On the evening of the Valencia Grand Prix, Marco Grana, the technical director of the SIC58 Squadra Corse, took stock of 2022 and confided his hopes for the new year.
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2022 was a year of shadow and light for Sic58 Squadra Corse. Riccardo rossi was certainly aiming higher at the start of the Moto3 season, but he was the author of a discreet season, while Lorenzo Fellon has often been discreet. The Romagna team certainly has other ambitions.
« The results for 2022 are positive,” said the technical director Marco Grana. " At Sic58, there is a good atmosphere and we are happy with the way the team worked. We missed the victory, which we could have won several times, but we will make up for it next year. »
What assessment do you draw from Riccardo Rossi's season?
« The previous year, Riccardo finished the world championship in 20th place with less than 30 points, while last season he even fought for victory in some races. He got on the podium in Thailand and for him it was the first podium in the dry. He showed he could be a top driver and was very fast on many circuits. He rode well in Thailand, at Sepang, at Jerez, at Mugello… Riccardo has grown a lot. We still have to improve, especially in qualifying where we don't manage to materialize too much, but in the race we often manage to have the best Honda in terms of lap times and to fight for the positions that really matter. For now, Rossi is in the top 7 and I am very proud of it. »
Were there any tense moments with Lorenzo Fellon?
« With him, we made a first row in Portimão but, in the race, we never obtained important results. From the middle of the year, things got complicated, when he signed for another team. I continued to be professional but there were some difficulties from the boy. It can happen. I wish him the best of luck for the year next. » (Editor's note: In hindsight, it is unfortunately easy to understand that the French driver was more disturbed by his father's fatal illness than by his future change of team...).
In motorcycle terms, the KTMs were superior…
« Our bike is good, we improved it a little more than last year in terms of top speed. Hopefully Honda will give us a helping hand for 2023. The KTM is really very good and it showed it on different circuits where we had a lot of difficulties.»
What are the prospects for 2023?
«
Riccardo Rossi, if he can improve his lap time and have a little more confidence, can try to fight for the championship. In 2023, a very experienced runner like Toba will also race with Sic58: We tried to give a little relief. The goal is to bring him back to victory, to the podium, to constantly fight for the positions that count. However, it would be nice if Honda could give us a helping hand.
»
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Marianna Giannoni
