Iannone: “We have a solid base on which to build, I’m excited”

After Monday, which the former MotoGP rider admitted was his toughest day since returning, Tuesday proved more positive, with the Italian focusing on race pace and managing to find a good rhythm that saw him set his quickest time on a well-used tyre.

Race pace ok, problems with the new tyres

As was the case for Danilo Petrucci last season, Andrea Iannone looks to be struggling to exploit the enormous initial potential of the Pirelli Superbike tyres. Despite this, Iannone and the GoEleven team took a step forward in terms of race pace on Tuesday, after some electronics setup issues on Monday: “Today we’ve definitely improved in terms of pace and are more effective, a little more competitive. I set my best time with a tyre that had done 15 or 16 laps, a 1.40.6, so I’m pleased with that”. But Iannone is having trouble with the new tyre: “I need to understand how to exploit a newer tyre in order to be more effective. This is the last European test before Australia, we have a lot of work to do but I think there’s a solid base on which to build and that leaves me optimistic. I’m excited, we’ll see what we can do at Phillip Island".