While Toprak Razgatlioglu has deservedly stolen all the headlines so far this season, team-mate Andreไa Locatelli has shone particularly well after making the step from World Supersport. 

It’s a step-up that some WorldSSP riders have struggled to ma🌠ke previously - 2019 runner-up Federico Caricasulo is just one example, 𒉰however, Locatelli currently leads all rookie riders in the championship and has a best of fifth place which came at Estoril. 

Locatelli’s only real mistake this season was crashing in treacherous conditions at Donington Park (racꦐe one), but aside from that, the Italian has been a mainstay in the top ten.

It’s the start to a campaign that team prin൩cipal Paul Denning believes is showing a great deal of ‘maturity’, 

When discussing the Italian’s adaptation and potential going forward, Denning said: "Coming from the Supersport bike and adapting is always tough and he’s shown us🌊 so much maturity. 

"At Donington he had a big crash at the top of craner curves, but that was hitting a wet patch and was the same place that Jonathan [Rea] so nearly cr✃ashed and ran down the grass. He hasn’t really made any mistakes yet. 

"I think there’s more to give, there’s more to come, but he’s a rider that wants to feel that kind of confidence and comfort lev🌞el before he pushes himself to the next level. 

"He’s so close to being there; really good fifth place in Estoril - right behind Al🎐ex Lowes and ahead of Michael Van Der Mark, two very, very high quality riders." 

Just as impressive as the results achieve💧d so far has been the 26 year-old’s ability to🐓 not make undue mistakes - particularly when the ‘feeling’ he wants hasn’t been there. 

Denning added: "When he hasn’t quite got the feeling to be that far up🐈 at least he’s not crashing all the time a💫nd denting his confidence. 

"He’s cꦐoming, and we need ⛄to find something more to give him more confidence and allow him to push harder. 

"I hope over the next couple of races𝔍 as we get into the half sea🐎son in terms of number of races, we’ll be able to see a small step towards the front."