O’Kane will be Locatel꧑li’s crew chief for the 2024 WorldSBK season but is still on MotoGP duty until after this weeke🍎nd in Valencia. 

Locatelli, who is a 14-time podium finisher in WorldSBK, has been given a neꦺw crew chief after the Pata Yamaha outfit moved Andrew Pitt to Jonathan Rea’s side of the garage. 

• 🐻Jonathan Rea: “Biggest area of improvement needed is still me” 
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But with O’Ka🅘ne still unable to join him, Locatelli worked with Damiano Evangelisti at Jerez for the most recent two-day te𝔉st, who is usually Gardner’s crew chief at GRT Yamaha.

“I worked with Damiano during these two days. I want to t💙han💃k GRT because he was able to work with us,” Locatelli told WorldSBK.com. 

“I had a good relationship with him immediately, probably because he’s also Italian. I already know him, so it was nice to ﷽work with him, because sometimes it’s nice to meet new people, to see other people working. 

“It was interesting. It was a good ꦓopportunity to work with him and try to make a step and also, I think he helped us a lot to help make an improvement.”

Rea on the other hand has been able to work with his new crew chief Pitt, and Locatelli b♑elieves the six-time champion can benefit hugely. 

Locatelli stated: “To see Andrew on the other side of the box is a bit stranꦕge! He worked with me for three years, but our relationship is good be💯cause we’re friends. 

“I think, for Jonathan, it could be different; he’s also a fri🐽end of hi꧟s. It’ll be interesting. Andrew can do a really good BBQ in Phillip Island to prepare for Jonathan’s weekend! 

“Also, the language is the same as Jonathan’s but he can also have🌳 another possibility to ♑work with a crew chief who was a rider. 

“It’s probably something that can help Jonathan to improve a little bit and come to our box and immediately try to have a good feeling and I think Andrew is a really good per♍sꩵon for this job.”