The 39-year-old Spaniard who finished 6^th on Sunday’s Superpole Race after starting from 13^th on the grid has made impressive performances in Cremona despite his injuries. Working his way through the field from sixth through to second in Race 2, he said: “It’s a very positive day, today I feel better riding the bike, I had less pain than yesterday so for me that is very important. Starting from the back in Superpole Race was tough, but I managed to recover positions and put me in a good position for Race 2.”

“I know the first few laps in Race 2 were critical for me. I needed two or three laps to forget the pain and just concentrate on riding. I was faster than yesterday, the feeling with the bike was really good. When I was in the podium position it was nice, but I said okay keep the same pace and see if I can catch Petrucci and Bulega who dropped in yesterday’s race. I stayed calm and tried to pass Bulega in a safe place, I saw in the back straight Bulega was braking really hard, so I thought I could take slip stream and managed to pass him. I then had space to keep pushing. Second place is really good because Thursday I did not know if I could ride the back but now, we finish with two podiums.”

Third in the Championship Title battle, Bautista responded to comments about team orders in helping with his championship position: “We don’t have team orders, but the team only ask for respect and to be as clean as possible on the track. Whoever is faster will win. I try to respect the other riders and my teammate.”

“The situation for me is not the same as the other season but the most important factor is I arrive in the best physical condition for the next round, I need to recover now. For sure I would like to race the same at Aragon as Danilo raced here because he won three races at his home round so ask him to help me get faster.”

In the Championship standings, Bautista is in third position on 283 points. He’s 69 points behind Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in second place.

Next up, Aragon! Follow all the action from Spain using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Race 2 for the FIM Supersport World Championship was another crowd pleaser as Italian Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) took his first win since March in Barcelona, taking him closer in the Championship points to rival Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) who crashed out of the lead in Race 2 with 11 laps remaining.

MONTELLA LOOKING FOR THE WIN: Crashes out of first

It was Italian star Montella who appeared strongest to take home the win in the WorldSSP Race 2 in Cremona, whilst the battle for second place was fierce between current Championship leader Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) in the early stages at the Italian Circuit. But it wasn’t to be for #55 as he crashed out of first place, despite setting the race lap record of 1’32.117s,  leaving Manzi and Huertas aiming for glory.

BRITISH WORLDSUPERSPORT PODIUM: Booth-Amos rides to an impressive third

An exciting fourth place battle between German rider Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Frenchman Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) provided plenty of close racing action, with the MV Augusta rider coming out on top to secure fourth over the lone. Huertas rode to a confident second position, maintaining his Title lead from Montella, whilst #69 Thomas Booth-Amos impressed the paddock with his maiden podium result, coming in third position and completing the rostrum, the first British rider to do so on a British bike since Chaz Davies in 2010.     

CHAMPIONSHIP TENSION: 7 points separate Montella and Manzi

Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) led Spaniard Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) and Can Oncu (Kawasaki ZX-6R Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) across the chequered flag in sixth, seventh and eighth at the Acerbis Italian Round, whilst #50 Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) and Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) rounded off the top 10 for Race 2.

With only three rounds of the 2024 season remaining, Huertas maintains a strong lead of 43 points ahead of the Italians, but only seven points between second place Montella and third Manzi means the Championship is heating up.

The top six following WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +2.697s
3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) +7.561s
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +9.412s
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +10.243s
6. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +10.935s
Fastest lap: Yari Montella, Ducati – 1’32.117s

Championship standings:

1. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 334 points
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 291
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 284
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 174
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 173
6. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) 148

Source: WorldSBK.com

Wins for Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) came along like London buses. After he took his first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship win in Race 1 on Saturday, he backed that up on Sunday at the Acerbis Italian Round with a Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 victory at the Cremona Circuit. He’s become only the fourth rider to take a WorldSBK hat-trick, and the first Independent rider to do so, after his historic weekend.

He started from third in the Superpole Race and was immediately into P1 when lights went out after he got a superb start to jump both Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). From there, he remained uncatchable despite using the SCQ tyre which had a drop off in the final few laps. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who was on the SCX tyre, had made gains to move into second but he was unable to catch ‘Petrux’.

