Round 6 of the World Superbike has just ended on the Most circuit in the Czech Republic, which saw the rider of the Altogo team Kevin Manfredi, current leader of the European Supersport 600 Championship, take to the track with the number 34.
Kevin gave his best this weekend as well, reaching his best Superpole at the level of gap from the leadership of the World Championship on a track totally unknown to him where many teams and riders had already carried out tests before.
In motorcycle racing, however, there are many unknowns and difficulties to be faced, especially in a major championship such as the World Championship and the European Championship which in this stage has also found a new claim to the title: Federico Caricasulo former Superbike rider in 2020 and Vice World Champion in 2019.
In fact, the final result did not reward the Spezzino who wanted to replicate the double from Assen.
In Race 1, while Kevin was in full battle for the 9th position overall, a red flag interrupted the race with seven laps to spare
forcing him to settle for 2nd European place and 13th overall in the World Championship. In Race 2, on the other hand, after a perfect start and an improved race pace thanks to the changes tested in the morning Warmup, Kevin could have fought for the 7th final position but a contact under braking with another driver canceled any possibility of restart.
Kevin Manfredi: ”A weekend that I consider positive in a certain way: we have grown further; we found new improvements on the bike and we got much closer to the world top 5 right from qualifying, all on a completely new circuit.
We still lack a bit of experience, we need to be more incisive in free practice and be able to arrive first at the solution of the ideal bike for race weekends, especially now that the European Championship has been enriched with the arrival of Caricasulo.
Too bad for the final result, in race 2 I felt good and after starting strong and entering the leading group, I wanted to study my opponents in the first part of the race and then attack in the second half with used tires and a more exhausted tank, which it was the condition in which I was best. Unfortunately, however, when braking in the first corner I made contact with Cluzel and I could not avoid the crash. When I picked up the bike and tried to restart there was nothing to do, the damage to the bike was too much.
However, I am still Championship Leader and together with the team we know where to work in the next races, Navarra will also be new for us, so we should grit our teeth and work hard waiting for Magny Cours who we know a little better and where last year I got two victories. European championships and a 5th place in the World Cup. "
Kevin Manfredi will therefore prepare for a week off before leaving for Spain with the 7th round of the World and European Supersport 600, to then continue with Round 5 of the Italian Championship on the Mugello circuit.
Kevin thanks all the sponsors and technical partners of the 2021 season.
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