Since February 2017, MV Agusta had to wait for his World Supersport Championship victory for almost six years until Niki Tuuli was victorious in the Mandalika. Long dry spell – also for team owner Andrea Quadrante.
Niki Tully’s victory in Indonesia ended MV Agusta’s long wait: 69 months – nearly six years – has passed since Roberto Rulfo won the 2017 season opener at Phillip Island. At the same time, this was the first victory with the new F3 800 RR, used MV Agusta 675 until the end of 2021.
Yamaha (21), Kawasaki (1), Triumph (1) and MV Agusta (1) have won this year. 17 seats on the platform.
MV Agusta team owner Andrea Quadranti skipped the flight to Lombok but attended next year’s superstar Marcel Schroeter’s debut in Australia a week later, where SPEEDWEEK.com caught up with him.
“Unfortunately, Rolfo was not my driver at that time,” Ticino smiled, “My team took the last victory at Magny-Cours 2016 with Jules Cluzel. We had to wait for a long time and we suffered. Since then, many strong drivers have reached the championship, and in The finish paid off for our perseverance. But I also know that the win in Indonesia was special because of the exceptional track conditions, lack of grip and tough riding. The MV Agusta handled it a little better with that. It’s not like we suddenly had a winning bike, sadly we’re not there yet. We haven’t climbed We’ve never been on the podium in front of Indonesia, everyone has done it. In my opinion, we’re still very limited by the throttles.”
Since this year, the 600 cc four-cylinder machines are competing for the first time in the medium displacement class against the 800 cc three-cylinder machines and the 955 cc twin-cylinder machines. With the throttle valves open maximum for each gear and speed, standard electronics ensure that completely different motorcycles are on roughly the same level.
Quadrante explained the problem with the F3 800. “Over 180 km / h the throttles close for us, which often happens when drivers pull off a slope and want to overtake.” We are waiting for a decision.”
The team boss had already decided in September not to continue working with Tuuli and then arranged the contract with Schrötter. Did Quadrante make this decision prematurely? Since Portimao, the Finn has been driving like this again before falling at Estoril in May, amputating his toe.
“If I had the chance to think about drivers for next year, I would probably think about it again,” said Quadrante Tolly, who will be moving to the Dynavolt Triumph factory team for 2023. “But Bahattin Sofuoglu’s two-year contract, there was only one place. I’ve been working with Niki for two years and have a lot of factory pressure to get results – unfortunately they didn’t come. It wasn’t just Niki’s fault. If the bike is like it’s at the end of the first half of the season We might have been on the podium once or twice before Indonesia. Without his accident and injury he would have driven seven more races and probably would have done better in Most. That’s a lot he would, would, will do. But unfortunately it wasn’t, so after two years I had to change something What, and try something new.”