Badovini: "I'm Convinced I Will Prove Everybody Wrong"
The Italian is motivated to make people believe in his vision with Grillini Racing
After competing in the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship and the highlight being his win at Sepang, Ayrton Badovini will make the step back up into the WorldSBK category in 2017, with Grillini Racing Team. Once the news was official, Badovini chatted exclusively with WorldSBK.com about the deal.
"Finally, it's official!" Exclaimed Badovini. "It was something that we worked towards a lot in the last race and in the last week. I expect that the team wants me to grow and do well. Together we will have to do a good job because World Superbikes is a top-level championship and to be in the top 10, we’ll have to be extremely competitive."
Facing some speculation from the public about his decision to sign with the Grillini Racing Team, who haven’t had much luck this season, Badovini dismisses it completely and is quick to defend his future team. The rider from Biella is ready for the adventure that awaits him and is particularly optimistic about the move.
"For a number of reasons, the results of the Grillini Racing Team in recent years were definitely not among the brightest,” said the Italian. “We believe that together we can reverse this. We think we know why they haven’t achieved what they’re capable of. So I'm pretty convinced that I will prove everybody who thinks this is a bad choice wrong. Obviously we will have certain limits as we are a private team, but I am determined to change people’s minds’."
Badovini will get his first taste of the Grillini Kawasaki at official testing in November where he will be able to get a better idea of his future competition. Of his testing schedule, he said, "We will participate in the next test in Jerez on 21 and 22 November. For me, it will be about making the first contact. We will work from the bikes that come from the last Round in Qatar – so with the same configurations that they raced with this year. It's just a first approach, I will get to know the team, get used to riding a Superbike again, and I will simply lay the foundations for the next ride, like finding the correct riding positions. Then we’ll be back in motion by next year."
The opening Round of the 2017 season of the Superbike World Championship is set for the last weekend in February at Phillip Island, and Badovini can’t wait. The Italian is already in race mode, saying, "I am very motivated; the factory bikes are all occupied and in my opinion, correctly assigned. It will be a great Championship for spectators to follow and see and I’m proud that I can be part of it. The agreement with Andrea [Grillini] was very positive. For me it will be a challenge to return to Superbikes but one that I am looking forward to."
