Cowboy Weekend in Austin! Points secured in the third round of the 2025 season

Friday, March 28th

The U.S. weekend kicks off with a first day marked by light rain and a wet track, forcing teams and riders to work in full wet conditions in anticipation of potential worsening weather in the upcoming sessions. Both riders found a good feeling in the wet, maintaining a cautious approach without aiming for a time attack, given the session's lack of impact on qualifying.

Conditions deteriorated further during pre-qualifying, with an even more slippery and tricky surface. Riccardo Rossi proved particularly competitive in wet conditions, improving his times in the final ten minutes and securing direct access to Q2 for the third consecutive race. Nicola Carraro, on the other hand, faced greater challenges: a crash midway through the session - fortunately without consequences - and several yellow flags, including one that compromised a good lap, denied him direct access to Q2.

Saturday, March 29th

Saturday morning brings positive signs compared to Friday, with improved track conditions that, although still mixed, allow riders to work with slick tires for the first time this weekend, resulting in a significant drop in lap times. Riccardo Rossi takes a cautious approach, focusing on getting a feel for the new tires without pushing for the fastest lap, as some sections of the track remain tricky. Nicola Carraro, on the other hand, shows improvement from the previous day, displaying a pace that would have virtually secured him Q2 access, though this does not directly impact the starting grid.

In Q1, Nicola finishes outside the top 5, hindered by a yellow flag that ruins his penultimate fast lap, forcing him to start from the back of the grid. Q2, characterized by a very dirty track, challenges all riders, with numerous mistakes and crashes during the 15-minute session. Among them, Riccardo Rossi also experiences a slide but manages to recover and finish, securing a mid-grid starting position for Sunday, demonstrating great determination despite the difficulties.

Sunday, March 30th

The race begins with an intense start: Riccardo Rossi leaps forward, gaining two positions by the first corner, while Nicola Carraro advances by one position, staying close to the group ahead. However, Riccardo's race ends early, as he is involved in a crash on the second lap while battling in the lead group.

Nicola, despite starting from the back, manages to maintain a strong pace and joins the fight to break into the points. His race gains momentum as it progresses: from the halfway point onward, he demonstrates consistent speed and determination, allowing him to recover several positions.

Carraro stands out with a series of overtakes and an exciting battle within the group, finishing the Grand Prix in 15th place. With a total of five positions gained from the start, he secures his first point of the season, a result that builds confidence and proves his ability to aim even higher.

Commenti

Nicola Carraro is confident he can aim much higher:
“Today we brought home a point, but it's not the result we deserved as we started a bit too far back. We need to keep working on our qualifying performance, but we’ve learned a lot from this race. Now we turn our focus to Qatar, aiming to start on the right foot.”

Riccardo Rossi reflects on his crash, fortunately without consequences:
“Physically, I’m fine. I had a small issue under braking and went wide in one corner. After two more turns, I hit some bumps in the asphalt that pushed me wide again, and at that point, the rear brake wasn’t very effective, so I ended up crashing. Now it’s time to put this weekend behind us and head to Qatar with a fresh mindset.”