The Barcelona weekend brings additional satisfaction to the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, that in Race 2 duplicates the extraordinary result of Race 1. This time it’s Michael Rinaldi who takes the win at the end of a perfect race while Redding is the protagonist of a sensational comeback that ends on the podium just one-tenth from second place.
- Superpole Race
P5 – Michael Rinaldi starts well recovering three positions. After the red flag, he tries to attack Lowes (Kawasaki) and Bautista (Honda) but he has to settle for the fifth position.
P15 – Protagonist until the red flag, after the second start Scott Redding is involved in the crash between Nozane (Yamaha) and Locatelli (Yamaha). The English rider gets back to the track but his race is compromised.
- Race-2
P1 – Just as in the Superpole Race, Rinaldi is perfect in Race 2 after the red flag. At the first corner, he’s already second and engages in a good duel with Rea (Kawasaki) and Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) to take the lead at the third lap. In the middle of the race, the Turkish rider tries to attack but Rinaldi defends himself and closes with a large advantage.
P3 – In the second start Scott Redding can’t be as incisive as in the first one but his progression is exciting. Between lap 3 and lap 5, the English rider recovers 5 positions and then attacks Bautista (Honda) and Rea (Kawasaki) to get to the podium zone. On the final lap Redding tries to attack Razgatlioglu for the second place, and he passes under the chequered flag with just one tenth behind the Turkish rider.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“I’m really satisfied with this result because we come from a difficult period. I said yesterday that I wanted to race in dry conditions because I felt I had a great race pace and I’m happy to have confirmed this feeling on track. I would like to thank the team, who has always worked hard even in the most difficult times. I’m even happier to have finished 1st today after Pecco (Bagnaia) won big at Misano”.
Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45)
“This result makes me happy because last year we had so many difficulties at this circuit. Unfortunately, at the second start of the Superpole Race I lost a lot of positions to avoid a crash and this somehow made Race 2 very complicated. Anyway, I stayed focused and tried to make my pace even though I lost contact with the front group while trying to pass Bautista. It was a good weekend overall and we will try to repeat it at Jerez”.
