The 10th Round of WorldSBK 2021 took place on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, in Andalucia, an event that unfortunately will remain indelible in everyone's mind due to the death of the very young driver Dean Berta Vinales.
After a Friday of intense work for Kevin and Team Altogo in search of the ideal setup and the break-in of a new engine in FP1 and FP2, the summary ranking of the day ended with the Spezzino leading the European Championship in 1 minute, 44 seconds and 3 tenths, a time, however, that did not satisfy the same.
In Saturday's superpole, Kevin made the most of the two tires available, scoring his new personal best lap in 1.43.1 or 1.3 seconds better than the Free Practice time while maintaining the European leadership again; an interesting time that has brought him only 3 tenths of a second behind Manzi, the titular rider in the Moto 2 World Championship for several years.
A good result for Manfredi and Team Altogo who participated for the first time on this track together.
Less than an hour before the start of race 1 of the SSP600 on Saturday, however, the tragic news arrives that has frozen the paddock, during race 1 of the SuperSport 300 the young Dean Berta Vinales due to an accident at the exit of curve one , he lost his life.
Following the incident, Dorna and the International Federation have decided to cancel the entire program of the day, including the Superbike and SuperSport races.
After a meeting on Saturday evening between riders and organization, the Worldsbk also regarding the decision of the Vinales family, decided to resume the program as usual on Sunday, racing in memory of Dean.
Kevin: "The victory in Race 2 gives us a little smile in a sad weekend ... racing is part of us riders, we are rivals on the track, but the paddock brings us together, makes us discover new friends, beautiful people and us admires the veterans of the category but also the promising youngsters.
When news of this kind arrives shortly before a race, everything stops and thoughts emerge.
It was a disappointment not to be able to race Race 1, it would have been better if nothing had happened, especially when a young 15-year-old boy who still has a life ahead of us is greeting us.
My thoughts go out to his family, his team and all his teammates; this is a sport, a job, as beautiful as it is dangerous and unfortunately, despite the fact that everything is done to avoid any accident, the risk is always there.
No words can ever give the right comfort to the family that has lost a boy of only 15 years.
So I hug Dean's Family, with a strong and warm hug. "
Kevin Manfredi therefore in race 2 did not miss the opportunity of the European podium and after a contact in the initial stages with another driver he immediately began his comeback, winning the European SuperSport 600 race for the eighth time in 2021. Victory, however, that keeps him on equal points with Federico Caricasulo even after the two tests not completed in Barcelona.
The contact at the start of the race certainly hampered Manfredi who, without it, could have achieved a better result even in the World Championship.
The European title will therefore be contested between Spezzino and Ravenna in the last European Round in Portimรฃo this weekend, it will be a heated and difficult battle, Kevin will have a respectable opponent, vice-world champion in 2019 and former Superbike in 2020. .
Let's cross our fingers and cheer for Kevin who, also in this 2021, has shown determination and concreteness without making mistakes.
Kevin thanks the sponsors and technical partners of the 2021 season.
Comments