed to work.
Small and big steps that eventually led me to riding well again.
To feel the bike, to feel myself as one with it again and not a foreign body.
Since Friday in Jerez I had known that this was going to be a different weekend.
In both dry and wet conditions I was lapping strong.
Straight into Q2 and I manage to get a good lap and put myself on the front row.
In Saturday’s Sprint I don’t get a bad start, I manage to stay in the group.
A few laps from the end I see several riders on the ground, then I end up there too… A wet patch with that angle of the turn sends you straight into the scree.
On Sunday the conditions are optimal, I’m fine, and most importantly I get off to a good start.
I’m in the lead group, Marquez passes me, and after a few laps I see Martin on the ground.
I try to keep up with the pace of the first two but I am on the limit.
I finally ride well, having fun.
First podium of the season, big celebration both on the track and in the pits.
It was really needed.
Now we can look at the season differently, there is still a lot to do but the road is the right one.
Now back to head down on testing and the next GP in Le Mans.

I return to Mugello with a still vivid memory of last year’s wonderful weekend and a great desire to make up for it after LeMans and Barcelona.
Mugello is magic, not only one of the most beautiful tracks in the championship but the one with the definitely warmest atmosphere.
Arriving at the circuit and being assailed by the fans, who despite the difficult moment continue to support me, listening to the roar of the engines that all day long keep your adrenaline high, living Mugello is a goosebump experience.

We start with FP and already in the first laps I can see that the difficulties of Barcelona are still to be solved and I know that we should work a lot to find the right balance.
In these moments it is really difficult to keep calm and focus, but the only way to get out of it is to activate the BeZen mode, which inspired the helmet designed for the race.

We work hard, but we can’t get into Q2.
In the Sprint I start well but get bottled up in the first corner and lose a few positions.
I regain a few positions, collect important data and am ready for a good race.
Fair start, I keep a decent pace then continue to suffer in corner entry, an understeer that puts stress on the tires and then makes everything more complicated.

On the lap of honor I feel the warmth of the crowd and I stop to thank the fans.
It’s in the moments when things don’t go the way you want them to that they can really give you that extra incentive to get competitive again.
We have a few weeks off before Assen, where last year was a great weekend.
And where I want to get back to riding having fun from the first to the last corner.

We arrive in Germany after the disappointment of Assen.
The desire to make up for it is great, but the weekend starts badly.
In FP I can’t really ride, maybe the hardest moment of the whole season.
I go back to the pits, we look at each other and decide to reset everything.
It’s back to the Jerez setup, the changes we made in the last races didn’t work, better to have a rougher bike without too many upsets, but where I can ride over its imperfections.
And on Saturday things change.
In Q1 I ride well, I manage to get into Q2 and start from the fourth row.
Starting back in this track is not easy but the feeling starts to improve.
In the sprint I start well, tangle with Miller and lose a little contact with the front group.
I ride strong, with times close to those of the leaders.
A tenth place that still gives me confidence for Sunday’s race.

The start is decent, I keep a good pace.
I regain a few positions, until P8.
A result that in itself is far from expectations, but that gives me back the most important thing, having fun while driving and having good feelings.
A good base on which we can build the second part of the championship.
Now a few weeks of vacation and see you again in early August at Silverstone