The 2016 season of the FIM Superbike World Championship saw Lorenzo Savadori make the big move to the top category with IodaRacing and he was quick to impress. The rookie Italian challenged for top ten positions throughout the year and was able to finish tenth overall. With such strong performances in his first year and his quick adaption to the Aprilia RSV4 RF astonishing most in the WorldSBK paddock, IodaRacing Team Manager Giampiero Sacchi wasn’t at all surprised.

“Frankly in this moment, I’m not surprised with his [Lorenzo Savadori] results because all the project that we put on the table was very strong and all of this can help a young rider who’s arrived in his situation,” explained Sacchi. “It’s one thing to start a season with a team that has no experience and it’s another thing to start with a team of mechanics who have a lot of experience. That can transmit well in the end and you can learn quickly in these conditions. So in the end we are not surprised.”

Savadori’s teammate Alex De Angelis, who was also a WorldSBK rookie this year, successfully finished on the podium at Lausitzring in second. The San Marino rider’s results are all the more positive considering he spent the pre-season and early Rounds recovering from injuries to his right bicep.

“With Alex, it’s easy for many people to forget what happened last season,” said Sacchi. “To watch him on the podium at Lausitzring was very emotional.”

Speaking ahead of the new season, Sacchi reveals the team is working hard to stay competitive next year. The Italian reveals the team’s progress and success this season went to plan and is looking to build on it in the future.

“We had a very nice season!” exclaimed Sacchi. “But it’s like we expected when we started. We arrived in WorldSBK to do something good and we are still working to do this. To be honest our dream was to win but in this moment we are very satisfied about our results this season. Don’t forget the bike was in a garage one week before the start of the first test in Australia. We decided everything in the last moment and yes we can say we are happy. Now we are working very hard towards the future, that’s the most important point“.