Locatelli finds small improvements in race two, ‘but the feeling didn’t come’

A tough San Jaun WorldSBK weekend sees Andrea Locatelli miss out on a top five result for the first time since Donington Park. 

Locatelli’s impressive Assen showing back in late July began a run of seven consecutive rounds where he scored at least one top five - usually more than that. 

And although he got close in the Superpole race with P6, the ‘feeling to fight for a good position’ never came, despite making improvements from Saturday’s race to Sunday.

"We tried to improve a little bit this morning and we made a good step because in the Superpole race we could fight more," added Locatelli. 

"Then we were able to start race two in P6, so while on Sunday we improved a little bit, I am not completely satisfied but for sure we need to be happy with the improvement we did make. 

"It’s a strange weekend for us, when we arrived here my feeling and also in my mind I had another objective, but in the end we can take what we have. 

"I tried to get the maximum and also the guys worked so hard to give me a good bike, but in the end the feeling with the grip didn’t come and we lost the opportunity to fight for a good position." 

The next round will be the final one of 2021 and is a round that could see Yamaha clinch their first riders title since Ben Spies in 2009.

Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship by 30 points over Jonathan Rea, so if he’s in a position to do so, the Italian intends to support his team-mate.

Locatelli said: "Indonesia will be completely different and new for everyone, we will see and of course, push for the maximum and also try to support Toprak to win the title there."