Alessandro Zanca and Juan Pablo Uriostegui shine in first WorldSSP300 visit to Spain

Team 109 leaves the second round of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya empty handed despite both riders Alessandro Zanca and Juan Pablo Uriostegui showing podium potential throughout the weekend.

The first of two visits to Spain in 2023 saw the Italian and Mexican riders at the sharp end from the off, both comfortably inside the top fifteen on Friday with Alessandro P6 and Juan Pablo P14.

Qualifying on Saturday morning was a strange affair with the sole grid deciding session stopped, and restarted after the FIM stewards displayed the red flag for several riders irresponsibly riding. When the session resumed, with a little over five minutes to go both Team 109 riders excelled. Zanca secured fourth on the grid with Uriostegui an equally impressive ninth.

Sadly, when the lights went out in both races luck was not on their side. Juan Pablo suffered two crashes after contact with other riders whilst Alessandro also took a tumble in Race 1 before finishing twenty fourth after a penalty in Race 2.

Disappointed, the entire team is buoyed by the outright pace shown in the Spanish round and are optimistic for the next round in Misano, Italy, in three weeks.

Alessandro Zanca:
“The weekend in Barcelona started really good. I was sixth in Free Practice and fourth in Superpole. In race one I was fighting for good positions in the leading group, but I crashed with a couple of laps to go. In race two I had to serve a ride through penalty, but I kept going and finished twenty fourth. I want to say sorry to the team and to my sponsors but also thank them for all their hard work. I am excited for the race in Misano as it is my home circuit. See you there!”

Juan Pablo Uriostegui:
“It was a difficult weekend but there were many positives. I qualified in eighth and was riding with the first group. I got hit by another rider and I crashed. On Sunday it was more or less a similar situation. I was riding well and unfortunately had another crash. Anyway, this is racing, and it can happen. I am looking forward to Misano. See you there.”

Paul Tobin – Team Principal:
“Following Assen we could see the potential of both riders and the package that we have this year. We knew coming into the Spanish round that we would be stronger, and Superpole on Saturday showed that. Both rides were in good positions but unfortunately Alessandro had a crash as did Juan Pablo who was hit by another rider. We regrouped to go again on Sunday but unfortunately Alessandro was given a ride through penalty which meant he had no chance at all of achieving any kind of result. He was fast from the start in Barcelona, and this is the important thing. Juan Pablo ran a really good second race until he was again touched by another rider and went down. His strategy was to push in the last three laps and was running comfortably in the lead group. Both riders did well, it is just unfortunate that luck was not on our side this weekend. We move on to Misano which is Alessandro’s home track, and we are confident of showing our true potential there if we have a little more luck on our side.”