Lorenzo Zanetti to sit in for Laverty in Italy
Team Goeleven recruit the Ducati test rider to replace the recovering Irishman
After yesterday’s announcement that Eugene Laverty would not make it back to full health in time for the Pata Riviera di Rimini Round, today Team Goeleven have confirmed the Irishman’s substitute for the Italian races. Lorenzo Zanetti will take control of a WorldSBK Ducati V4 R for the second time this season, after making a successful wildcard entry earlier in the season at Imola.
The 31-year-old, who took on the role of Ducati test rider for the Panigale V4 R back in early 2018, scored an encouraging ninth position at the Pirelli Italian Round, a result he will be looking to surpass alongside the Team Goeleven squad.
Zanetti becomes the sixth Italian rider scheduled to race at Misano in SBK®, alongside Marco Melandri, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Alessandro Delbianco and wildcards Michele Pirro and Samuele Cavalieri, two of his main rivals from the CIV (Italian Superbike championship).
The former World Supersport race winner has shown his delight upon returning to the paddock: "Replacing an injured rider is never nice, nobody wishes it, but unfortunately this is part of the races. I'm glad that both the Go Eleven Team and Ducati have thought of me in this context. I will try to make my experience as a Ducati test rider available and give my best on a special weekend like Misano”.
Switching from one team to another could be a challenge in itself, but Zanetti seems confident that operations will run smoothly in Misano: “It will be my first opportunity to work with this team, with a different technical package than the bike I normally use in tests, but even this is a way to check other technical solutions and report them when developing the bike, with detailed directions. It's a great opportunity, racing on the home track, in front of your audience with an Italian motorbike and team will be wonderful; I couldn't ask for more!”
“With Denis, we know each other from the minibikes, but we've never had the chance to work together and this will be our first time. I hope to repay the whole team with a good all weekend! I thank Denis, the Go Eleven Team and Ducati for calling and believing in me!"
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