This spring 2017 is the season of contrasts, with Maverick Vinales surfing at the top of the wave, while Jorge Lorenzo floats in the depths and Andrea Iannone stays glued to the bottom. Penultimate in the manufacturers' standings behind Aprilia, Suzuki only owes its modest fifth position ahead of KTM to the 7 points scored by Alex Rins in Qatar, before being injured in training.
Andrea Iannone escaped a possible disaster in Argentina when Jorge Lorenzo hit his rear wheel on the first corner. He did not fall, completed the first lap in sixteenth position, then moved up to tenth place on the fifth lap. He unfortunately then fell, starting again penultimate in front of his teammate alex rins, who had also fallen, then started again despite his injured ankle. Rins retired at his pit and Iannone finished last, 46 seconds behind the winner Maverick Vinales and at 3 Bradley Smith. Andrea set the eleventh fastest time in the race on his seventeenth lap in 1'40.242, half a second off Vinales' best lap.
The Maniac had already fallen during the first GP in Qatar, but honorably in third position, in the fight for second place between Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales. On this occasion he achieved the eighth time in 1'56.564, half a second (0.574) behind our Johann zarco.
Suzuki had a clause in its contract with Vinales that the Spaniard would race for the Japanese manufacturer in 2017 if the latter wished, what is known as an option. Suzuki wanted it, Vinales refused it, which caused his separation with his then manager Aki Ajo. What appears today as a huge strategic error in not applying this contractual option is paid at a high price by Suzuki. Will the Grand Prix of the Americas signal redemption time?
Iannone is constantly progressing in Austin. From tenth place in 2013 on Ducati Pramac, he finished seventh in 2014 with the same team. Fifth in 2015 on an official Desmosedici, he finished third last year, 10 seconds behind Marquez, and 8 ahead of Vinales, then a Suzuki rider.
For Andrea Iannone, “ The start of the season hasn't been very positive for me in terms of results, as I don't have any championship points yet, but our performances have improved steadily over the last few months and I think we let's do an optimal job.
“The Austin circuit may not be one of the best for the characteristics of our bike, but we have to work hard to be able to adapt to any type of circuit. It's a challenge that revitalizes me and I feel good support from the team.
“I would really like to have a good weekend in Austin. The atmosphere with the fans there is incredible and I think we deserve better results than we've gotten so far because we're doing a really good job. »
Photos © Suzuki
