Team Suzuki Press Office – July 11. The end of the first half of the 2018 Season is just around the corner, with the upcoming GP of Germany the last race before the summer break. Team SUZUKI ECSTAR arrive at Sachsenring circuit eager to rectify the negative performance there in 2017; where both Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins struggled to find a good feeling on the tight track, which was not helped by tricky weather conditions.
This year’s situation is completely different, in particular for Alex Rins who arrives in Germany fresh from the recent podium in Assen. This second place was pay back for the solid progression and hard work that the young Spaniard has been doing since the beginning of the season. The joy of the podium also gave him back extra confidence that he’d lacked in some races early this year, and now he has renewed optimism and hope for the GSX-RR’s future performances.
This same good feeling is shared by Andrea Iannone, whose confidence with the GSX-RR has built up race by race. His latest results have been affected by a struggle in finding consistent performance over race distance, but his capabilities to be close to the top in every session this year, as well as his good pace, will soon reward him.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“We’re heading to Sachsenring with the objective to close the first half of the season in a good way. This year has been positive for us so far, thanks to the four podiums. The German circuit should be a good one for us, as its layout seems suitable for our machine’s characteristics. Alex arrives at Sachsenring in high spirits after his second place in Assen, so we expect a good race also in Germany. Andrea struggled a little more in the Netherlands, with him we are still finding some positive ways to work, so I’m confident he will be able to get back to the positions that we deserve.”
Alex Rins
“I can’t wait to race again in Germany and take advantage of the positive feeling I got from the podium position in Assen. The Sachsenring circuit is supposed to be a positive one for our GSX-RR because it’s very fluid, with fast corners, where we have always been strong. It’s also the last race before the summer break, so it will be nice to harvest a positive result – especially after my visit last Sunday to all the GSX-R fans in Zolder, who will probably also come to the Sachsenring to support us!”
Andrea Iannone
“I hope for a positive weekend as it will be the last race before the summer break and I feel it would be nice to go on vacation with a relaxed mind. The layout is suitable for our machine, I think, and it’s also a circuit I like, so we can try to stay in the top positions – which we have been capable of during the season so far. I’m also expecting a lot of Suzuki fans in Germany, this will give me an extra push.”
Circuit Info:
The Sachsenring circuit is unique on the calendar as it is one of the oldest race tracks: last year’s race marked its 90th birthday!
Its uniqueness is also proven by its peculiar layout, with ten left-handers to only three right. It is also the shortest track of the calendar (3700 mt); and for this reason riders use to affectionately call it “the kartodrom”.
2017 Stats
ANDREA IANNONE
Qualifying: 16th – 1’28.103 (Q1)
Race: DNF
ALEX RINS
Qualifying: 22nd – 1’29.504 (Q1)
Race: 21st – +1’01.695
