A wave of uncertainty hit Jeremy Alcoba when team principal Manuel Puccetti informed him that he needed to look for a new employer for the WorldSSP championship. It felt like the end of the world for the young rider, who despite a difficult campaign, had managed to outperform his teammate Dominique Aegerter and initially expected a contract renewal.
What followed was an extraordinary late-season charge that rarely gets witnessed in the paddock. At Cremona, the 24-year-old stormed to a historic double victory for his former manufacturer, followed by a podium and another win in Estoril, before capping off the finale in Jerez with a runner-up finish and his fourth victory to secure third place in the overall standings.
"After Cremona, our situation changed dramatically and we had worked towards that moment for a long time. We went through a difficult period and hardly anyone expected us to bounce back like that, we did a fantastic job," Alcoba said during a conversation with motorsport journalist Greg Haines at EICMA. "But now I am somewhere else, and I am very happy about it. It is a new chapter in my career and I am riding with the best bike and the best team."
Transitioning to the triple-cylinder machine that has dominated the class presented a fascinating technical challenge, particularly regarding the shift in tyre suppliers from Pirelli to Michelin.
"It feels kind of surreal because the tyres are also different, moving from Pirelli to Michelin. They feel different, and they make a good impression on me, but it is true that the bike changes because of them," explained Alcoba. "We need to figure out fundamental things, such as the optimal temperature window, how they affect the balance, or how they feel after a few laps. But those factors are the same for every rider, and whoever adapts best and fastest can secure an advantage at the start of the season."
Having been the most lethal competitor across the final three rounds, the target in his new environment for the upcoming championship is crystal clear.
"Of course. That is why the team signed me and that is why I put pen to paper with them," the Yamaha rider stated with utmost confidence. "I can cope with these expectations, the pressure actually makes me much more focused. I have more or less put the previous year behind me and I am fully preparing for the new season."
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