Andrea Iannone says he always believed in himself and his “goal with Suzuki” during a tough 2017 MotoGP season, after taking his maiden podium with the Japanese marque in Texas.
The Italian endured a debut year with Suzuki devoid a podium finish, after struggling to adapt from the Ducati to the GSX-RR.
Retained for 2018 despite rumours he would not see out his contract with the Hamamatsu factory, Iannone has enjoyed a stronger start to the current campaign.
Iannone secured two top-nine finishes across the opening rounds in Qatar and Argentina, before bagging a front-row start and third-place finish in the race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Iannone says the upturn in his pace has come about due to improvements made with the balance of the GSX-RR, particularly in braking zones.
“The balance on the bike, for sure I think from winter testing we started to work a lot on the balance,” he replied when asked what the biggest change has been with the new Suzuki.
“In any case, last year I struggled a lot on the braking point, was really difficult for me to overtake in hard [braking] corners, always in [every] track.
“This year we focused on this area and I arrived here at the third race and we are in a good way, but only the balance on the bike.
“We work, and in the end we improve, I'm really happy. The most important [thing] is we continue this way, this is the most important.”
Iannone led for the first 12 corners of the Austin race before eventual race winner Marc Marquez passed him.
The Italian tried to retaliate on the third lap, but admits he was “stupid” to try to stop Marquez from maintaining his 100 percent record at COTA.
He said: “So, when I think to try to overtake Marc, at the end when I try, I say, 'you are stupid, no?'
“It's clear Marc in this track for all the weekend has been another story, but it's my instinct, when I stay really close to the riders I try to overtake.
“I live this small moment [in the lead] with a smile, in any case he overtake me more quickly and so it's like this.
“Congratulations to Marc, because in this track he is really strong. Also Maverick [Vinales], so [they are] two strong riders. It's good when we have the possibility to try.”
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