Currently, Fabio Evangelista's Evan Bros team is no longer obtaining the results that saw it titled with unbeatable Yamahas in the hands of Andrea Locatelli in 2020 or Randy Krumenacher in 2019. This year, the Evan Bros team. WorldSSP Yamaha Team fielded a single R6 for Andrea Mantovani who was previously competing in the Italian Superbike Championship.
But after 6 rounds and 12 races, the 28-year-old Italian had only totaled 9 small points and was in 24th place in the general classification. By mutual agreement, the two parties separated after Donington Park, the transalpine structure then calling on Philip Fuligni for the weekend in Imola.
Who better than our Italian partners Corsedimoto.com, under the pen of Marianna Giannoni, to tell you the rest of the news from this team which still retains a prestigious aura?
It was not a bolt from the blue, far from it. While the weather wasn't exactly stormy, there had been heavy clouds for a while. This is how the Evan Bros team formalized the consensual separation with Andrea Mantovani. The results have always been lower than the expectations of the team, reigning vice-world champion, and the Emilian driver. Mantovani has been strong in MotoE this year, but has never been able to perform at a good level in World Supersport. Going from the CIV Superbikes to the World Championship Supersport is always complicated, and we certainly didn't expect victories or podiums, but places in the top 10 which were never obtained. Additionally, in Donington, Andrea Mantovani crashed during free practice and had to miss both races due to injury.
It was replaced by Philip Fuligni, who immediately obtained good places and seems to be one of the main candidates for his succession.
“I am very sorry that there was a rift between us and Mantovani”, said Fabio Evangelista, team director, Motoracing, “It was a truly consensual separation and it is not a simple figure of speech. The good feeling had not been created and it was probably mutual. Perhaps the injury at Donington and the inability to race at Imola, a race that was so close to his heart, weighed in the balance. However, we separated on very good terms, although, obviously, in this kind of situation, one is never happy. »
Are you going to recall Filippo Fuligni?
“It is not possible for Most because he is busy with the CIV, but we got on very well with Filippo Fuligni at Imola and we would like to continue with him, if not immediately, in the near future. Now we evaluate who to field at Most. We have several requests and we are reviewing them to find the best solution. »
On the same wavelength Andrea Mantovani…
“I completely agree with what Fabio Evangelista said”, Mantovani told Corsedimoto,
“It was a consensual decision, I'm really sorry but unfortunately we didn't do it. The injury certainly didn't help. It's a shame, but that's how it happened. Now I'm trying to get back in the best condition because I still have a big bruise on my leg and I have to try to get back to normal as quickly as possible.".
Andrea Mantovani
Philip Fuligni hoped deep down that the Evan Bros Yamaha would be his. The Romagna team preferred to focus on Lorenzo Dalla Porta, but for Filippo the roads are not closed, quite the contrary. At Imola, he achieved two eleventh places, the best of the season for Evan Bros even though he was called at the last minute to replace Andrea Mantovani, injured and never up to the task.
“Last Thursday, I was on my way to Austria to do some driving training as an instructor when I received the phone call from Evan Bros”, tells Philip Fuligni à Motoracing, “I wasn’t expecting it at all, I was on my way. I then contacted my clients and they were understanding: they told me “This is your big chance, go ahead, go ahead”. So I changed course and went to race in Imola. »
Did you already know the motorcycle?
“Pretty much yes, because I ride an R6 in CIV and my team, D&A Racing, already works with the Ravenna team, so the bike is very similar. Honestly, I thought I would have a little less trouble going fast in the world championship. I hadn't raced at Imola for a while and had only done it with the Stock bike, so the engine, gears and everything else is different. »
Have you negotiated with Evan Bros to also participate in the next races?
“I have been talking with Evan Bros for a long time and a collaboration is in place for the CIV. They are one of the best teams in the world championship and I got along very well with them straight away. In Imola, we started to put in place a working method, it was almost like a test to get to know each other even better and understand each other. The results, for the first time, were positive and they were very happy. The discussions continue. I'm now hoping to race a few races with them as a wild card and then race full-time with Evan Bros in 2024. I'd like to race at Portimao and maybe Estoril if Argentina is removed and replaced. But for now, these are just words, there is nothing concrete. »
Last year you were seriously injured, but you have fully recovered…”
When I had to stay in hospital for a month in Portugal, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to continue driving like before. I went through a very difficult time, I was immobile for 4-5 months, moving from bed to sofa. I then recovered and am feeling better than before. Obviously, I keep pushing and working hard to get better and better. »
Filippo Fuligni
The arrival of Lorenzo Dalla Porta in Mondial Supersport was largely predictable. The rider himself said this in an interview with Corsedimoto last month. That he would race with Evan Bros was also a no-brainer, but that he would do so from Most was not expected. Instead, on the Imola weekend everything came together and Lorenzo rode on Monday at the Santerno circuit.
“The idea of racing in Supersport had already been around for some time”, Explain Lorenzo Dalla Porta à Motoracing, “but the intention was to make a wild card with the second bike, the one used by Adrian Fernandez in Barcelona, in order to prepare for 2024. But there was the divorce with Andrea Mantovani and the possibility of racing from the week next thing presented itself: I jumped at the chance. I have already done two days of testing: a Monday in Imola where I drove quite a bit and a Thursday in Magione where I did more laps. The guys in the team were fantastic: they managed to organize these tests at the last minute to allow me to get to know the bike. »
Everything will be new for you in Most. How do you approach your debut in Supersport?
“I'm not afraid, but I'm curious to see what I can do. It’s clear that now is not the time to have expectations: I don’t have any and neither does the team. If we had started at Magny Cours in September it would have been easier because we would have had more time to test, but I still trained and I can't wait to feel the adrenaline of racing again, I miss that. I will do my best and I am really happy to race at the end of the month. »
Will you also race with Evan Bros in 2024?
“That would be very good, I hope so. After what happened to me this year where I changed teams twice, I would really like to set up a long-term project. With Evan Bros, I immediately felt comfortable, much more than in Moto2. The Superbike paddock itself made an immediate impression on me and everyone spoke of it in glowing terms. I am happy to start this new adventure. »
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
