'We need to improve in many areas' - Locatelli looks ahead to 2025 after a difficult 2024 season
11/11/2024 05:34 AM
Andrea Locatelli and Yamaha are hoping to improve in 2025 after a difficult 2024 World Superbike season.
Yamaha had a difficult 2024 World Superbike season as the Japanese manufacturer failed to win a race. Andrea Locatelli has ridden for Yamaha for four years in World Superbikes and had his worst season in the Championship in 2024.
Every manufacturer took part in a Jerez Test after the final round of the 2024 season. However, Yamaha was noticeably absent from the two-day test. Locatelli explained that Yamaha will participate in a two-day test at Jerez at the end of November.
"After Jerez, we did not have a test because we wanted to stop for a bit and reset," Locatelli stated after missing the first Jerez Test. "Now, we will have a two-day test in Jerez. We have some new parts for the bike that we want to try. We need to improve in many areas, but we know where to look and where to improve. The guys are trying to get us ready to start 2025 in the best way.
"These two days will be very important for us. We need to hope for good weather because it is important to test in normal conditions and not in the wet. I want to be positive for 2025, we finished last season in a good way so we are positive ahead of trying the new things."
At the final round of the season in Jerez Locatelli stood on the podium for the first time since Most. The Italian rider went on to explain that in the middle of the season, Yamaha was at their lowest. However, Locatelli believes that in 2025 Yamaha can return to winning ways at Round One.
"In the last two rounds, we made a step, we moved forward and we were feeling positive. In Jerez, we got a podium on Saturday so I was really happy. During this season we were in trouble, especially during the middle of the season. It was so complicated to stay in the top five, but at the end of the season we made a step forward and we returned to the top five.
"I believe next season we can fight and stay in the top five, I want to be positive, this is my way of life. I want to be ready for next season after this winter test so we can arrive in Phillip Island and fight for the win."
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