Third on the first day of WorldSBK testing at Jerez, Scott Redding did well for MGM Bonovo Racing in what was his return to the helm of the Ducati Panigale V4 R, and his first test of the year, so his result is particularly good, he said.
Here’s the Briton’s analysis of his first day of testing: ‘My goal was to try and finish first on my first day… it was a bit ambitious, but you have to aim high! On my best lap, I caught a yellow flag and ended up losing some time. Overall, to finish in the top three on my first day, against drivers who have already done two or three days of testing since the end of the season… it was difficult to keep up the pace at the start’.
Happy, the #45 continued: ‘But once I found my rhythm and was able to relax a bit, I was able to evolve. My best lap was with the SCQ tire and then I managed to do a 1’40 with the race tire’.
Redding then spoke about his return to the Ducati Panigale, which he has held onto with all his strenght even though… he’s not being paid for it:
– After three years, I thought that if I could come back to this bike, I should enjoy it 100% and understand that this is the best thing for me. That’s what gave me the motivation to take the risk of staying in this team with a Ducati, even if they don’t pay me and I have a family to support. This is a big comeback for me: I have to prove that next year I won’t be paying to compete again. They have to pay me, that’s how things should work.