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When a private team defeats the official teams, David’s victory over Goliath is repeated, from the weakest to the strongest, and all obviously on the side of the first. This is also why the victory of Michael Ruben Rinaldi and the GoEleven team had a particular flavor, and was welcomed with joy by those who witnessed the race, the professionals here on the circuit and the home audience, on television. And if the Goliath on duty is a young Italian rider, who had never been on the Superbike podium until now, the victory is even more sensational.
Although he was the European Stock 1000 champion and the European Stock 600 vice-champion until last year Certainly Rinaldi was not considered the heir to Max Biaggi or Frankie Chili. Also because he came from a boring year, spent in the ranks of the Barni Racing team, where he had only managed to emerge in one race (a fourth place in Jerez).
Furthermore, the start of the 2020 championship certainly did not herald a starring season: 10th in race1, ninth in Superpole Race and an innocent accident in race2. Then the transformation. The caterpillar turns into a butterfly. From Jerez onwards, Michael has always been in the top positions, often preceding the official drivers, including Ducati. Here at Motorland Aragon his podium was in the air, but few expected the step to be the highest. Together with his team, Rinaldi studies a strategy. The big names, Rea and Davies especially, are very strong at a distance, in the last laps. We rode the SX at the rear, the softest tire you can use, pushed like crazy in the first laps and got a good lead. Then eventually they’ll get us back, but maybe we can get on the podium. And so they do, except Michael’s pace is crazy and Rea’s seconds go up to six. His advantage never falls, not even in the final. Rea and Davies are far away and the flight to the podium turns into a flight to victory! David defeated Goliath. The dream came true.
Michael, what did you think of the last laps, inside your helmet?
“I am a dreamer and dreams have served as a stimulus and to define the objectives to be achieved. When there were a few laps to go, my dream was there, within reach. But I tried to stay focused on the bike, on the trajectories, on feel the tires. But I can tell you that the last lap was very long. It never ended. ”
It was since 2012 (Sylvain Guintoli at Magny Cours in race 2) that a private Ducati rider had not won a Superbike race.
“Winning with a private team is something special and beautiful. Doing it this season that, due to the coronavirus, it seemed that it could not even continue makes everything even more incredible. The post-quarantine economic crisis has complicated things a lot, especially for teams Private like ours and therefore this victory rewards us with many sacrifices and difficult moments. We must not forget that my team has gone through the worst experience that can be lived, with the accident that took Andrea Antonelli. Up there Andrea is also there celebrating our victory ”.
You are a cyclist who grew up in derivative championships
“Yes and it is something that fills me with satisfaction. I went through the Stock 600 and 1000 and then I made my debut in Superbike, first only in European races and then in the whole world. A long road that led me to this victory.” , which for me certainly does not represent a point of arrival, but a starting point ”.
Who do you have to thank for doing it?
I have to thank a lot of people, but especially those who have surrounded me in difficult times. Now that I have won I have a lot of people around me, but I don’t forget those who have been close to me before, when things were not going well ”. .
This victory can change your career. It will certainly give you even more confidence in your means.
“I don’t know. To tell the truth, I still haven’t fully realized that I have won. I need some time to process what happened. Maybe I’ll get back to you tomorrow, after both races.”
Have you met Gianni Ramello already? What did he tell you?
“He nothing, but I remembered that we had bet that if he won a race he would quit smoking. When I got off the podium I looked at him and said:” Enjoy the last cigarette. “
The GoEleven team is your second family, but what if you get a call from the Aruba Ducati team?
“What would you do? It is clear that any pilot would accept it. If the official Ducati team calls you you cannot say no. But now I don’t even want to think about it, I want to enjoy this success, and then think about the next races and in the GoEleven team, someone will call me, we’ll see what to do, but let’s be clear that if I stay on this team, I’ll continue to be very happy. ”
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