Iannone: "I got my confidence back"

It was a DNF in Germany for the Italian - but a big step forward nonetheless

Despite crashing out of contention at the Sachsenring, Team Suzuki Ecstar rider Andrea Iannone says he's happy about the German GP because it spelled big progress. Starting further back on the grid after a washed out qualifying day, the Italian made great progress forward in the race before the crash, but crucially got his confidence back - and the feeling on the bike.

Andrea Iannone, DNF: “I’m very happy about this race - of course not for the result, but because of the progress that we’ve made. We took an important step forward during the weekend. I got my confidence back. I have a better feel for the bike and finally I can push it more or less as I want. We started from behind in the grid and that affected the whole race. Apart from that, the first three laps I struggled with rear grip, but then I managed to keep pace with the second group. I tried to push hard to recover, but I crashed. However, until that point my times were good as was my satisfaction with the bike.”