It meant Petrucci became the fifth rider to take their second win the day after the first, joining Michael van der Mark, Alvaro Bautista, Scott Redding, and Toprak Razgatlioglu. This isn’t a record, however, with 11 riders taking their second win on the same day. In a slightly weird stat, out of Barni’s three WorldSBK wins this season, this is the only time the riders have taken the chequered flag: Nicholas Spinelli’s win at Assen was red flagged, as was Petrucci’s win in Race 1 at Cremona.

Petrucci was able to convert his double into a treble on Sunday afternoon, winning the 23-lap Race 2 from pole position and leading every lap. He initially pulled out a gap over his rivals but had to be prepared for a Bautista charge, whose pace was quicker than the #9’s as the race progressed. The #1 got ahead of teammate Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) before closing in on Petrucci but finished the race around a second behind the #9.

Reflecting on his Sunday at Cremona, Petrucci said: “It was one of the best weekends in my career! After the first victory yesterday, I was full of emotion. I didn’t expect to win the Superpole Race and Race 2. I was a little bit worried. I had a lot of opponents, especially Alvaro; I knew he would be fast at the end of the race. I was able to create a gap and he closed that gap a few tenths per lap. It’s something really special. A new track, a new venue, a lot of people… I think everyone in Italy deserves this kind of day today!”

It means Petrucci became the first Independent rider to take a hat-trick and only the fourth overall, after Bautista, Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Razgatlioglu. He’s also only the fourth rider to win their first three races consecutively, after Chris Vermeulen (2004), Ben Spies (2009) and Bautista (2019).

Reacting to his historic achievements on home soil, Petrucci said: “They told me not long ago about this achievement. It’s something that makes me proud. Yesterday, I was the first rider to win a race in so many categories, off-road and on-road, and today the first Independent rider to have three wins. We can improve our Championship position, but we can’t beat a weekend like that.”

In the Championship standings, Petrucci sits in fifth on 252 points after adding a maximum 62 to his tally at Cremona. He’s closed the cap to Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in fourth, with just three points between the Ducati and Kawasaki riders, but perhaps even third place is in sight. Petrucci is 31 points behind reigning Champion in third, with three rounds to go and 186 points available across nine races.

Next up, Aragon! Follow all the action from Spain using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Race 2 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship didn’t disappoint for the Italian spectators at the Acerbis Italian Round, as #9 rider Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) secured his third win in a row over the race weekend, stepping onto the podium for the 13^th time this season. It was all to play for with the remaining podium positions, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fought to gain an extra four vital championship points.

THREE OUT OF THREE: Petrucci’s perfect weekend

It was another impressive start from Petrucci at lights out on Race 2 at the Italian circuit; fresh from his Superpole Race win on Sunday morning. He was being chased down by fellow Italian’s Bulega and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) heading into Turn 1, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Ducati rider Bautista close behind. The race began to settle with 20 laps to go, as Petrucci maintained a firm lead out at the front, with the action for second and third positions providing some exciting battles.

LOWES IN THE MIX: Thrilling race battles for fourth

Alex Lowes fought a hard race to contend with Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and Spain’s Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) for a fiercely contended fourth and fifth place, but it was the American #31 who managed to hold off his rivals and cross the line just outside of the rostrum. Lowes was on his tail, taking fifth at the chequered flag whilst Lecuona struggled with some late race pace, coming in over thirteen seconds behind the race winner. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) led Honda’s Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) to take seventh, eighth and ninth, whilst Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) rounded off the top 10.

100 DUCATI PODIUMS: Bautista shines on Italian podium

#1 rider Alvaro Bautista achieved an incredible 100th Ducati podium, matching Carl Fogarty’s record. He stood alongside Championship Title rival Bulega. Both riders are chasing down the current Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who still leads despite being absent from the Italian Round due to injury. Bouncing back from previous struggles in the season, Danilo Petrucci has shown he is back and determined to continue fighting for wins. With just three rounds remaining in the WorldSBK 2024 season, the race action is certain to provide plenty more entertainment to come.

