Preview press releases and other facts and figures from the series organizers and teams ahead of this weekend's WorldSBK round at Misano:
Rimini ready for WorldSBK action
Sun, surf and an Italian century?
As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship reaches the half way point of the season, tensions are as hot as ever. Pushing their rivals to the limit, the heat is on as the battle for the title intensifies. With the Rimini coastline the destination for the seventh round of the season, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is a historic setting for the WorldSBK championship and with the passionate Italian fans it’s a favourite of many. 4.226km of sweeping corners await as the paddock gets set for another sensational instalment in the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round.
Looking to have his name written in the history books, Italian Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) heads to the Misano World Circuit hopeful of impressing his home fans for the second time since his return to WorldSBK. Standing on the podium in race one at Imola, Melandri continues to look for improvements on board his Panigale R and with three podium finishes at the San Marinese circuit – his last one back in 2014 with Aprilia – it will be an intense weekend for the Italian veteran. Consistently finishing on the podium so far in 2017, it will be a big ask for the the 34 year old can bridge the gap to the front.
Ducati team-mate Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has his third key weekend in a row ahead of him; following his team’s home race at Imola, to his home race at Donington Park last time out and now another home round for the Italian manufacturer. Thriving off the pressure around Imola, the British rider put in a stunning performance to secure the double victory, but can he repeat this around Misano? At a circuit the 30 year old is yet to win around in WorldSBK, it will be a tough challenge for Davies.
The true home hero of the weekend is San Marinese rider Alex De Angelis (Pedercini Racing SC-Project); hailing from Rimini, the 33 year old secured a best result of fourth at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli back in the Moto2™ class in 2011. De Angelis has had a difficult start to the season in 2017, but the Kawasaki rider will be pushing with the support of his home crowd on board his ZX-10RR.
Despite the Italian passion surrounding the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round, it is impossible to count out the Kawasaki Racing Team duo of Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes. Championship leader Rea has won the last three races at Misano, on top of taking on victory with Honda in 2009. With eight victories so far in 2017, the Northern Irishman will take some beating along the San Marinese coastline. But with ‘Mr Superpole’ sitting on the other side of the Kawasaki Racing Team garage, there will be a hard fight around the 4.2km circuit. Sykes has taken pole position in the last five years around Misano, and finishing in second position in both races last season he will no doubt put up a strong fight.
Securing his eighth podium in the class last season, Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) has fond memories of Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, and still reeling from his fourth position at Donington Park which saw the Dutch rider miss out on a podium on the final lap, van der Mark will be hunting for redemption in Rimini. Making some strong steps with his YZF-R1 machine at the Misano test just two weeks before the seventh round of the season, can van der Mark make his podium debut of 2017?
Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) heads home for the second time of the season, and will hope to bring some improvements with his RSV4 RF machine following a tough start to the season. With two victories to his name around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in the European Superstock 1000 championship as well as two top six finishes in the WorldSBK round last season, will the home crowd spur on the Italian?
Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) continues to search for that all important set-up change with his new Fireblade, and with his team continuing to race with the late, great Nicky Hayden in mind it will be another testing Round for the factory Honda team. The two day Misano test allowed the German rider to continue to work on his set-up, but he will still be searching for more results around Misano. A circuit he has stood on the podium at in the past, it will be another learning curve for Bradl.
Fresh off the back of a consistent weekend at his home round of Donington Park, Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will now look to impress in his teams second home race of the season, as he continues to make steps with his Italian machine. MV have a varied history around Misano, and with Camier’s best finish of a top six at Misano, it will be interesting to see how his pace can develop over the weekend.
Raffaele De Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team) will be hoping to draw on the pace he is beginning to build on his S 1000 RR. The Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round will mark his second round in front of his home fans, and with a strong history at the circuit it will be important for him to take confidence into a WorldSBK Round.
Bikes roll out on track at 08:45LT for WorldSSP Free Practice, with WorldSBK Race One lights going out at 13:00LT on Saturday. Don’t miss any of the action from Round Seven of the sensational WorldSBK Championship.
Italian Return For Class-leading KRT Duo
As the seventh round of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship approaches KRT riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes will soon reach the midpoint of the season, at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this coming weekend. This will be the second round of the campaign to be held at an Italian venue, after the Imola round in mid-May.
Having taken a win apiece on their official Ninja ZX-10RRs at the recent Donington Park event in the UK Rea and Sykes sit 1-2 in the championship rankings, with Jonathan having scored eight race wins and Tom one.
Having proven his ability to compete for either first or second place at every round of the campaign Rea will start the races at Misano with the knowledge that he won both 2016 WorldSBK races there, with his team-mate Sykes just behind each time.
In all, Rea has recorded four previous wins at Misano and Sykes three. Between them they have won all six of the most recent races at the 4.226km long circuit, which is located near the Adriatic coast of Italy.
After Tom and Jonathan each won races at Donington Park recently Kawasaki reached the important landmark of 100 race wins in WorldSBK. After a successful test at Misano recently both KRT riders share the goal of adding to that overall winning total this coming weekend.
After a small change in the regular European weekend schedule at Donington last time out the Misano event will revert to its more usual format, with WorldSBK races at 13.00 on Saturday 17th June and Sunday 18th June.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “After spending some time at home soaking up the Isle of Man TT vibes I’m really excited to arrive in Misano, especially after our test there a couple of weeks ago. Now we have a good understanding of how the bike performs in different temperatures. We are even better equipped than before to build a solid base after focusing on conserving our tyre life, and that gives me some more confidence. Misano is a circuit that means a lot to me as I took my first ever WorldSBK race there, and I always hang out after races in the local area for a small holiday. I love everything about this race; the atmosphere, the circuit, the fans, the food and the beautiful beaches up and down the coast.”
