With sixth place in Aragón, Corentin improved on his best result of the season which was seventh position at Phillip Island. He did it this Sunday in Spain in an all the more spectacular way as he finished 0.2 seconds ahead of Lucas Mahias and 0.3 seconds over Hikari Okubo, the two riders of the Puccetti Racing semi-official Kawasakis.
Perolari is therefore tied for sixth in the provisional standings of the World Championship, while it is in Assen that we have an appointment this weekend for the fourth race of the season.
Corentin, when you ranked ninth on the first day in Aragon, 1.3 seconds behind leader Raffaele de Rosa and 1.2 seconds behind second, your teammate Jules Cluzel, were you worried about the gap?
“No, because in the third sector, I was ahead. I then rode on a dirty part of the track and slipped a little from the front, but I was confident in my pace because since the start of the weekend I had been working on my own. I had the speed and it was positive. I really improved my running pace.”
At the end of free practice, were you happy with your progress which earned you eighth place, but now only 0.9 seconds behind leader Thomas Gradinger?
“Yes, I rode well and we worked well on the bike. In fact, working alone on the track is important because it really allows me to improve my times without anyone, it helps me know where I'm progressing and where I'm less good. It allows me to work efficiently.”
“With a wheel in front of me, I don't really know where to stand because everyone manages to do a fast lap following another driver.”
You then placed eighth in the Superpole, still 0.8 seconds behind Gradinger, which was your best qualification of the year. Did this place on the third row give you confidence for the race?
“Yes really, because in the two previous races, the qualifying wasn't really that. I was a little far away. Starting in the top eight, given the starts I'm making, it's great. But this weekend at the start I was careful. I was really careful because I knew that the first left turn in Aragón is very tight. The two Kawa then overtook me and that made me lose track of the race.”
In the race, you went from 8th to 6th place on the second lap, then to 9th on the 9th lap. You then moved up to 6th on the 13th lap (out of 16) to finish just ahead of the two Kawasakis of Lucas Mahias and Hikari Okubo. Was there a lot of commotion, especially with Mahias and Okubo?
“Yes, especially with Mahias. Then, Mahias and Okubo made two rather hot passes. Then Lucas and I just overtook each other, and that's also what made me lose the lead at the start of the race. By doubling up, we lost time.”
“Afterwards I tried to get back on Jules (Cluzel) which was not far in front of me, but the little that was missing did not allow me to take the slipstream in the straight and it was then complicated.
“But it was honestly a great race. In the company of Lucas we had a good fight. It was really great. Lucas and I then shook hands. »
How does the Assen race look this weekend?
“I think she's not looking too bad. I don't know the 600 circuit, but I drove there in 2014 in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. So we will say that “I know where this is going”.
“And this Saturday, April 13, is my birthday, so I hope it goes well. »
That’s what we wish you, and happy birthday in advance!
Photos © GMT94 Yamaha, Mateusz Jagielski motorsport photographer
