After winning the Supersport World Champion title in 2019 with Randy Krummenacher and second place with Federico Caricasulo, the Bardahl Evan Bros team made a very good start to the 2020 Championship by winning at Phillip Island in the first race with its new driver Andrea Locatelli.
The change of championship, from GP to WSBK, and category, from Moto2 to Supersport, was all the more disturbing for the Italian as the current situation is complicated.
How and where is Andrea now?
“I’m in Selvino with my parents. Our region of Bergamo is very affected but from where we live, we don't see much, we have to trust the news. »
The change of bike and championship, what did that mean?
“The two bikes are completely different. One can buy the R6 from the dealer, then make a few adjustments and go to the track. »
“Moto2 on the other hand is a prototype where you can change a lot of things. The weight, electronics and driver position also change a lot. It must be said that they are still motorcycles: a brake, an accelerator and gears; they are very similar. »
Has your impact with the SBK paddock been significant? After 7 years of Grands Prix, has this change been pleasant?
“All non-European races are a little different, whether in the World Championship or in SBK. I really enjoyed the relationship with the fans and the communication initiatives like the Paddock Show and the prizes for qualifying and fastest lap. I believe that Superbike has always been the “craziest” world for motorcycling and always with true passion. »
What surprised you the most in this “crazy” world?
“I was really amazed by the private teams, really, they do their best and are led by people who have real passion. Evan Bros, my team this year, is an official team, but everything is done in-house with a lot of dedication. This winter I saw things I never thought possible. There were some regulatory changes and the team worked very well and supported me because I came from a totally different bike. »
After the victory at Phillip Island where you absolutely dominated the weekend, do you feel like the championship favorite?
“It is difficult to say who is the favorite in this championship. I’m definitely a contender and I’m going to be able to win races. Phillip Island helped me a lot because it's a circuit that I like. »
“We will also go to tracks that I don’t know, like Donington. I know I'm fast but I need to improve my feeling with the R6. And then there are other contenders, in Australia during qualifying I was surprised by the level of certain drivers, it will not be easy to stay in front. »
Source: GPOne.com
Photos © Yamaha