Tom Sykes, stated: “We have been coming closer to where we want to be and at Donington we had a great performance, despite not winning race two. In race one we did what we had to do, and had good speed. In race two I got boxed in and it was not until lap seven that I got through. From then on my speed was really good. I was very disappointed to miss out but luckily we moved straight on to the Misano tests. The boys kept working hard and I have to say I left the tests very happy, with a lot of information and mileage done. Considering my previous physical condition I was very happy to do 100 laps on day one of the tests and just over 50 on day two. Finally, I feel I am going to Misano ready to step-up my game and enjoy it more, focusing on getting more points and overall performance.”
The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team gearing up for second home round of the year at Misano
The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team is ready to resume action in front of its home supporters this weekendat Misano, which will host the seventh round of the 2017 WorldSBK Championship, the second on Italian soil after Imola.
The track located on the Italian Riviera is the only one on the calendar where Chaz Davies has yet to score a podium in the top class. Marco Melandri, on the other hand, has three third-place finishes to his tally at Misano. Both riders took advantage of a two-day test at the beginning of the month to better prepare for the round, and their common goal is to put behind the difficulties encountered at Donington to put up another memorable performance in front of the many ducatisti expected on track during the weekend.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati #7)
“I feel good heading into the second Italian round of the year. The home fans’ support is always worth a lot: it’s humbling, enjoyable, and gives you an extra motivation. We have yet to step on the podium at Misano and we need to put it right because we always had the pace there. Last year we were particularly strong, but the ball just didn’t bounce our way as we crashed and then were pushed off the track during the races. The testing was good, we just need to put together a few bits and pieces but our window has been defined and we won’t make any radical changes. We defined a couple of potential directions to try and that’s where we’ll start from in FP1”.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati #33)
“I’m very confident ahead of this round. I feel good, both physically and mentally. In the tests done at Misano we gathered some important data, despite not having been able to completely solve the issues we’ve encountered at Imola and Donington. I think the team has done a great technical analysis afterwards and devised some solutions that can help me improve my performance, so I feel optimistic and refreshed. The weather will be very hot, so it will be difficult for everyone during the races. Our rivals will be very competitive, but Misano is a good track for the Panigale R so I’m ready to battle.”
Pata Yamaha Excited for Misano WorldSBK Challenge
Setup
The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team head to round seven of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship at Misano this weekend, excited to deliver on the potential shown during the first half of the season. Alex Lowes recorded his first podium for the team during race one at the last round at Donington, while his teammate Michael van der Mark just missed out on a rostrum in race two. Following a recent private test at the track, both riders are confident that they can make another step forward in Misano.
Lowes will be looking to build on his first podium for the team and is feeling confident after the successful test where he got to evaluate a number of updates to his R1. The 26-year-old British rider was still recovering from a shoulder operation at Misano last year but managed to qualify in fourth and finish 13th and eighth respectively in the races. Lowes has not only been working hard with the team on the bike since Donington, but also has been looking at where he can improve personally, and heads to Misano focused and ready to race.
Van der Mark also showed great pace at Donington, only missing out on the podium in race two by 0.7s. The 24-year-old Dutch rider tried out a number of new updates in the test at Misano between rounds and feels that he is ready to take the next step to allow him to consistently fight for the podium. Van der Mark has tasted victory at Misano before in the Superstock 600 race in 2012 and is eager to put the information gained at the recent test to good use when he takes to the track on Friday morning.
The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is a fast, flowing, and technical track located next to the picturesque town of Misano Adriatico in the province of Rimini, North East Italy. It held its first event in 1972 and the iconic track is 4.226km in length, consisting of ten right and six left-hand corners, and has a start-finish straight of 510m. The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team will hit the track at 9:45am Friday morning for Free Practice, with qualifying and race one on Saturday, and race two on Sunday.
Alex Lowes
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team
It's going to be a hot weekend in Misano and I'm really looking forward to it. We had a successful test at the track, with a couple of things that I feel will give us more performance, and I have been looking at how I can improve personally to make that next step closer to the guys at the front! I know the team have been working hard during the two weeks off, so I can't wait to get out on the R1 on Friday and start work this weekend.
Michael van der Mark
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team
I'm looking forward to Misano. We had such a good test there, nearly 180 laps, and it really felt like we made a step forward. It's also good for me to arrive at a track where I have ridden with the YZF-R1 before, so we don't start have to start from zero. The weather is looking perfect, so we can just focus on working on race pace from Friday, and my aim is to get on the podium.
Paul Denning
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team Principal
The first race in Misano will see us reaching the halfway point of the 2017 season and we are looking forward to building on the solid start that the first half has provided for the team. We need to retain the consistent approach that has helped us to develop the results step by step and sees both riders currently in the top six of the championship, but at the same time, we are also looking to move the performance of the 2017 R1 further ahead and get closer to fighting with the regular podium contenders. The recent test, which involved a very demanding schedule coming straight after Donington, gave us a great opportunity to test various hardware and software options, and more importantly, in a couple of areas where we need to improve it gave us a very clear development direction. We have had a very busy schedule for the development team during the last 10 days, but fingers crossed we will be able to hit the ground running in Misano on Friday and put these findings to good use.
