New Ducati WorldSBK signing Iker Lecuona stated the Panigale V4 R had the “worst” really feel ever throughout Race 2 at Phillip Island.
Lecuona carried out moderately nicely in race two, working in sixth place for a lot of the race earlier than being overhauled by Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira on the finish to complete eighth. Nonetheless, he completed 30 seconds behind teammate Nicolo Brega, and the Italian accomplished his opening treble in Australia.
Nonetheless, Lecuona stated after the race that he had been battling an absence of feeling in his rear tires throughout the race, including that it was particularly bothersome at circuits like Phillip Island.
“To be sincere, I am somewhat bit pissed off,” Lecuona advised WorldSBK.com after race two.
“I do not speak about place. In the course of the race I had battles with Danilo (Petrucci) and Miguel (Oliveira), however I all the time maintained that place. To be sincere, the sensation on the bike was the worst (from the start).”
“It is very tough to trip, very troublesome. There have been a variety of huge moments throughout the race. On the observe there’s zero really feel within the rear tire and you must use the tire nicely, which isn’t straightforward to trip and much more troublesome within the moist.”
“In the course of the race I nearly went flying about 15 occasions, which made me somewhat pissed off. That feeling you get if you’re on the bike.”
However Lecuona stated he needed to be happy together with his time in Australia as he felt he had made progress for the reason that first day of testing on Monday earlier than the race.
“General I’ve to be glad. The workforce is glad, so I’ve to be glad too, as a result of we made good progress throughout the check and now and all through the week,” he stated.
“Since I began racing 4 years in the past, I’ve managed to finish Australia with out a crash, in order that’s additionally a really constructive level for me. Additionally, with no crashes, I did not lose the texture of the bike, it labored nicely and I arrived one step at a time.
“We now have the pace, we confirmed our pace and we have to place the whole lot we’ve got and we have set to work and end to seek out that approach to get there with 10 seconds left. However actually, we did a very good job.”
The poor really feel for Race 2 means Lecuona would be the solely World Superbike rider at the moment relying on moist climate for the Portimao check on March 9-10.
“If it rains, I will actually do 50 or 100 laps. I would like to know what occurred at the moment and I must study as a result of I do know I’ve the potential,” he stated.
“If not, (…) I’m nonetheless engaged on the bottom and dealing on studying on the bike.
“Right here we missed just a few tenths in some locations, however I believe we will do nicely in Portimao. In fact it is a fully completely different observe, however we simply have to keep up that efficiency, preserve working and get there extra ready for the race weekend.”
