P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Xavi Vierge says he benefitted from Andrea Locatelli, who he beat, being more competitive at the Dutch WorldSBK.
Xavi Vierge achieved three top-10 finishes at the Dutch Round and equaled his and Yamaha’s best dry weather performance of the season by finishing sixth, once again outperforming his teammate Andrea Locatelli.
Vierge has generally been quicker than Locatelli in dry conditions this season, his first on the Yamaha after transitioning from Honda’s factory World Superbike team in the offseason, but his lack of experience on the YZF-R1 means there is still much to learn about the bike.
Despite this, Locatelli showcased improved competitiveness at the Dutch Round, securing top-10 finishes in all three races, with Vierge acknowledging that he was able to learn from his teammate, subsequently surpassing him in both Sunday races.
Reflecting on his strong showing at Assen, Vierge mentioned, “Since the beginning, I find a good bike for me, I had good feelings and I was quite fast,” emphasizing the beneficial learning experience he gained from competing with Locatelli.
Vierge’s Sunday races marked a significant improvement compared to Saturday’s Race 1, with the Spaniard showing better front tyre management during the weekend, illustrating continuous progress in adapting to the Yamaha YZF-R1.