Second home round for Althea BMW at Misano
Rome (Italy), Tuesday 13 June 2017
After a Donington Park that proved tough for the Althea BMW Racing Team, the squad hopes that the Misano World Circuit, another home track, will bring positive results.
The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is located in the town of Misano Adriatico. Inaugurated in 1972, the track has hosted the Superbikes every summer for many years.
Last year, at the Santa Monica track, the Italian public witnessed a Jordi Torres who completed the two races fifth and seventh, while Raffaele De Rosa, busy in the Stock1000 category in 2016, was battling for the win when a crash on the last lap relegated him to 19th place. Marco Faccani reached the podium last year at Misano, crossing the line third. All three of the Althea BMW riders are aiming to complete strong races this time around, particularly with the added support of the local fans.
After six championship rounds, Jordi Torres is now in ninth place in the standings with 72 points, De Rosa places twentieth having earned 12 points. In the Stock1000, Faccani lies ninth with 27 points.
Jordi Torres
"Last year we had a good weekend at Misano and I hope to repeat, or rather improve on that performance in front of the passionate Italian crowds. The track suits our BMW well and our aim is to work well right from Friday, also assisted by the good weather that we usually enjoy at Misano in June. I’m pumped up and looking forward to getting back on track…”
Raffaele De Rosa
“I'm excited and can’t wait to start the Misano weekend that, as well as being our home race, is a little different to the tracks we’ve visited recently. I’ve really been training hard over the last weeks and am keen to get out on track. I want to thank the team as the guys are giving me all they can, to allow me to express my full potential.”
Marco Faccani
“We reach Misano ready to give it our all, as we have always tried to do up until now. I like the track and last year I was able to score a great podium result, so I hope to make up for the last few races… We’ll see, it will be a hot race and definitely not an easy one but we have all we need to be able to fight for the podium.”
Bradl and the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team ready for Misano challenge
Italian Round
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy
Round seven of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship is about to get underway at the ‘Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli’ on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Still mourning the loss of Nicky Hayden, the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team has reached the famous seaside destination known as the ‘Riviera di Rimini’, with Stefan Bradl as the sole rider to represent the Netherlands-based squad this weekend.
A few days after completing the UK round at Donington Park at the end of May, Stefan and the team were joined by test rider Michele Magnoni to take part in a two-day test – along with many of their World Superbike rivals – at Misano. This proved to be a good opportunity to evaluate new settings and parts designed and developed for the WorldSBK-spec version of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, which is now ready to tackle the second and last Italian event of the season.
Stefan Bradl has a best result at Misano of second – with pole position – scored in 2011, the year of his Moto2 World Championship title.
On-track action will begin this Friday at 9:45am local time (GMT +2) with the first free practice session for the World Superbike class.
Stefan Bradl 6
Misano is going to be a good race for us and I hope the recent test will help us to be more competitive this weekend. It’s a track that I really like because it’s a good mixture of fast corners and slow sectors, so I hope with the data we were able to gather during the test we will go some way in making a step forward and so move closer to the front of the field. This last month has taken its toll on all of us, but we will do our best to stay focused and do a good job.
- Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Pieter Breddels
We have worked really hard during this little break to better prepared for the upcoming round. During the two-day test at Misano straight after Donington Park we tried many different things, and we also carefully analysed the data we gathered and shared with our technical partners and came up with some interesting findings which hopefully will help us take a step closer to the front guys. It will be our second race with Stefan as the sole rider for the team: it won’t be easy, but we’re fully motivated to do well and improve on the recent results.
- Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
WorldSSP: Turkish delight
Can anyone slow down Sofuoglu?
Rolling into the seventh round of the season, the FIM Supersport World Championship takes the fight to the world famous Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, a circuit set alongside the stunning Rimini coastline and a fan favourite. Nearing the half way point of the season, the battle for the title intensifies as Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) continues on a stunning run of form. One man looking to stop him is current championship leader Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), who has kept a hold onto the lead for the last four rounds and shows no signs of slowing down. This season has already shown that anything can happen – so what will the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round bring?
Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) has now taken three victories in a row in the WorldSSP series but is firmly set on only riding for wins and not with the championship in mind. Re-signing with the Italian squad for 2018, it’s clear the Turkish rider is happy with his ZX-6R machine and heads to Misano with a confident feeling – it’s a circuit he has taken two victories around and crossed the line with a comfortable margin last year. Despite also being a strong circuit for his rivals, Sofuoglu is never deterred by the pace of those alongside him and will be out to continue his winning form in San Marino.
World championship leader Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) has made it clear of his desire to win in the series, as he has watched his lead diminish to now only 30 points, with Sofulogu slowly chipping away. Despite this, it’s important to note how consistency is key in the ever competitive class and as the Frenchman heads to Rimini – where he secured the STK1000 victory last season, meaning he will certainly be one to watch.
Undisputed record holder around Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) is continuing to look for that all important first victory of the season following a tough start. With two podiums secured so far in 2017 – one last time out at Donington Park – Cluzel will hope to add to his two victories so far in Rimini. A circuit he is proven to have a strong pace around, there will be a high level of competition but the level of determination will be even higher for the 28 year old.
