SIC Racing Team riders Adam Norrodin and Ayumu Sasaki concluded today’s Catalan Grand Prix just outside the points in 16th [Ayumu] and 18th [Adam] position. Despite struggling throughout the weekend, Malaysian rider Adam Norrodin made a solid comeback from his 30th place qualification, to claim twelve positions and set his fastest time during the twenty two lap race. Ayumu Sasaki was elevated to seventeenth place on the grid due to other rider penalties. Aiming for a top ten position, the sixteen year-old-rookie pushed hard from the start but was unable to break free from his group. Entangled in the fight for fifteenth, Sasaki relentlessly diced within the pack before making a solid attack and claiming three places on the last lap.
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager
“Ayumu’s race start was not great and we missed out on the first four laps too much with him. The plan was to be aggressive for the first few laps and overtake as many riders as possible; we knew that he could have been fighting for the top ten today because he showed he had the pace but unfortunately it didn’t happen and he was in a group riding for fifteenth position. Mid race until the end he came strong and did lap times similar to the leaders and this shows that he has a lot of potential; again it is the qualifying that has let us down. This is what we have to work on the most.
For Adam it was very tough today because he started from so far back but he made a very good first lap and overtook six riders straight away. After that it was difficult for him to go further because he didn’t have a very good pace on his own. Still he pushed on and fought all the riders around him. In the end Adam came out winning the battle in his group and finishing 18th, which I think is very good considering where he qualified. Unfortunately there’s no points but it shows Adam didn’t give up and he was riding hard. Same for him though, today’s result is down to the qualifying; he must improve this.
We have a two day test in Aragon this next week, so let’s see. We will work on a few things there so it will be good to see if we can find something to help both riders.”
#7 ADAM NORRODIN – P18
“Starting from 30th position I knew I had nothing to lose. We made a good step in warm up and I finished the session in 13th. For the race I just focused on making a strong start and pushing hard during the first couple of laps. I made it up to P23 and I was feeling good on the bike, so I just concentrated on my riding and trying to catch the group ahead; it was difficult to do this because the riders ahead and I had the same pace. I was able to keep my rhythm and on the last lap I won the battle within my group. From 30th to 18th I think is not such a bad result but if the qualifying had been better, for sure we would have had a better result. This weekend was tough but I learned quite a lot in the race so I leave Barcelona with good knowledge for the next race.”
#71 AYUMU SASAKI – P16
“My start today was pretty bad. In the first lap I couldn’t pass enough riders to follow the front group. This week we made a bad qualifying and I think this is what really let us down. In Assen we have to improve this. We know we have the pace to ride with the leading group but starting from far down the grid makes it very difficult. We will focus on improving this for the next race. The bike was good and it felt similar to Mugello; I know I could have fought in the top ten if I’d made a better start. Every race I am learning and we are making progress, so overall it’s been a positive weekend.”
