A first outing in the premier class for Spanish rider Xavi Fores was not an easy experience as he came in to replace the injured Loris Baz for Avintia Racing.
Fores qualified in 20th place on the Misano grid and pushed as hard as he could in the race, but after 16 laps he was forced to retire due to arm pump issues in his right forearm. He struggled during the weekend to get used to the carbon brakes and a completely different bike to the one he rides in WorldSBK.
Baz aims to return to action in Aragon, but his comeback depends on a speedy recovery.
Xavi Fores: “My start was quite good, but from the second lap I felt a lack of grip on the rear tyre compared to the rest of the weekend, and my pace in the race was slower. With that feeling, it was hard to ride the bike and I had to be more aggressive on the brakes, which stressed the front tyre too much. But the worst part was the arm pump in my right forearm. I had two big moments because the front was closing, and my lines got wider and wider, so I decided that the best decision was to stop, as it was getting dangerous.
“It was a difficult weekend, but at the same time I enjoyed riding the Desmosedici a lot. If I got a new chance in the future, I would be able to get a better result with the experience I gained this weekend with the bike and the team. I want to thank the team for this opportunity, because it was an amazing weekend.”