Home hero Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) continued his strong start to the Prometeon Italian Round as he topped Free Practice 2 for the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. Vannucci was 0.168s clear of his rivals at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola in the combined classification as most of the 31-strong field improved their lap times with more experience of Imola under their belt.
VANNUCCI THE RIDER TO BEAT? topping FP1 and FP2
Vannucci was the first rider to lap in the 2’06s bracket throughout Friday’s action as he stormed clear of his rivals but, towards the end of the 30-minute session, the gap closed with just 0.168s separating the #91 from his nearest competitor. German rider Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) moved into second place as he set a 2’06.967s; Geiger and Vannucci were the only two riders in the 2’06s. 2020 World Champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) moved into third place, three tenths down on the pacesetter.
CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER FIGHTS BACK: Svoboda battles into the top four
Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) scraped into the top ten in FP1 but surged up the order to claim fourth after posting a 2’07.335s in FP2, around half-a-second down on the fastest time. Wildcard Bruno Ieraci (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) took fifth as he looks to repeat his Misano heroics while Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) rounded out the top six. Three tenths separated Buis and Gennai as the WorldSSP300 field condensed further to set up an unpredictable weekend.
NOT FINDING IMPROVEMENTS: the highest-placed rider to not improve compared to FP1
Another Italian rider took seventh place as Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) showed strong pace on home soil, although he did not improve his lap time in FP2. His best time of the day was a 2’07.503s which he set in FP1. Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) secured eighth spot on home soil while Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) headed teammate Daniel Mogeda to round out the top ten. Less than one second separated the top ten in the combined classification.
A STRONG DAY FOR KOVE: Garcia puts the Chinese manufacturer in the top ten
Marc Garcia (China Racing Team) is returning to WorldSSP300 action for Kove on the 321RR machine and he showed strong pace throughout Friday. He was 11th in the combined classification but secured ninth in FP2 and sixth in FP1. Devis Bergamini (ProGP Racing) claimed 12th ahead of compatriot Alessandro Zanca (Team#109 Kawasaki), while Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) was 14th. The rookie had briefly been fastest in FP2 but dropped down the order to finish 14th in that session, and in the combined classification. Julio Garcia (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) completed the top 15.
HOUSEKEEPING: dramatic day for some on Friday
Germany’s Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) was 25th overall after a disrupted day. He crashed in FP1 at Turn 22 when he lost the front of his KTM machine. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) took 17th after he crashed in FP2; he came off his machine at the same corner as Lehmann in FP2. Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America Team) crashed in FP2 at Turn 4, and he finished in 28th place.
The top six following WorldSSP300 Friday action, full results here:
1. Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) 2’06.799s
2. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) +0.168s
3. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) +0.315s
4. Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) +0.536s
5. Bruno Ieraci (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) +0.585s
6. Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) +0.673s
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Source: WorldSBK.com