In 2020, he dominated the FIM Supersport World Championship but in 2021, the challenge will be different as he wants to prove his worth also in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Andrea Locatelli (PATA Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) arrives in the premier class of production-derived racing as a Champion in the intermediate category, but as history shows, those who conquer WorldSSP don’t always shine immediately in WorldSBK.

“Mine was a 'strange' story; I am from Selvino, a town in the province of Bergamo where skiing is the most popular sport without forgetting enduro,” began ‘Loka’. “I remember it was 2001, I wasn't even five. In Curno, a town near my house, there is a kart track. My father took me to see a minibike race and I wanted to try. At the parc fermé, without asking anyone's permission, I got on a mini bike and it all started like this!”

20 years spent between engines, adrenaline, races and great emotions experienced, but looking back, the popular Italian reminds us that despite the highs, there’s also been lows:  “There were certainly not easy moments. However, I consider myself an analytical rider and I always try to understand why things don't go well. Our sport depends on many factors, to be successful it is necessary that the whole package is very good.

“I can say that I am satisfied considering that in 2020, I won the WorldSSP world title as a dominator. Graduating as a World Champion at 24 is not for everyone, so I certainly can't complain. Last year I gave so many joys to my team which was exceptional. We were able to express our full potential and I earned the well-deserved move to WorldSBK.”

This new season will see him with a lot to learn as well as new opponents to battle with, but he is unphased, and is fired-up regardless: “I’m aware that the level of the riders is very high, the difference above all lies in finding the feeling, the right set-up and harmony with the team. Between WorldSSP and WorldSBK, I noticed a lot of differences, especially in the potential of the bike.”

Among Andrea's points of reference are a list of multiple World Champions, something he will surely hope to become: “I respect Valentino Rossi very much for everything he has done but also Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez, who I think has shown that he has something stratospheric. I like to look at them and take them as a point of reference.”

Alongside him in the Pata Yamaha team will be a very young teammate like Andrea but with a great deal of experience in WorldSBK, Toprak Razgatlioglu. However, besides the team, both share something in particular… "Toprak and I were born on the same day, October 16, 1996. Between us, there is a wonderful feeling and he is a very helpful guy. Toprak has already given me some advice, as far as my goals are concerned, the first few races will help me to understand the new setting. Neither the team nor I have set ourselves any objectives, I think that - with the package we have and Yamaha's competitiveness - from mid-season on certain tracks and under certain conditions we will be able to take home some podiums. First of all we aim to improve step by step.”

The off-season was very long but now, the show is about to begin again. Locatelli took two wins at MotorLand Aragon in 2020 and hopes that this aids his transition to the premier class of production racing: “This winter has lasted really long, we have done several tests and I have prepared a lot with the dirt bike and obviously continuing with the physical preparation. The races will be very open, it won't be a simple World Championship but I want to show who I am and I think we can get there and fight for really important results.”

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