Top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.023s
3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.910s
4. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +8.452s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +8.761s
6. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +13.397s
Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’29.438s

Championship standings
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 365 points
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 352
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 283
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 255
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 252
6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 184

Source: WorldSBK.com

The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship returned for further action-packed Race at Acerbis Italian Round but this time with Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha) storming to victory in Race 2, and leading the Championship title whilst doing so. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) was in close contention for the win, however crashed out after a dramatic last lap clashwith  Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team). It was joy for Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) though as she stood on the rostrum alongside second place Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team).

HERRERA V CARRASCO: Championship dual

It was a battle to the very last lap between Championship rivals Herrera and Carrasco, as they continuously slipstreamed and performed thrilling overtakes throughout the 12-lap race. Italian home hero, Ponziani maintained a confident podium position ride throughout, managing to close in on the Spanish pair as they continued to battle for the victory. Sara Sanchez also begun closing in on the top three, hoping to continue her success in Italy after Saturday’s Race 1.

LAST LAP DRAMA: Sanchez and Herrera out

A stunning four-way battle entertained spectators during the penultimate lap, as both Ponziani and Sanchez made a charge for the two Spaniards. Turn 11 ended the Championship Title extension hopes for #6 rider Herrera however, as a dramatic clash of bikes with Sanchez resulted in both riders on the gravel and out of contention. Australian rider Relph was quick to take advantage, hunting down a rostrum result, and managing to cross the line in third, her first podium in the Championship.

NEW CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER: Just two rounds remain

Following the unfortunate crash for both Sanchez and Herrera, both riders were taken to the Medical Centre where they were checked for injuries. Sanchez walked away from the incident unharmed whilst Hererra is reported to have suffered a neck sprain and contusion and will be transported to Cremona Hospital for further assessments. Sara Sanchez has been penalised with a Long Lap Penalty for the next race following an incident review. As the Championship moves onto the final two rounds of the season, and with just nine points separating the top two riders, it promises to be a thrilling penultimate race weekend with all to ride for.

Top six from WorldWCR Race 2, full results here:

1. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team)
2. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +0.195s
3. Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) +13.676s
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +13.858s
5. Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motor Sports) +14.358s
6. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +22.431s
Fastest lap: Ana Carrasco, Yamaha – 1’40.649s

Championship standings:
1. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) 163 points
2. María Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) 154
3. Sara Sánchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 128
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 107
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) 89
6. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) 70

Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was back on track at the Italian circuit in Cremona for a dramatic Superpole Race, with Danilo Petrucci securing his 12^th career podium victory in WorldSBK and Ducati’s 428^th win in WorldSBK. Behind the Italian hero at the line was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), and Andrea Iannone Team GoEleven taking the third spot on the podium.

LIGHTS OUT: Petrucci strong start

Starting from third on the gird, Petrucci claimed the hole shot and stormed to Turn 1 ahead of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Bulega and #29 Iannone, who also had a strong launch. Britain’s Alex Lowes was keen to take part in the action at the front of the pack, overtaking Bulega into third position, just one lap into the Superpole race. Further back it was a three-way battle for fourth place, with Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) determined to continue his impressive performance from yesterday’s Race 1, showcasing some close battles between rivals Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Xavi Vierge (Team HRC).

BAUTISTA FIGHTS: Spaniard works his way through field

Race 1’s podium finisher, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who put on an impressive performance to take third in Saturday’s Race, demonstarted another strong ride today. The #1 was outside of the top 10 during the first half of the rcae, but picked up speed throughout, managing to secure some vital championship points with a 6^th place finish.

PODIUM BATTLES: Bulega, Lowes, Iannone fight

It was all to fight for in the closing stages of the Superpole race, with Alex Lowes showing some late race pace after opting for the SCX tyre choice, pulling an impressive overtake on Bulega on the penultimate lap, and once again through on Iannone into the last lap at the Italian circuit. Out ahead though, it was the #9 who was back on top of the rostrum once again at his home track, with almost a two second lead over his rivals before crossing the chequered flag.

