Hard race day for EAB Racing Team at Portimao

08-06-2015

EAB Racing Team rider Fabio Massei has scored a hard-fought thirteenth place in today’s fifth Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race of 2015 at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal. The Italian had to start the race from the same place after a difficult qualifying session on Saturday afternoon. In the beginning of the race Massei was able to overtook some other riders but after problems he had to settle with thirteenth place in the final ranking.

Also his team mate, Tony Covena, had a weekend full of difficulties. In yesterday’s qualifying he was hit by another rider and as a result of that crash he had some movement problems because of pain in his arm, wrist and ribs. More bad luck arrived in the race for Covena. After a small mistake in the braking zone of the first corner, he had to run wide and finished the race in thirtieth place.

Fabio Massei: “It was a very hard race. After the first corners I was close to a nice group in front of me and did everything I could to stay in the near of them as I thought we should have a benefit on used tyres. I had to push to the limit but after six laps I get some troubles with the rear grip. Especially from the exit of the slower corners of the Portimao track I lost way too much time but I’m sure we will find a solution for this at Misano in two weeks’ time.”

Tony Covena: “It was a hard race but at least I had not much problems with yesterday’s injuries. Unfortunately I made a small mistake in the first corner and as a result of that I had to run wide and ended in de gravel trap. It took some time to find my way through the gravel trap and that meant almost the end of the race but I did not give up en kept pushing. It was a hard weekend for me as I never found that feeling you need at Portimao. A shame, but next up is Misano!”