Having entered his new position as Yamaha Motor Europe’s Highway Racing Sporting Supervisor over the winter, Andrea Locatelli’s victory in Race 2 on the Dutch WorldSBK was a milestone of types for Niccolo Canepa.
Not solely was Locatelli’s win Yamaha’s first since Canepa took over from Andrea Dosoli because the Highway Racing Sporting Supervisor, nevertheless it was additionally its first win for the reason that 2023 Superpole Race at Magny-Cours; and Italian additionally grew to become the primary rider apart from Toprak Razgatlioglu to win on a Yamaha in WorldSBK since Michael van der Mark gained the Superpole Race at Jerez in 2020.
Ending a wait of a-year-and-a-half is definitely essential to Yamaha, however Canepa was no much less happy for Locatelli himself.
“It’s particular as a result of I’ve identified him [Locatelli] for a very long time, we’ve been working collectively in numerous roles,” Canepa advised WorldSBK.com.
“So it’s particular to see him in first place as a result of he actually deserves it; he had some dangerous luck up to now when he had the chance to win – this time he lastly did it and we actually hope it’s the primary of many.”
Canepa, who entered his new position over the winter after spending a number of years as a manufacturing facility Yamaha rider within the Endurance World Championship and because the WorldSBK take a look at rider the Iwata manufacturing facility, admitted that Yamaha’s season hadn’t begun in one of the best ways in Australia, however stated that since Portimao – the place a brand new chassis was launched underneath Superconcessions guidelines – the development has been extra constructive.
“We didn’t begin in one of the best ways in Australia, however then from Portimao we had been capable of be combating for the rostrum once more – we noticed the Yamahas being extra aggressive – and right here once more even higher,” stated Canepa.
“So, Cremona is an important race for us, we all know that we now have our headquarters which isn’t removed from there, additionally our sponsors primarily are from there, so it’s an important race weekend.
“Additionally, it’s in Italy, Locatelli is Italian, so I actually hope we are able to hold progressing and doing good outcomes.”
In regards to the upcoming race in Cremona, Canepa added: “Loka, when he’s on this form, doesn’t shock me anymore. So, the bike is working, the workforce is working in a incredible method, Loka is extraordinarily robust, so I imagine that we are able to struggle there as nicely.”
Gardner’s podium “actually particular”
Locatelli was not the one rider on the rostrum in Race 2, as Remy Gardner took his first rostrum end of the season in Race 2.
It was Gardner’s second podium end in World Superbike, the opposite coming in Race 2 at Assen within the 2024 version of the WorldSBK Dutch Spherical.
“It’s actually particular as a result of he was on the rostrum right here final 12 months and he has been struggling this weekend a bit,” stated Canepa.
“Lastly, the workforce helped him and located a very good setting and he was capable of be again on the rostrum, he did a really robust race once more.
“He had a little bit of dangerous luck final 12 months, so we hope he can once more be on the rostrum extra occasions this 12 months for him , for his workforce, and for Yamaha as nicely.”