CHAMPIONSHIP CHASING: Toprak holds onto first

It was Italian Nicolo Bulega who held onto fourth place ahead of Lecuona and Bautista, whilst Andrea Locatelli, Honda’s Vierge and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) rode in to the top 9 positions. Toprak Razgatlioglu will continue to lead the WorldSBK Championship heading into Aragon regardless of Sunday’s Race 2 results, meaning it is all to fight for with just three rounds of the season remaining.

The top nine from the Superpole Race, full results here:

1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +1.797s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +2.572s
4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.431s
5. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +4.729s
6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.578s
7. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +5.909s
8. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) +6.650s
9. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +6.815s
Fastest lap: Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) – 1’28.289s

Make sure you tune in for Race 2 at 14:00 Local Time using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has touched down at the Cremona Circuit for the ninth round of the season and morning Warm Up provided us the latest look at the order ahead of two races on Sunday. Continuing in fine form from his first-ever win on Saturday, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) topped the Warm Up session, aiming to add to his new column of win tallies.

Petrucci set the pace throughout the session, going into the rest of Sunday with a three-tenth advantage over Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), who came into the top three at the end of the session. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could be the Championship leader if he wins both races today and he started the day in P4. Fifth place went to Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), once again strong in Warm Up.

P3 overall in the standings, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P6 ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), continuing Honda’s solid efforts. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) was top BMW in P9 whilst Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) made it five manufacturers inside the top ten.

Top six from Warm Up, full results here:

1 Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’29.004
2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.323s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +0.354s
4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.449s
5. Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.478s
6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0-580s

Follow all of Sunday action from Cremona onwards with the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) worked his way from 13th position to third with in Race 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship on Saturday but at two thirds race distance the race was red flagged, resulting in a Ducati podium lockout, and Bautista finishing on the rostrum in third position.

It was an unexpected result for the 39-year-old at the Acerbis Italian Round after starting from 13^th on the grid after the morning Tissot Superpole session. Bautista is making a bit of a habit, one he won’t want to keep, of recovering from poor Superpole results to claim strong race finishes.

Progress was initially slow for the reigning Champion but he slowely moved his way up the field. He was inside the top ten on Lap 7, before picking up Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) to claim third.

“It was a difficult Saturday,” began Bautista. “When I pushed more, I felt I was missing some strength in my ribs. In the first few laps I felt pain so could not fight other riders and just tried to stay on bike. So I said after 5 or 6 laps if I still have this feeling I have to retire. Lap after lap, I started to feel less pain and felt I could move better so could be more aggressive, improve my pace. I could start overtaking. I didn’t expect to finish on the podium, so am really happy. I didn’t even know if I could race this weekend, so to finish on the podium after starting at the back is a really nice feeling. Now I have to recover for tomorrow.”

Bautista’s pain comes off the back of a Tissot Superpole Race crash in France where he fractured the eighth rib on the left side of his body. He was declared fit on Friday after being reviewed following Free Practice 1 but the #1 admitted he’s still not at 100% following the crash, even though he was able to claim a podium he didn’t expect on Saturday.

Discussing what he can expect from Sunday, the Spaniard said: “The feeling’s back from some races ago. Maybe the results don’t show our real potential. We missed Race 2 at Most and also Portimao, Magny-Cours in the dry I think we were competitive as well and here I’m injured. I’m not 100 percent. For one reason or another, we can’t show our real potential. In any case, I’m happy because me and the team are working the best we can and we are trying to do our best. I hope, tomorrow, I don’t feel worse than today and I can have more performance.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

In Race 1 of the FIM Supersport World Championship at the Cremona Circuit in Italy, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) stormed across the line to take the top step of the podium, achieving his 9^th win and 13^th podium of the season. The Italian Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) managed to hold off a respectable effort from Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) who achieves his 17^th podium.

STRONG ALL WEEKEND: Huertas maintains Championship lead

From lights out, Adrian Huertas continued his dominant form, taking victory after starting from pole. The race was marked by a close battle between the top contenders, but Huertas managed to fend off his rivals, including Stefano Manzi and Yari Montella. Huertas set the pace early, with Manzi and Montella keeping pressure on throughout the race. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) also made an impact but couldn’t quite break into the top three.

