News

"I didn't feel anywhere near right throughout the race weekend in USA and it was a big struggle, especially during practice and qualifying," declared Fabrizio. "I arrived in America feeling pretty rough - because of something one of my children had passed on to me - and on raceday I guess I was about 80% fit. It then didn't help when I was taken out in the first race and injured my left thigh and leg. But that injury made me more determined in the second race and I really enjoyed the fight - especially with Laverty towards the end of the race. If there had been one more lap, I would've passed him for sure.

It hasn't been an easy first half of the season for the Italian rider, who has strugge to get to grips with the Japanese four-cylinder machine, but step by step he has managed to improve and is now closer to the championship's frontrunners. "For me, the season so far has been hard, but we all knew that before it began and I think we have surprised a few people along the way. I am pretty happy with how things have gone and I am so much more comfortable on the bike now then I was at the start of the season."

As for the upcoming Misano round, Fabrizio is aiming for a podium finish. The key to this is a good starting position, something that has always been the Achilles' heel of the former Ducati man, who has so often been forced to make up places from a lowly grid position.

"As I said before, this series is so competitive that you have be on the first two rows of the grid if you are to have any chance of a podium. So my aim is to be on the first two rows of the grid, make good starts and get on the podium. I was on the podium at Misano last year, so it would be good to be on it again this year. I don't feel any extra pressure racing in Misano, even though people regard it as a ‘home' race for me. I know that I will have a lot of friends and fans there, but it is just another racetrack and I want to do well at every racetrack I go to."