With the upcoming opening round of World Superbikes Championship, that is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons ever, with highly talented and big named riding stars, we caught up with Lorenzo Lanzi before he left for Phillip Island.
After a difficult past season, Lorenzo has been signed up to ride for DFX Corse, for whom he raced for last year (replacing the injured Regis Laconi) and the bike could not be anything less than an awesome Ducati 1198, a highly professional team, for an all Italian duo and with six Italian riders on the WSBK starting grid, great racing will be a guarantee.
Here’s some questions that we asked the rider from San Piero in Bagno, including his expectations for the upcoming season.
Q: Finally you’re going to be back riding a Ducati, how do you feel physically and mentally?A: “I’m really happy to have found a place in the DFX team.
I’m finally back in the series and for the entire season and really want to do well from the start.
I have to say that I’ve always believed that I’d be back, so I’ve always been in training to prepare for the double races.
I knew that if I raced in other championships in the end it would have paid off.
I’ve always believed in my talent, but being a rider without personal sponsors, it wasn’t easy finding a place, and today I’m here and I’m grateful to the team and believe that I can hold my own in the championship.
”Q: What do you think of the riders you’re going to face this season?A: It’s going to be a great championship, there are a lot of world champions and there’s a lot of anticipation for the start of the season.
It’s going to be hard competing at the highest level, but we’re going to do our best.
Q: What do you believe will be your level?A: Fortunately there’s going to be two day’s of testing before the opening round.
We’re pratically starting from zero and I’ve been out for several months.
We really needed this opportunity to test and I’m hopeful for the championship.
It’s going to really tough, especially in the first two or three races, but I think that we’ll reach a good level by the Valencia round.
Obviously in a championship of this level and so full of talent it won’t be easy staying with the front runners, but I think if we can constantly stay in the top ten, it would a great result and if we can fight for a podium position, and why not a victory like in 2008, I’m certainly not going to pull back.
Q: Six Italian riders in the series and we want you all to be leaders.
A: Yes, this year there’s a lot of us and I hope we can come up with some great racingQ: We’d like to thank you for your availability and would like to wish you the best of luck for the season.
A: Thank you and all the fans!We’d like to thank our friend Dave Contini for this interview.