The San Marino Grand Prix was the last act of the 2023 MotoE World Championship, on the Marco Simoncelli circuit in Misano Adriatico, we found a Kevin in great form, who wanted to return to the leading positions to conclude in style a season which saw him twice climbing onto the second step of the podium.
So it was, a fourth place in race 1 just a few hundredths from the podium and just 8 tenths from the victory, with a finishing turn and a heart-pounding final lap.
The Michelin tests took place on Thursday in view of the 2024 season and Kevin immediately proved to be fast, constant and determined.
The same was true on Friday where he started third in FP1 just 0.2 tenths from the lead, and then in FP2 achieved direct qualification for Qualifying Two, which sees only the best 10 riders from free practice on the track.
In QP2 his time wasn't enough to start from the front row, but with a group of 14 riders within just 0.7 tenths, the native from La Spezia achieved sixth position and the second row on the grid.
In race 1, after a contact in turn two, Kevin made an incredible comeback, overtaking his rivals and closing the 2.1 second gap he had on the first lap, with an impressive last lap that led him to fight for the podium in the sprint .
Kevin: “I wanted to demonstrate my speed in the dry, because many say that I'm not as competitive as in the wet, but I know that's not the case...
A weekend always in the leading positions, perhaps the most consistent ever in MotoE.
Since Thursday I felt strong and in race 1 I knew I could do well, so I pushed and managed to get into the fight for the podium, unfortunately I would have had to risk too much to overtake the third in the standings, but I tried and I came close , an important 4th place for morale and for my future.
In race 2 I wanted to do better, I got off to a good start, but on the third lap a rider behind me attempted an impossible overtaking and this compromised my race, I found myself down without warning, but I still brought the bike to the finish line honor of my sponsors and the team, but I couldn't do better than a bitter 18th place.
I'm happy with my second season in motoE, in a difficult category with cleanly titled riders, where I achieved two podiums, a fastest lap and was constantly in the top 10.
We could have collected much more, I'm sure of this, but you learn from mistakes.
I can't wait to outline my 2024 plans, I would really like to stay in the MotoGP and I will try to do so, to grow further and bring home new goals."
Kevin Manfredi ends his second MotoGP season, the first with the SIC58 racing team, in 10th place in the standings, an unlucky season in some phases, but which has allowed the man from La Spezia to improve and confirm himself among the big names in the category.
Now it will be 24 hours, so Kevin will not stop and will race at the Paul Richard in the Endurance World Championship, and then return in October in the last round of the Italian Superbike Championship riding the Penta Motorsport Suzuki.
Kevin thanks all the sponsors and technical partners of the 2023 season.
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