Donington Park brought a tough run for American PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) as he was forced to retire from the re-started race. However with some time off to recuperate on top of a two day private test around the Rimini circuit, Jacobsen will be hoping to be able to be up and fighting for the victory, as he will work towards bringing a similar pace to last season. Locked in the fight for the victory in 2016 around the 4.226km circuit, and now with an Italian machine he will be battling for not only his third podium of the season but also some home glory.
Italian fans play a huge part in the atmosphere of the Pirelli Riviera di Rimini, and the desire to impress in front of the home crowd is one which stretches even further for the Italian riders. 2016 rookie Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) put on a stunning show last season but was unable to make the chequered flag. With a varied record so far this season, Round seven of the championship could be the young rider’s time to shine on board his YZF-R6. Meanwhile Alessandro Zaccone (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will be fighting for top European Supersport Cup honours in front of his home crowd, as the inner-championship battle continues.
Keep up with all the sensational WorldSSP action from Misano as the action kicks off on Friday at 08.45LT with Free Practice one, ahead of the Race on Sunday at 11.30LT.
Misano Calls For Sofuoglu And Ryde
The second home round of the 2017 WorldSSP championship for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team sees official riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Kyle Ryde head to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this weekend for round seven of the 12-round series.
After scoring race wins in the three most recent WorldSSP races five time champion Kenan Sofuoglu is on a roll that he hopes can continue throughout the entire Misano race weekend, which begins of Friday June 16th and ends with raceday on Sunday 18th June.
For Sofuoglu’s young team-mate Kyle Ryde, at the opposite end of the racing spectrum from Kenan in terms of overall experience, Misano is a circuit he has raced at before. He now looks to record his first podium of the 2017 season at one of his Italian team’s local circuits.
After Kenan’s most recent success at Donington Park he approaches Misano with no less than 41 career race wins in WorldSSP and a firm intention to go for another before the start of the long summer break in race action. He has won at Misano two times before; once back in 2012 and again last year.
Sofuoglu is now second in the championship standings, 30 points from the lead and closing in fast, despite missing the early rounds of the season through injury. Ryde is seventh overall, second of the Kawasaki riders in the series, with a best individual race finish so far of fourth in the season-opening Phillip Island race.
With no WorldSSP event scheduled for the Laguna Seca WorldSBK weekend in the USA in early July there will be a summer break comprising eight free weekends before action resumes at the Lausitzring in Germany, with raceday on Sunday 20th August.
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “In the past Misano was sometimes a difficult track for us but after we changed to WP suspension last season we won the race there. We have won the last three races this season and now we will try again to go for the win. Hopefully if I can win in Misano it will give me strong power through the long summer break. The bike settings should be good as we won the race last year so now I am just waiting to get started this weekend.”
Kyle Ryde, stated: “I am really looking forward to getting started at Misano. I always have a great bike setup because I am working in the same garage as Kenan, so I just need to get on my bike and do the job I know I can do. I think the bike set-up will be similar to Imola where I felt really comfortable, so hopefully we can fly through to SP2 after Friday and get the job done.”
Michael Canducci (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI Kawasaki) is 14th in the overall rankings at the half-season point, and third ranked of the Kawasaki riders in the points table so far. He will not be able to ride at Misano after suffering a training injury and will be replaced at this round by Axel Bassani.
Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) sits 18th, Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) 22nd, part-time ESS rider Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Jenik Against Cancer Kawasaki) is 23rd and Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) 24th. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) is placed 29th and Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) 30th.
Mahias Out for Victory in Misano
Setup
The GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team arrive at Misano for round seven of the 2017 FIM Supersport World Championship this weekend. Championship leader Lucas Mahias is looking to maintain the excellent form that has seen him record five podiums in the last six races, whilst his teammate Federico Caricasulo is hoping to bounce back from his DNF at Donington and get his championship aspirations back on track.
Mahias extended his championship lead to 30 points after coming out on top in a dramatic last-lap battle at Donington Park to secure second, continuing his brilliant run of form. The 28-year-old French rider currently has 105 points in the championship and heads to Misano confident he can fight for the race win having tasted victory at the track in 2016 aboard a Yamaha R1M in the STK1000 class.
Caricasulo is looking to bounce back at home after crashing out of the race at Donington Park. The 21-year-old Italian is still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in Assen and aggravated in Imola, but is hoping the extra week off will allow him to be back to his best at one of his favourite tracks. Caricasulo is currently eighth in the championship standings with 35 points, just six points behind Kyle Ryde in seventh.
The GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team are in action from 11am on Friday for free practice, with qualifying starting at 11:30am on Saturday and Sunday's 19-lap race scheduled for 11:30am local time in Misano.
Lucas Mahias
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team
I'm very excited to get back on track and into action with my R6! It hasnt been that long since Donington, but I find it hard to go so long without being able to ride my bike. This will be the first-time I have ridden a Supersport bike at Misano, but I like the track a lot. Last year I won the STK1000 race on a Yamaha R1, now I want to get back to winning ways and take victory on the R6.
Federico Caricasulo
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team
I am looking forward to getting to Misano! It is always a special place to race and it is one of my favourite tracks. I started on pole last year so I know I can be fast here, and the extra week off has helped with my injury. It has not been easy lately but it is always special racing in front of the Italian fans and I hope that I can show my full potential. I want to get back on the podium and I will be giving 100% at Misano to try and win.
