Vierge Shines, Lecuona Crashes in Dramatic Estoril Showdown

Team HRC concluded the eleventh round of the 2024 WorldSBK championship at the Estoril Circuit with a mixed bag of results. Xavi Vierge secured a pair of top-ten finishes, extending his streak to 14 consecutive top-ten results, while Iker Lecuona crashed out of Race 2 while battling for a podium position.

Pushing the Limits in Pursuit of Glory

Vierge Finds Consistency Amid Challenges

Xavi Vierge's weekend at Estoril was a testament to his resilience and adaptability. After a difficult race on Saturday, the Spaniard and his team worked tirelessly to address the bike's weaknesses, particularly the lack of rear grip. While the damp conditions during the morning warm-up made it challenging to fully assess the changes, Vierge and his crew trusted their data and forged ahead, setting the stage for a strong performance in the Superpole race.Starting from 13th on the grid, Vierge made a blistering start, quickly moving up the order and finding himself in sixth by the end of the opening lap. He continued to battle with the likes of Rea, Lowes, and Bautista, ultimately crossing the line in seventh, just 1.5 seconds behind his teammate Lecuona in eighth.The second race of the day saw Vierge maintain his seventh-place starting position through the opening laps, but he soon found himself embroiled in a series of intense battles with other riders. A big moment through Turn 1 caused him to drop to ninth, and despite the consistent pace, he struggled to make up the lost ground. However, Vierge's determination shone through, and he was able to regain a position in the closing stages, ultimately securing a sixth-place finish."A solid Sunday after a difficult race yesterday," Vierge reflected. "We worked really hard to try and use the data we had from the test to improve on our weak points from yesterday, basically lack of rear grip. The track wasn't completely dry for this morning's warm-up, so it was hard to tell if the changes were effective, but we trusted in our work and our data and decided to go ahead. This gave us a good base for the short race, allowing us to secure a good result and a better starting position for Race 2."Vierge's consistent performances throughout the weekend have kept him firmly in the hunt for a top-ten championship finish, and he now sits 11th in the standings with 125 points, just two points behind his teammate Lecuona.

Lecuona's Podium Pursuit Ends in Heartbreak

Iker Lecuona's weekend at Estoril was a rollercoaster of emotions. After securing the team's first podium of the season in Saturday's Race 1, the young Spaniard was determined to build on that momentum and challenge for another strong result.In the Superpole race, Lecuona opted not to use the "Q" tyre, a decision that saw him start from 14th on the grid. However, he made a strong start and was able to work his way up to ninth by the end of the race, demonstrating the team's progress with the bike's setup and his own adaptability to different tyre choices.The stage was set for an exciting Race 2, and Lecuona did not disappoint. Starting from eighth, he quickly moved up the order, passing Rea on lap five to position himself in fourth, chasing down the leading trio of Bautista, Bulega, and Locatelli. Lecuona was feeling strong and confident, and his pace was even faster than the previous day."I was able to make some great overtakes, climbing up to P4, or rather P5 before Locatelli crashed right in front of me," Lecuona explained. "But I was feeling strong and fast, even faster than yesterday, as we made a small step forward with the electronics, which give us a little edge. I felt very comfortable, so I'm disappointed about the crash because I could easily manage the gap to Johnny and maintain a strong pace."Unfortunately, Lecuona's race came to a premature end on lap 10 when he lost control of his bike in Turn 6, crashing out of the race while in a podium position. The young rider was understandably disappointed, but he remained positive about the team's overall progress and his own potential."I'm not sure if I would have caught Bautista and Bulega, but my goal was to stay as close as possible in case they started battling," Lecuona said. "I haven't checked the data yet, but I think I made a small mistake. I had already felt a bit on the limit in Turn 6, so it was probably my error. Today wasn't the day to make a mistake, but being where I was, close to the podium, I couldn't just settle for fourth with ten laps still to go. I had to push."Despite the heartbreak of the crash, Lecuona's performance throughout the weekend has left the team and the rider himself optimistic about the future. With the championship finale at Jerez just around the corner, Lecuona and the team will be determined to end the season on a high note and carry that momentum into the 2025 campaign.