SMW Racing just misses pole and podium with Iglesias in WorldSSP at Aragón, Millan injured
WSSP300 | Aragon Round| Sunday 10th April 2022
An excellent season start for Iglesias and Millan who show talent and grit in Race 1. Injury for Millan in Sunday warm-up, unfit for Race 2
The SMW Racing team has started as it means to go on, immediately up at the sharp end in the Supersport 300 category with Spanish pairing Iglesias and Millan at the Motorland Aragón circuit. The Italo-Polish team, which has an Italian heart, just missed out on pole position and a podium finish with Inigo Iglesias as well as the top fifteen with Alex Millan, after making progress throughout the weekend. The number 14 rider was unable to take part in race 2 after coming into contact with another rider during warm-up and crashing as a result. With an ulnar styloid fracture to his right wrist and a sprained right foot, Millan was declared unfit.
In Superpole, Iglesias set the second fastest time, a 2’06.950, which put him just 0.042 of a second from pole and meant that his was the first Kawasaki Ninja 400 on the grid. Alex Millan, racing with the SMW Racing team for the first time this weekend, positioned twenty-fourth (out of 31), with a time of 2’08.580. Finishing five tenths from the rider in fifteenth place, Millan’s result shows that this entry-level category is increasingly competitive and close.
In Race 1, Iglesias proved to be a podium contender, putting in a strong performance at the Spanish track of Aragón. As a result of two penalties, the SMW rider was forced to settle for sixth place, his Kawasaki the third to cross the line. Millan also did well, building confidence with his #14 Ninja 400 throughout the race and moving up to finish just outside the top fifteen, narrowly missing out on his first points of the season.
In Race 2, Iglesias got away well from the front row of the grid and immediately moved into the lead in what became a very hard-fought race. Part of a competitive group of more than ten riders, all battling it out for a podium spot, the #58 rider ultimately finished fifth, the second Kawasaki across the line. Thanks to two excellent performances at Motorland Aragón, Iglesias lies fourth in the championship standings and is currently first among the Kawasaki riders. The next championship round will take place on 23-24 April at the Assen circuit.
OTELLO CELIA, Head of Marketing
«Our first thoughts are with Alex. We hope he can be back with us soon because he’s very strong and has immediately developed a bond with Inigo. Technically, we’re very pleased. Historically speaking, Aragón has never been our track but this year we were already quick in testing. We’re very optimistic as we look ahead and have seen a very focused and well-prepared Inigo. We’ll see what happens at Assen.»
INIGO IGLESIAS, #58 (Race 1: P6 – Race 2: P5)
«The race went well, and I’m pleased with both how we did and how we’ve worked. I’m not so happy with the result because we have the potential to do more; we could have been on the podium. We battled at the front for the entire time, even leading the race for a while, but on the last lap I got my strategy wrong and finished fifth. We’re scored important championship points here at Aragón anyway and are now fourth in the standings. We’ll continue to work hard and fight for a win.»
ALEX MILLAN, #14 (Race 1: P16 – Race 2: Unfit)
«It was not easy to have to stay in the garage after crashing this morning following contact with another rider. I’ve got an ulnar styloid fracture to the wrist and a sprained right foot. A pity because we had good pace and great feeling ahead of race 2. I want to apologise to the team because we didn’t need a crash right now and will need to work doubly hard to make up for this DNS. I hope to be 100% fit in time for Assen so that we can make the most of all the work we’ve done and score a good result.»