Filippo Conti
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team Manager
We are very excited to be heading to Misano, it is going to be an amazing weekend and very hot! This weekend is very important for us. Lucas has been incredibly consistent this season, but now we really need to find something more to make sure he can battle for the championship. We will try to do our best to give Lucas the best package to achieve this. We just need to make an extra step to get him back on the top step of the podium and Misano is the perfect track for us to do this. Federicos weekend at Donington was not the best. We hope he can bounce back and change around his fortunes in Misano, another home round for him. He really enjoys Misano and as always, he will be giving it 100%. He is an extremely talented rider and he should be battling for the podium every week, but this season he has been unlucky. In Misano, in front of his home fans, we feel he can fight for the podium and get his season back on track.
Next Stop Misano for CIA Landlord Insurance Honda
Posted on 14th June 2017
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda head to Italy this weekend for round seven of the World Supersport Championship at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli located close to the resort of Cattolica on the Adriatic coast.
CIA Landlord Insurance rider Jules Cluzel is up to fourth in the Championship after his podium finish last time out at Donington Park in the UK and is confident that his CIA Landlord Insurance Honda is suited to challenge for victory at the tight and twisty 4.2km circuit.
Jules said: “I think we can have a good weekend at Misano. It was the best weekend at Donington in terms of work and I think we found something and can be quick in Misano. The strong points of the Honda are big braking and fast turns which is good for Misano. I am looking forward to this race where I have won twice before so I have good memories there. It is always my target at every race to win but I really want to get my first victory of 2017 before the summer break and I think we can do it.”
Hikari Okubo arrives at Misano lying just outside the top ten in the Championship and is confident he can make another step forward to challenge inside the top six in the race. Hikari said: “I got a top ten finish in the UK. I am happy but I need more good races. I had a big problem with arm pump up in the Donington race so I have been training hard since. Now my body is feeling good so I think I can have a good race in Misano and I need a best result.”
Robin Mulhauser showed points position pace again in the last round at Donington Park which has boosted his confidence for the challenge ahead at Misano. Robin said: “I’m happy to be coming back to a track that I know. We will work hard to find my pace again this weekend.”
Hiromichi Kunikawa continues to improve each time he rides the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda. Misano is another new circuit for him to learn as he targets a points finish. Hiromichi said: “Donington Park was a tough race for us. I understand why it was tough so I am heading to Misano to improve. I will do my best to get points in this race.”
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster said: “Misano has been a good circuit for us in the past. Jules is in touching distance of the top three in the Championship so we are looking for another podium finish and to challenge for the win at Misano. Hikari is riding better and better. His confidence is there and he is on top form. We are looking for another strong ride from him, he is doing a superb job along with Jules. Robin had a disappointing race at Donington but towards the second half of the race he picked up speed and did much better lap times. Robin and I have spoken about what he needs to do to return to the focus and the riding form that he had at the start of the season We are looking to get him back into the points at least and he has been in the top ten so that is where he needs to be. He has to focus and give 100% every time he gets on the bike and if we work together I am sure we can get back where we should be. Hiromichi’s position at Donington was not as good as the previous race but the ride was there and the times got better. He has to learn the circuit at Misano but we have a lot of data and can give him a good base setting to start with. He has just got to continue to improve, look for the best possible result and challenge in the top twenty.”
The World Supersport action from Misano gets underway with Free Practice One on Friday 16th June at 11am (local time).
The Aruba.it Racing - Junior Team ready for the second “home round” of 2017 at Misano
After a difficult round at Donington (U.K.), the Aruba.it Racing - Junior Team is keen to bounce back at Misano (Italy), which will host the second “home race” of the 2017 European Superstock 1000 Championship for the Italian squad.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who was forced to give up the championship lead in England due to a crash during the race, is eager to resume the path that saw him claim two wins and one second-place finish in the previous two rounds. Mike Jones, tenth at Donington after a strong comeback from 17th position on the grid, is first and foremost determined to start off on the right foot to secure a more favorable position on the grid and be able to fight for his first podium of the year.
Both riders successfully conducted a two-day test on the Italian track at the beginning of the month to better prepare for the round. After four rounds, Rinaldi and Jones are respectively 2nd (70 points) and 12th (21 points) in the championship. The Aruba.it Racing - Junior Team will resume action on Friday at 09:00 (CET) for the first free-practice session.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing - Junior Team #12)
“We made a mistake at Donington, but during the tests at Misano we tried to get back the feelings we had before the crash, and we managed to be quite fast. Anyway, so far we’ve been competitive on every track, in different conditions, so we’ll aim at the same results we scored before our DNF. Our goals haven’t changed, but we can’t afford to give away any more points. The heat will play a key role, but the conditions should be similar to what we’ve encountered while testing so we should be able to start off on the right foot”.
Mike Jones (Aruba.it Racing - Junior Team #57)
“I’m looking forward to racing at Misano. We had a couple of days of solid testing so this time I know the track in advance, which will be beneficial for me, and we have higher goals compared with Donington. We want to race at the front. I’m getting more comfortable with the bike and we made some good adjustments during the tests, so that should allow us to start off with a solid base and good pace. That said, we’re still not as fast as we’d like to be, so hopefully we’ll make more steps forward and go progressively faster throughout the weekend”.
Pata Yamaha Riders Ready to Fight for STK1000 Victory in Misano
Setup
The Pata Yamaha Official STK1000 Team are raring to go for round five of the 2017 FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship at the picturesque Misano this weekend. Florian Marino will hope to build on his excellent second place last time out at Donington and challenge for the race win. His teammate Roberto Tamburini is looking to return to the podium at his home round, with both riders currently level on points in the championship standings.
