The dream came true. He lasted just over six laps but there will be a way to return to grind kilometers on the asphication of the world championship. It is an experience that is worth gold that Leonardo Abruzzoeighteen year old raised in Castellanza and now “by adoption”,, he did on the mythical track of Assen: The Dutch weekend was a real baptism of fire for the pilot called by the Mlav team to replace Vicent Pérez, who had been injured at Mugello, in the Moto3 race. It matters little if his race ended on the seventh round with a slip: the luggage that Leo takes home from the Netherlands is of invaluable value.
The challenge was of the tough ones, but faced with the right spirit from the first moment. “We left on Wednesday without expectations, I just wanted to have fun and collect as much experience as possible,” says Leonardo. The novelties were many: «I did not know neither the bike, a Honda totally different from my KTM, nor the track. However, it is a good motorcycle, it has several strengths ».
The progress has been immediate. Already from Friday, Leonardo started taking the measurements, closing at 1 “7 from the first but keeping behind some of the drivers who usually runs in this championship”. The Saturday has been even more evident: “It went very well, I finished 21 °. In the Saturday Libera I was only 1 second and 2 from the first”, explains with pride.
In the race of this morning, after a small initial hitch (“I started badly, I had a problem with the bike”), Abruzzo has proven to be able to stay there, fighting in the group with more experienced drivers such as the Swiss Noah Dettwiler and the Austrian Jacob Rosenthaler. “I could be with them, I have been twenty -third for a long time.” A slide, fortunately without consequences (“I only blossomed”, reassures), interrupted his race, but did not scratch the enthusiasm.
Indeed, the experience proved to be an accelerated masterclass. “It is a very cool worldlearn so much seeing the fastest pilots on the earth up close. You realize how they guide, how the trajectories take, their strategy ». The largest lesson, however, came from the direct comparison on the track, on the mental approach. «They do not ask for permission, if they have to pass you they pass you. I have perhaps been a little too little aggressive, I understood that I have to raise the limit».
This full immersion in the world championship is the perfect trusted injection in view of its main commitment, the Fim Juniorgp world championship, the “Development League” for Moto3. Next Sunday, on the French Many-Cours track, Leonardo will return to the saddle with a different awareness and a huge push. As he confirms himself, this adventure has left him “even more motivation and more determination”. The debut in the world championship was not a goal, but a springboard, with the hope of returning soon and with a “permanent place”.
