Round 1 - 28th February 2011. Phillip Island, Australia

Qualifying Result = 10th
Race Result = DNF (Clutch failure)

Gino's race comments:

"Well the race was a disappointment unfortunately. I was riding through my thumb injury OK, but after 3 laps the clutch started to slip and then it was race over. I was in a position to finish in the top 5, which after the luck we have had this weekend would have been a good outcome, so I'd like to thank my team for their hard work. Nonetheless, we learnt a lot over the week at Phillip Island and we know which direction we need to work in to be at the front come the next race” – Gino said.

Gino also spoke about his health and turned to his fans with the announcement that this year he will give them a lot of reasons to celebrate.

“Donington is one of my home rounds and although I haven't rode there that much, I'm really looking forward to racing in my home country in front of a home crowd. I hope we can progress things and give the spectators something to cheer about. My thumb will not be healed in time for Donington but I will definitely be there riding. I will be designing some t-shirts this week, I might give a few away at the pit lane walk like last year at Silverstone! See you there!"

Qualifying Result = 6th
Race Result = 3rd - Podium

Gino's race comments:

“We got a bit lucky but that is racing. We went into the race a bit blind after we lost so much time in practice. We just wanted to get into the race and get some points in the bag after the DNF at Phillip Island. I do not know what to say about ending up third, it's just amazing. We had one problem after another so it was about time luck was on our side. Huge thanks to the team for all the hard work they have done this weekend, picking things up from some low points has been hard but we pushed through it. A podium at home in front of a home crowd is an incredible feeling and even more after the weekend we had. I hope everyone enjoyed the race, it's great to get support at my home race."

"Although it's a good result, we still have a lot of work to do to be able to win races so I hope we can continue progress for the next race at Assen. As far as my thumb injury goes, unfortunately it's a race against time. The tendons in my thumb will take a minimum of 8 weeks kept straight in a splint to recover, so I have another 4/5 weeks left; meaning I will race at Assen with the splint on, the same as I did this weekend.”

Qualifying Result = 11th
Race Result = 17th (bike problem caused crash from 3rd position)

Gino crashes while battling for second position after problematic weekend at Assen.

Gino's race comments:

"There's some huge positives to take from here but unfortunately some big negatives. We know where we need to work with the bike to allow me to ride at the front without being so on-the edge.

"We had a clutch problem in the race and it got worse with the restarts. As I was releasing the clutch on downshifts, the thing was vibrating and chattering its head off. It was unpredictable and made it very hard to ride, especially at that pace. It's not the clutch we normally use and we missed lots of track time in the practices, so I was learning the bike in the race, while trying to go fast.

"If you want to win or podium at this level you can't afford to have problems like this, we had engine problems over the weekend too, right into qualifying. It was better in the race but we need to work on it for sure. It was making me work so much harder everywhere else on the circuit so I'm actually pleased with my riding, the chassis was good and allowed me to make time up in the long corners and the twisty parts."

                Round 4 - 8th May 2011. Monza, Italy

Qualifying Result = 9th
Race Result = DNF (bike failed)

Problem plagued weekend for Gino at Monza.

Gino's race comments:

"This has probably been the worst weekend of my career, you have to take the ups with the downs but this whole weekend has been a nightmare. We lost so much tracktime on Friday, Saturday and then in warm up on Sunday, it was unbelievably hard to get up to race pace in the actual race. Then it didn't last long anyway, we had an electrical problem which started after the second lap so I pulled in when it got really bad. We fixed it so I went back out hoping to salvage some points and use it as testing time when my bike leaked oil and chucked me off on the exit of a 100mph+ corner. I banged my head pretty hard and the whole left side of my body has taken a beating.

We have a break now so I hope we can sort things out for Misano, I just want to have a smooth problem-free weekend and bring the team a good result."

Qualifying Result = 16th
Race Result = 10th

Gino's race comments:

"Well we got some points but it's not where we should be. I felt my race pace was good but I just didnt get away with the right group from the beginning. I got held up trying to pass a couple of riders and the leading group pulled further away, thats what you get for starting from 16th at Misano. It's a shame we had some more problems again in the practices and qualifyings. After the race we could have improved the bike quite a lot, its just frustrating we couldnt do that on Friday or Saturday to put us higher on the grid and further up in the race. It's also hard going into the race blindly on set up of the bike, its not easy to go at the pace of the front guys when your trying to learn and adapt to the bike.

"I'm hoping Aragon will go a lot smoother with less problems, I want to get some laps in and gradually build up. I'm really looking forward to getting on track and I really, really want to bring the team a strong result."

Qualifying Result = 12th
Race Result = 6th

Gino's race comments:

"I'm still sat here quite frustrated to be honest, yea it's points on board but for one; I should have been 5th and two; I want to be on podium. I know I can be on the podium but at the moment there's a few things we need to improve to be able to get there. This time last year I would have been happy with a 5th or 6th place but now I feel and know I'm capable of more so I expect more. The weekend was going well until a couple of issues in qualifying left us in 12th, so to come through the pack to 5th and beat two Hanspree Ten Kate Honda's are positive points to take on board. The team done a great job this weekend so thanks to everyone for their work."

Qualifying Result = 4th - Front Row
Race Result = 1st - Race Winner

Gino's race comments:

"What a weekend. It hasn't quite sunk it yet but it feels so good to get the first World Championship win for myself and the team, especially at their home race." Gino commented.

“We found a way around our qualifying and warm up technical problem just before the race, the fix was ok but I had to re-learn the bike in the first few laps. When Foret came past I just wanted to stick with him but I soon realised he was holding me up in places so I made a move” said the youngster.

“I thought it would be cool to lead a Supersport race across the line for the first time but wasn’t expecting to stay there till the end. I tried to gap him straight away but I lost the front, I basically crashed but saved it on my elbow, for the second time this weekend. The front slid and my elbow scraping the tarmac was the only thing keeping me on the bike while it was lent right over, it wore a big hole in my leathers. After that I just tried to run my own race and be a bit protective of my lines, making sure I was getting good corner exits so they could not come past me down the straight and it was enough to win." said the youngster.

“I’d like to thank everybody who has helped me get here, Michael & Anatoly at Crimea Racing, Josef & team, Andy Stone, Dad & family and everybody who’s helped along the way.
“And of course a huge thank you to all our fans and supporters, it's much appreciated! See you at Silverstone!”

Qualifying Result = 4th - Front Row
Race Result = 11th (after crash battling for 3rd on final lap)

Gino's race comments:

"Well, I'm definitely disappointed. I had the pace to win that race but in the first few laps Lowes hit me from behind in a fast part of the circuit, I ran off track and lost loads of time to the leaders. It affected my rear wheel and after I caught back up to the leaders I ran off circuit again, this time loosing even more time and positions. I had to re-pass Parkes and 3 other riders until I got clear track to get my head down. The leaders were way out in front but I gave it my all to try and catch them, I was out of the seat and loosing the front every other corner, absolutely on the edge. I set a good pace and closed in on them, first passing Marino then closing down onto Foret on the final lap. There was no way after riding my heart out that I was going to settle for 4th at my home race, so I lined him up for a pass for the final right hander. But as I squared off the left corner I tucked the front and went down. I'm just sorry for everyone in the team and everyone watching, I really wanted that podium."Still, we have to take the positives, to catch up with the leaders after running off circuit twice at World Championship level is a pretty big thing, especially when we are against all the factory bikes. Our package is improving at each race, but there’s still things we can improve. We have a break now till Nurburgring which is a shame, I want to get back out there and race at the front!"