Home Hero Caricasulo Returns to the Podium at Misano2017-06-18 11:45GRT Official Yamaha WorldSSP Team's Federico Caricasulo returned to the podium for the first time since his win at Buriram at his home race in Misano, round seven of the 2017 FIM Supersport World Championship. His teammate Lucas Mahias unfortunately crashed out of the race whilst battling for the victory, but leaves Italy still leading the championship by five points. Caricasulo started from the front row in third and immediately was involved in the battle at the front. The 21-year-old Italian from Ravenna, less than 80km from the track, rode superbly as he showed that he has recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained in Assen. Consistently quick, he fought with Kenan Sofuoglu and Jules Cluzel for the victory throughout the race, managing to hold off Cluzel until lap 8 when the French rider made contact with Caricasulo as he passed. Caricasulo recovered and knew he had the podium in his sights, bringing his R6 home to cross the line in third, 5.600s behind the winner. Mahias started the race from fourth on the grid with a 30-point championship lead, and immediately he was involved in an excellent battle with Sofuoglu at the front. The two riders were swapping places at almost every corner before Mahias lost the front at Turn 4 on the third lap. The 28-year-old French rider managed to rejoin, but unfortunately crashed again at turn 8 and retired from the race. Mahias still leads the championship standings by five points with 105, whilst Caricasulo has now moved up to sixth with 51 points. The WorldSSP class does not race at Laguna Seca, so the GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team will be back in action at the Lausitzring on the 18th-20th of August. Federico Caricasulo Profile 2017 Federico Caricasulo GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team - 3rd +5.600s "It is a very nice feeling to return to the podium! I wanted to try to win this race because last year, I was so close to winning, before Kenan overtook me on the last lap. The podium is good I am happy after some difficult races and my injury. It is very important to be back on the podium and Yamaha and my team did a great job. I am happy because we are making really good progress and I think we will be very competitive in the next races." Lucas Mahias Profile 2017 Lucas Mahias GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team - DNF "The race was not so bad, sure I crashed, but I followed the plan. The plan was to push a lot, because while it is good that I have finished every race in a good position, now it is important to win races. I don't like finishing second or third. I am rider who likes to fight. It was a very little crash, in fact I am a little bit angry because during the weekend I didn't have a problem at all in this corner, but in the race, I crashed. That's racing. It is my first time in this championship, my first season as an official Yamaha rider - with a new team and new bike - and this is my first error all season. Okay, it has consequences for the championship, but now I don't feel the pressure. I am still leading the championship by five points. I like to look at the positives and the Championship is not finished, we still have a lot of races left. I look forward to the second half of the season, and I like the tracks that we have left." Filippo Conti GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team Manager "Today we had a very good strategy. Our aim was for Lucas to take the fight to Kenan and win. But, as always, everything is at the limit and just a little change in temperature and the track became slippery. When Lucas went into the slow corner the front closed and we were very unlucky. I am still very happy though, as we have shown that we have what it takes to battle at the front to win. For Federico, I am very happy, because he has been very focused and concentrated all weekend, despite a little crash in Warm Up. He had a very good race, and it was very important for him to be on the podium at his home race. We managed this, so I am very happy for him and the team. The team have been fantastic all weekend and have done a great job. I am very satisfied for the strategy we had, racing is racing, sometimes it goes to plan, sometimes it doesn't." Source: Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story |
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