The Yamaha Motoxracing Team is competing in the fifth WorldSSP300 round at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal.
Young riders Elia Bartolini and Emiliano Ercolani were on track yesterday for free practice and Superpole. In the qualifying session, Bartolini set a time of 1’56”709, which put him seventeenth, while Ercolani closed in twentieth place with a best of 1’56”809. Later, folllowing the disqualification of several other riders, Bartolini moved up into tenth place and Ercolani into twelfth.
As a result, both riders lined up on the fourth row of the grid in race 1, which ran over a distance of 11 laps.
Bartolini made a good start to move into the large leading group. Ercolani did not get away quite so well but was able to recover well and close in on the frontrunners again. The two Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 riders battled through every corner to gain ground, but unfortunately, at around the mid-race point, Emiliano was forced to retire due to a technical problem with his Yamaha.
Bartolini defended his position within the leading group fighting for victory, crossing the line fifth in what was a photo finish. He missed out on the podium by only a few thousandths of a second but can nevertheless be satisfied with his strong performance.
Tomorrow Bartolini and Ercolani will take part in the second race of this fifth round.
“I’m very pleased with Bartolini’s fifth place finish, which demonstrates just how much our team has grown over recent rounds. A pity that Ercolani was forced to retire due to a technical problem while fighting at the front. I’m sure he’ll do all he can to make up for this tomorrow.”
“I didn’t start so well but a few fast laps allowed me to close back in on the leaders. Unfortunately, a technical problem then ruled me out just a few laps later. For tomorrow I’ll try to further improve, because I want to achieve the kind of result we missed out on today due to sheer bad luck.”
“A great race in which we all fought hard. I made a few passes and was able to stick with the leaders almost to the line, until I was passed along the straight. But I’m pleased with my performance and am happy to be the first Yamaha rider.”
