Brno has always been the place where changes happens… where voices about the riders market get confirmed, new contracts begins, old ones get even stronger. This is the place where 2020 teams get discovered and after today’s race I keep saying I would like to keep my two riders with me, to finally gain what we deserve after these two years of work. People never realize how important is to remain in the right place, even for a long time.. a little bit of fresh air sometime is needed for sure, but other times, quitting, you risk to lose everything just a little befor the best scenario. Unluckly, behind a rider there are so many people, and if managers take care more of themself than the rider, they can make it difficult.
Anyway, on Friday and Saturday’s practices everything was perfect, a 3rd place for Nicco and the 4th one of Tatsu made me think that a good race was just about to happen.
We were ready: starting grid, engine powered on…. well, other’s engine, Niccolò’s one switched off so he had to start from the pit-lane. My blood was already boiling into my veins. I moved my attention to Suzuki, who was fighting in the first positions. Trying to overtake Fernandez he did an high side ending his race this way. What a disaster. I left the box and entered my office not to say something bad live on TV; after some deep breaths I went back to my place, I took a look at Grana astonished: Antonelli was trying the impossible.
His lap-time was 1-1,5 seconds faster than the first group (he rides alone in 2’8’’4’’’ without slipstream); he did an amazing comeback, from the pit-lane to the first positions, fighting for the podium until the end, when he closed the race in 5th position, in-between the applauses of workers and all the MotoGP.
I turned my face, and I could see behind my back everyone congratulating with this kid for his amazing race. They may didn’t think he’s the most funny or he doesn’t ride for their favorite team, but it didn’t stop them from saying he did a phenomenal job, and this is exactly why I think this is a great sport.
I could go on with compliments for him over and over, but I prefer to be direct: as I already told him, you know what? He’s been lucky to start from the pit: starting from P3, his lap time would have been the same of the ones of the first group, he would have never done such a bagarre last years, he would have crashed immediately. Instead, this challenging race made him realize how much he has changed, he is now fast, very fast, but he didn’t realize completely how strong he is and this is why he doesn’t win. That’s why we set a new goal: to do what Martin did the year he won the championship, to take the first position and go far alone; he can do it, after today I am sure of that.
We’re ready for Austria, the same track where last year I thought to leave this world, but then my wife made me realize I’m still too young and she’s right. I still have too many things to say, too many press releases to write against somebody, so let’s get on our bikes, back on track, showing the world who we are.
-PaoloSic58-