MANZI V MONTELLA: Close riding until the end

With Huertas well ahead, there was still plenty of action near the front, with the two Italian riders providing plenty of action for the spectators. With three laps remaining it looked like Montella was able to increase his gap between Manzi, however a last effort charge from the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing rider showed he wasn’t ready to settle for third. He took an impressive overtake on his fellow Italian rival, and despite some close battles, Manzi managed to maintain his position and cross the line in second.

Fourth place finisher Marcel Schroetter, was closely followed by Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) who secured a respectable fifth position, whilst Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) and Britain’s John Mcphee (WRP by SKM-Triumph) rode to an impressive sixth and seventh. Completing the top 10 finsishers, were Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph), Finish rider Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) and Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).

The Race 1 victory for the young Spaniard extended Huertas’ strong run of form, adding to his recent string of pole positions. The Cremona track saw plenty of action, and evidently Huertas’ performance puts him in a strong position for the WorldSSP Championship.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 1, full results here:

1 Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Prometeon Ten Kate Racing) +4.665s
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +7.597s
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +13.000s
5. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) +13.682s
6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +17.818s
Fastest lap: Adrian Huertas (Ducati) – 1’32.213s

Next up in Cremona is the WorldSSP Race 2 on Sunday at 15:15 Local Time (UTC +1), so make sure you watch the action using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Markus Reiterberger (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is standing in for Toprak Razgatlioglu during the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visit to the Cremona Circuit, with ‘El Turco’ still recovering from his crash at Magny-Cours. Reiterberger had shown good pace during Free Practice and the Tissot Superpole session but was forced to start at the back of the grid for an engine allocation infringement.

The rules allow for six engines to be used per rider in the season according to article 2.4.8 in the FIM rulebook, based on a calculation: the number of rounds divided by two. The engine situation for Razgatlioglu heading into the French Round was that the #45 had three engines considered not active, with two active. That gave him one engine that was in his pool before penalties were imposed.

Ahead of the race, it was announced that Reiterberger would take a penalty for an engine allocation infringement, requiring him to start Race 1 and Race 2 from the back of the grid, as well as taking a double Long Lap Penalty in each race. As Reiterberger is replacing Razgatlioglu, the full-time rider’s engine allocation is ‘transferred’ to the German rider and, with a seventh engine used, he was penalised.

Revealing the strategy behind taking the penalty now, Bongers said on the Race 1 grid: “For sure, we’re trying to do everything we can to prepare ourselves for when Toprak comes back to be in the best shape. To save engine mileage, basically, for Toprak’s return, we decided to put another engine in for which Markus has to take a penalty here. It was a clear assignment when we invited him to support us for the Championship. It’s a shame for him personally, of course, but this was foreseen. He’s not disappointed. He’s looking forward after his good results in the free practices and Superpole. I hope he does well.”

Bongers then provided a more in-depth explanation about the reasoning, saying after Race 1: “We have Markus Reiterberger as a substitute rider for Toprak. We noted a couple of points that we wanted to prepare for when Toprak comes back. We used Markus as a test rider but because the substitute rider is on the same allocation as the original entry, this would mean Markus would use up quite a bit of mileage of Toprak’s engine allocation. Since we had a couple of failures throughout the season, we just wanted to play safe and save engine mileage for Toprak, so we decided before the event, and Markus was informed about this, to put another engine in the allocation which is infringed with a penalty.

“The penalty means Markus starts from the back for the two main races, including two Long Lap Penalties on top. That’s what he got, expected of course. We proactively went to the FIM to say this is what we were going to do. It’s a shame for Markus but he knew exactly what his role was. He’s been part of our family for over 10 years, he’s brilliant to work with. I’m extremely pleased that, on top of the work he does for us, he achieved good results in practice and Superpole and even in the race he scored some points.

Explaining the penalty situation, Bongers added: “Toprak will not have to serve penalties and he has fresh engines left for the last three rounds. We just want to minimise the risk for when Toprak comes back because the Championship is most likely. We’re hoping he comes back at Aragon; we’re expecting this but can’t confirm it. It would be terrible to have a penalty for him so Markus will take the engine and the penalty, and we’ll have more fresh engine mileage for Toprak.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com