With two WorldSBK rounds already under his belt, Lorenzo Baldassarri opens up in a short interview in which he takes stock of the start of the season, the team, his early results, his recent past and some uncertainties now behind him – this marks a turning point in his career.

2026 marks your return to Superbike, but given the various changes in your career as a rider, can we consider this a fresh start?

“Yes, it can certainly be seen as a fresh start, because it’s as if there had been a pause in the previous period and then I’d started taking things seriously again. There were two years where it felt as though I was drifting aimlessly, even though in reality I wasn’t standing still at all; but apart from strengthening myself, in terms of results it was as if I’d stood still. I went from being at the centre of the show to finding myself no longer scoring points in Supersport, and racing in Moto-E means turning off the spotlight. This year at Phillip Island we got off to a flying start, having an excellent race weekend, and no one expected such a spectacular comeback, given that in testing I’d only ever lapped in the wet and just once in the dry, where I was two seconds slower than the fastest time.»

Just two rounds in and the championship still has a long way to go – how would you describe this start to the season?

«They were two completely different rounds, on two very fine tracks, among the best on the calendar, but extremely different. We confirmed in both that we are very fast, always in the mix, and all we have to do is keep improving, getting closer and closer to the top positions and, in my case, establishing myself as an established Superbike rider.»

We’ve seen the weekends start off well and end on a high note. What does that tell us?

«It shows how we should view the season: there’s room for improvement. Even though we got off to a flying start and expectations have risen, we mustn’t forget that I’ve only clocked up a few kilometres on this bike with this team. Even a weekend that’s gone reasonably well shouldn’t be seen as a defeat – in fact, it’s a success.»

How are you getting on with a Ducati Panigale V4R that’s so powerful to ride?

«I’m getting on very well, and if it had a bit more power on the straights, I wouldn’t say no. We’re heading in a direction where the regulations will take even more fuel away from us, and I think from the race after Assen, they’ll limit the power. I have to say that Ducati have built a fantastic bike; in terms of performance, it’s very close to a GP bike, and since my dream has always been to ride a MotoGP bike, even though I’m in Superbike, it feels like I’m riding a prototype. The road version is already brilliant for track days, so just imagine what the R version must be like, designed for racing.»

How were you received by the Superbike veterans?

«I felt at ease straight away, as if I’d never left that paddock. They welcomed me with respect; there’s a good rapport with my rivals. The WSBK circus is a bit more down-to-earth, which is why I like it and feel very much at home here.»

GoEleven is a top-level privateer team, but it’s also a family – how are you finding it?

«I’ve settled in really well with GoEleven because they welcomed me with open arms. Both for me and for them, a change of scenery was needed, and we’re gelling well. I don’t want to speak too soon, but the atmosphere is just right, allowing me to give my all, have fun and work in a healthy environment that brings out the best in me.»

Upcoming commitments, plans and goals?

«For Assen, I definitely need to recover properly after what happened in Portimão, focusing mainly on gym work. I’ve had a few issues with my arms, particularly on the throttle side. It wasn’t anything dramatic or worth worrying too much about, but I need time to recover, because in the Netherlands we need to be strong right from the first free practice sessions, something we didn’t manage in Portugal.»

To stay up to date, follow the social media channels 7balda (Instagram) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Facebook), and visit the official website worldsbk.com. To experience all the excitement of the races live and on demand, simply tune in to worldsbk.com, Sky Sport, NOWtv and TV8 on channel 8 of the DTT.