Marino rode superbly at Donington to secure his third podium in four races, crossing the line in second less than two seconds behind the race winner. The 24-year-old French rider made a breakthrough with the setup on his R1M at the last round and is feeling confident that there is more to come in the heat at Misano. Marino is currently third in the championship standings with 56 points, just 23 points off the leader.
Tamburini is relishing the chance to ride in front of the passionate Misano fans at his home round. The 26-year-old Italian finished in fourth at Donington and is looking to add to his tally of two podiums so far, this season. He realises the need to work hard from Friday morning in an effort to find a good feeling with his R1M, so that he can push to the maximum during the race. Tamburini is currently fourth in the championship standings, level on 56 points with his teammate.
The Pata Yamaha Official STK1000 Team hit the track at 09:00am on Friday morning for free practice, with qualifying at 15:00pm on Saturday and Sunday's 15-lap race scheduled for 15:15pm.
Florian Marino
Pata Yamaha Official STK1000 Team
I am really excited about racing at Misano this weekend. We have had a couple of weeks off, and so I took some time to relax, train and work on a few things. Misano is a great track, but the competition will be tough as there are a lot of Italian riders in my class who all want to do well. I am really looking forward to the challenge and we just need to keep working in the same way as we did at Donington. I think we will get stronger and stronger with the new setup we are using, so I expect a close weekend with some good battles. It will also be the first really hot weekend of the year, so it will be interesting to see how we do in the heat. I feel confident and ready to go, I have been working hard, myself and the team, and we are ready to go!
Roberto Tamburini
Pata Yamaha Official STK1000 Team
I am looking forward to my home race in Misano! I like this track and it will be awesome to race in front of the fans. We will work hard from Friday morning to be fast and to have a good pace, especially with used tyres for when the track gets hot. Our focus will be to improve in the last part of the corner, to increase the feeling I have with the bike. Our target is the podium, and if we work in the right direction we can fight for the victory. To do that it will be important to find a good balance on the bike in Free Practice to allow us to be consistent and fast in the hot conditions!
R3 bLU cRU Challenge Riders March on to Misano
Setup
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge moves on to Misano for round five of the 2017 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. The six young bLU cRU riders cannot wait to get back on track after Alfonso Coppola secured the Challenges first victory last time out at Donington Park.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge is designed to provide a clear career path for young riders into the WorldSBK Championship and sees six riders battling it out in the WorldSSP300 class for 2017. The rider with the most points at the end of the season will get a chance to ride for an official Yamaha team in a higher class in 2018.
Currently it is Coppola who leads the way in the challenge after his incredible victory at Donington Park. The 19-year-old Italian enjoyed a great weekend in the UK, not only did he score his - and the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenges maiden victory, but also secured the first pole position of his career. Coppola has been on an upward curve recently, finishing in third at Assen, second in Imola and then winning at Donington, which sees him second in the championship standings with 66 points, just two points behind the leader.
Robert Schotman also recorded his best result of the season as he crossed the line in sixth at Donington Park, which saw him jump to 12th overall in the championship standings with 17 points. The 18-year-old Dutch rider is another who has shown steady improvement throughout the season, and he heads to Misano confident of fighting for the podium.
Mykyta Kalinin unfortunately crashed out of the race in Donington after battling for the lead. The 18-year-old Ukrainian has shown good pace all season, demonstrated by his podium at Imola, and occupies 13th in the overall standings with 16 points.
Kimi Patova crossed the line in 21st at Donington Park after battling his way through the pack from 30th on the grid. The 15-year-old Finnish rider has five championship points and occupies 22nd in the overall standings.
Enzo De La Vega recorded his best finish of the season last time out by securing 17th, the 17-year-old French rider only just missing out on his first championship points. 15-year-old Brazilian Renzo Ferreira is another still in search of his first point-scoring finish after he crashed out of the race at Donington.
There will be a special announcement regarding the bLU cRU project at a press conference at 1pm on Friday at Misano, with the riders taking to the track for free practice at 11am. Qualifying starts at 11.30am on Saturday, with Sunday's 13-lap race scheduled for 14:20pm.
Manufacturers ups and downs at Misano
Which teams will be the ones to beat in Rimini?
Aprilia have won 6 times in Misano, scoring three doubles - the first one in 2000 with Troy Corser, then in 2010 and 2012 with Max Biaggi. Since that last double, Aprilia have finished in 3rd three times at Misano, the last one was two years ago with Leon Haslam in Race 2. Last year their best result was a 5th by Savadori in Race 2.
In 2010 Troy Corser recorded the first BMW pole in WorldSBK history at Misano (incidentally the last pole in Corser's career). They have taken two podium finishes in third, their best result here: with the aforementioned Corser in Race 1 2010 (the last of Corser's 130 podiums) and with Leon Haslam in Race 2, 2012. Last year their best result was a 5th from Jordi Torres in Race 1.
With 28 wins (*), 11 poles and 76 podiums (*) out of 48 races run in Misano, Ducati have no rivals in the all-time standings. Last year they recorded one podium finish with Davide Giugliano, who was 3rd in Race 2. Their last wins here came in 2011: a double from Carlos Checa.
(*) the most for a manufacturer on any given track in the World Championship history.
Honda have won 4 times here, the last time in 2009’s Race 2 (Rea’s maiden win), and have climbed 17 times on the podium: the last came last year, with a 3rd from Van der Mark in Race 1.
