Nicholas Spinelli couldn’t have asked for a better debut in the World Superbike Championship. This Saturday, the Barni Spark Racing Team rider – who is replacing the injured Danilo Petrucci – won the first race at Assen.
Adapting to a new bike and championship, the Italian didn’t have a strong performance in practice and the Superpole. In Saturday’s race, he made a wise tire choice with two intermediate tyres.
Rain fell again at the start, and Spinelli quickly pulled away, at one point having about 25 seconds of a lead. As the rain stopped and the asphalt began to dry, with the leader about to be overtaken by the pack, the race was interrupted due to oil on the track and not resumed.
In the flash interview to the official brodacast, Spinelli commented: ‘It’s incredible. I’m very, very happy, because I tried the Superbike for the first time yesterday. And when I tried, I said: «Wow, this bike is incredible!»’.
While acknowledging the factor of luck, the Italian emphasized his happiness with the result: ‘Today I did my first race, I won. Maybe I was lucky, but I won. I’m very, very happy, for the team, for everyone’.