Disappointing Misano home round for SMW Racing and riders Iglesias and Millan
WSSP300 | Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round
Iglesias and Millan fail to shine at the Italian-Polish team’s home round, struggling with the heat and a lack of grip at the Misano World Circuit
The Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round proved disappointing for the SMW Racing team that, in front of its fans and sponsors, was unable to score a highly sought-after podium at its home track. Following an encouraging first day with both riders at the Misano World Circuit, the Italian-Polish team suffered in the high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday. Iglesias and Millan were unable to find the right feeling aboard the SMW Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 bikes, both struggling with a lack of grip around the Italian track.
Superpole
The Italian-Polish team made a strong start to its home round, with rider Iglesias qualifying on the front row after setting a 1’49.079, which saw him finish just 0.578s from pole and once again demonstrate his speed and talent. Millan also put in a strong performance, concluding FP2 in third place and finishing fifteenth in Superpole, just 1.410s from pole.
Race 1
Iglesias was unable to fully exploit his front row start and was lying sixth after the first lap. Despite this, the Spaniard was able to stick with the chasing group and set about preparing for the usual fight for the podium. In exchanging positions and crossing lines with his rivals, he was unable to make progress, Iglesias ultimately crossing the line sixth, or third among the Kawasaki Ninja 400 riders. Millan, who’s not yet fully fit following injury, did not make a good start and was forced to play catch up. In the final battle for a top ten finish, the #14 rider finished fourteenth, 0.027s from his closest rival.
Race 2
Iglesias was fast off the line and moved straight into the leading group. With more than ten riders battling for a spot on the podium, Iglesias made good inroads in the first half of the race, but then struggled with the high temperatures and a lack of grip and slipped outside of the top ten. The #58 rider eventually finish the race in twelfth place. Millan had the same problem and, after making a good start and running inside the top ten at one point, he ultimately crossed the line in seventeenth place.
Inigo Iglesias, #58
«It was a difficult race and the high temperatures prevented us from keeping pace with the frontrunners. It was a pity that our efforts weren’t rewarded with a good result in front of the team’s home crowd. So we finish this round a little disappointed, but at the same time this spurs us on to do more at the next round. We know we have great potential and are sure that we’ll soon score our first win».
Alex Milan, #14
«A very tough weekend. I felt good on Friday and we finished third, but once it got hotter, I struggled to find the right setting. The track conditions were difficult, we had little grip and I didn’t have the same feeling with the bike, but I tried to do my best anyway. Considering our potential, I’m sure we can fight for the podium and I’m sure we couldn’t do that in front of the team’s fans and sponsors, so many of whom came to see us».
Otello Celia, Chief Marketing
«Misano is always an emotional round for us, and it was great to see our fans and sponsors at the track. The weekend definitely didn’t go as we expected; we wanted it to serve as a ‘shop window’ so it’s a real pity that we couldn’t score a podium finish here. We really suffered with the heat and such a hard-fought round didn’t do us any favours. We need to understand how to improve certain aspects. Inigo and Alex’s times are average if we compare them to the other riders and we need to sit down as a team and work out if and how to intervene. We’re sure we’ll be able to do better next time!».