Kawasaki will be the bike to beat at Misano, as they have dominated the last six races, in five cases scoring a double (Sykes-Baz in both 2014 races, Sykes-Rea in 2015 Race 1 and both races last year). Their podium tally was 8 from 1991 to 2013 here: since then they more than doubled it, as in total they have now climbed on the podium 19 times in Misano. With Tom Sykes, Kawasaki have recorded pole in the last five Misano weekends (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016): they are the only manufacturer with a string of 5 poles here (Ducati 4 from 2001 to 2004).
Yamaha have won twice in Misano: in 2006 Race 2 with Andrew Pitt (the only career win for the Australian) and in 2009 Race 1 with Ben Spies. Their last podium here came thanks to Marco Melandri, 3rd in the first 2011 race. Last year their best result was recorded by Sylvain Guintoli’s stand-in Niccolò Canepa: 7th in Race 1.
Last year MV Agusta recorded their best result at Misano with an 8th by Leon Camier in Race 1.
Did you know? Misano in Numbers
As WorldSBK gets ready for Rimini, take a look at some useful facts and stats
161 – At 161,783 kph, last year’s was the fastest ever pole at Misano.
76 – The number of podiums for Ducati riders at Misano - an all-time record. The Italian manufacturer has 71 at Assen.
48 – Misano has hosted 48 WorldSBK races so far, and this weekend will equal Donington at 50 – third overall. Only Phillip Island (53) and Assen (52) have hosted more races.
28 – This is the track in which a single manufacturer has won the highest number of races: Ducati won here 28 times. Next up is also Ducati, with 25 wins at Assen. The best value for another team is 15 from Kawasaki at Donington.
27 – The number of podium finishes here for the two Troys: Corser (16) and Bayliss (11) at Misano. They are the only ones in double-digit podium figures. Among the current riders, Rea leads with 6.
12 – Ruben Xaus is the only rider who won here starting outside the top-10 grid spots. In 2003 he recorded the double, starting from the 12th grid spot twice.
11 – Ducati holds only two poles less than the sum of all its rivals (13). Curiously, the last two poles at Misano for the Italian manufacturer didn’t come from the works team: in 2009 Jakub Smrz recorded pole for Guandalini Racing, while in 2004 the Ducati poleman was Steve Martin for D.F.Xtreme Sterilgarda.
11 – Ducati was the sole winner here for 11 straight races: from 2001 Race 1 to 2006 Race 1. Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) broke the streak, taking his only WorldSBK win in 2006 Race 2.
8 – Eight years ago, double World Champion Jonathan Rea took his maiden WorldSBK win at this track. 45 more and two World Championships have since followed.
6 – Troy Bayliss is the most successful rider in Misano, with 6 wins spanning from 2001 to 2007, all scored with Ducati. The second place (4 wins) is shared by Max Biaggi and Jonathan Rea, the latter being in the position to equal the record this year if he secures a double victory.
6 – Another Troy leads the standings for poles at Misano – Corser - with no less than six. His last one, in 2010, was of particular significance as it was the last of his 43 poles (an all-time record) and the first one for BMW. Tom Sykes - with 5 poles under his belt - can equal Corser’s Misano record this year.
6 – Kawasaki have won the last six races here, the second best string at this track. This equals the one set by Ducati from 1994 Race 2 to 1997 Race 1, and in the six races run here from 1991 to 1993. The record run stands at 11, set by Ducati from 2001 Race 1 to 2006 Race 1.
6 – The last six wins here have been from British riders (3 Sykes, 3 Rea, in this order): the best string for any country in this track. The previous record had been set by Australia, with 4 in 2006-2007 (Bayliss/Pitt and a double by Bayliss).
1 – There is only one rider in the current field who has qualified from pole at Misano: Tom Sykes, 5 times. He has recorded pole in each of his last five race weekends here.
Rea in sight of 100th podium
In Misano, Jonathan Rea has the first chance to secure his 100th podium. If he gets it in Race 1, he would have done so in his 205th start, only one more than Carl Fogarty and on the same track of his compatriot.
WorldSBK reaches its 30th season
Take the trip into the third decade
2008 began the rise of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champions who are still around today, as Troy Bayliss secured his final WorldSBK title in 2008 and it paved the way for an enthralling decade in the history of the championship. Welcoming the arrival of Italian Max Biaggi and Spainiard Carlos Checa, the series was full of experienced talent to bring the championship into a new era.
With three different manufacturers taking the title from 2008 – 2010, and four overall, there have been seven different champions crowned throughout the decade. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) is now fighting to take his third title in a row, but take a look at some stats which have brought WorldSBK into the modern era.
222 – The rider most present in this decade was Tom Sykes, with 222 starts. His current team-mate Rea follows at 204.
189 – 189 riders took part in at least one WorldSBK race in this decade.
100 – All-time leader for race starts (377), Poles (43), Podium places (130), Points (4021,5) Troy Corser, started his last 100 races in this decade. His last weekend was in Algarve, 2011.
99 – Jonathan Rea is the rider with the highest number of podiums in this decade: his next one will be his 100th. His team-mate Sykes follows at 93.
88 – Ben Spies in 2009 set the record for most points clawed back to the championship leader to win a championship. Spies was 88 points down on Noriyuki Haga after the 12th race (of 28): he won the title with 6 points over the Japanese rider.
50% - The most impressive winning rate of the decade was recorded by Ben Spies in 2009: he won exactly half of the races that year, 14 out of 28, climbing on the podium 17 times.
46 – The most successful rider of the third decade is Jonathan Rea with 46 wins, at least one per season from 2009 onwards. Rea made his debut in the last two races of 2008, before becoming a full-time rider the following year.
43 – Sylvain Guintoli recorded in this decade the all-time record string of races in the points: 43, from Imola/2 2013 to Aragon/1 2015.
41 – In this decade Max Biaggi set the all-time record for highest age to win a championship and a race: he was 41 years-old when he won his second crown in 2012. His last win was the first Nurburgring race that year.
40 – Tom Sykes secured 40 Superpoles in this decade: he monopolized the top spot as his best rivals are Jonathan Rea and Ben Spies at 11.
23x2 – In this decade, the best value for podiums in a season was recorded by Jonathan Rea, not only, but twice: his 2015 and 2016 seasons saw him 23 times on the podium.
15 – In this decade, the most successful rider in one season has been Carlos Checa, with 15 wins in 2011, two from the absolute record of 17 set by Doug Pole exactly twenty years before (1991).
11 – In 2009 Ben Spies set the record for season poles at 11: he left only 3 poles to the opposition that year.
6 – In this decade no less than 6 manufacturers recorded wins, and they all went into double figures: Ducati 71, Kawasaki 65, Aprilia 44, Yamaha 30, Honda 21, BMW 12.
4 – In 2015 Jonathan Rea came just 4 points from the season record of points, set by Colin Edwards in 2002 (552).
WorldSSP300: Coppola closes in on title fight
Deroue has some fiery Italians on his tail
Five Rounds in and the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship has already thrown up some stunning racing action, and unpredictable championship contenders to boot. Scott Deroue (MTM HS Kawasaki) looked to be the man to beat in the opening rounds, but following two tough rounds the championship is wide open once again, as the class continues on its stunning inaugural season. Offering the chance for youngsters to get involved in world championship racing for the first time, it won’t be one to miss out on at the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round.
Italian Alfonso Coppola (SK Racing) took his Yamaha YZF-R3 machine straight to the top at Donington Park, securing the gentleman’s set in the UK; pole position, fastest lap and the race win. As the fight boiled down to a final lap scrap the 19 year old kept a cool head and was victorious over the line ahead of his rivals, igniting his championship charge. Now sitting just two points behind Deroue, Coppola heads to his home ground of Misano – a circuit which Yamaha’s have a strong history around and with some local knowledge it will be hard to slow down the young Italian.
Flying the flag for Honda, Mika Perez (WILSport Racedays) was back on the podium in the UK following a few rounds of bad luck, but the Spanish rider finish outside of the points only once. Clearly running a strong pace with his CBR500R following some strong qualifying performances, the 18 year old has been unable to convert these into podium finishes in the last two rounds but Donington changed all this, and he narrowly missed out on securing his debut victory after a final lap battle. Hoping to take this momentum through to Rimini, Perez needs to build some consistent results in order to stamp his authority as a clear championship contender.
Championship leader Scott Deroue (MTM HS Kawasaki) has undergone a tough few rounds following such a stunning start to his campaign, as he was fast becoming the man to beat in the new series. However a tough weekend at Donington Park saw the Dutch rider unable to qualify above the third row meant a fight through the competitive pack was a tough ask for the 21 year old. However with only a two lead and heading to Misano, a track he has competed at in the past, it will be interesting to see how Deroue brings the fight in front of the passionate Italian crowd.
With 15 Italian riders lining up on the grid for the very first WorldSSP300 race held at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, it could be anyone’s guess who will take the victory in front of the passionate Italian fans come race day. Riders will prepare for battle at 14:20LT on Sunday, and it won’t be a race to miss.
STK1000 Preview: Rinaldi looking to fight back on home turf
Razgatlioglu takes the lead heading into round five
Tension it heating up in the European Superstock 1000 Championship as the fight rumbles on into the fifth round of the season, and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team) is no longer on top. With Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) continuing to develop and mature on his green machine, the fight is well and truly on in Rimini. Just minutes away from the San Marino coastline, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli boasts many positives for riders and with 16 corners packed into the 4.2km track it will be the setting for many intense battles throughout the 37 rider field.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) put in another stunning performance to dominate around the historic Donington Park Circuit, and now leads the championship standings by an impressive nine points. Getting into a comfortable rhythm with his ZX-10R, the young Turkish rider made it his third podium position finish of the season, and now heads to Misano ready to fight off the Italian’s as they battle in front of their home crowd. Securing a top four finish in Rimini last season, as well as having a podium history to his name, Razgatlioglu will have momentum behind him at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
Heading into the fifth round of the season, Italian Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team) will be hoping to impress his home fans for the second time this season. Securing the victory in front of his home fans around Imola in May, he will be hoping to repeat this success along the Rimini coastline, despite Misano World Circuit being one he has struggled around in the past. But with the boost of the home crowd behind him, we could be treated to some stunning battles in the STK1000 championship.
French fighter Florian Marino (Pata Yamaha Official STK1000 Team) has taken consistent podiums throughout the 2017 season so far, and is currently sitting in third position in the championship standings but is yet to take his first victory. Seeming to struggle around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in the past, Marino will have a tough weekend ahead of him. However in the unpredictable class anything can happen and the Yamaha rider will be looking to find any advantage possible.
Keep up with all the sensational STK1000 racing action around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, with the race at 15.15LT on Sunday.
