The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to the iconic Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” and there are some big milestones on the horizon. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could make a bit of Ducati history on their home soil, BMW are closing in on their best season to date in WorldSBK and Spain could reach a century of wins. Read on to find out more stats about the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round.

436 – Jonathan Rea’s 436 points collected at Misano is a record at the circuit. The next best from the current grid is Alvaro Bautista, with 169.

100 – At Misano, Spain has the second match-ball to reach the milestone of 100 wins, as they have 98. They are fifth in the all-time list behind Great Britain (307), USA (119), Australia (118) and Italy (109).

100+150+150+100 – In 2017 at Misano, Jonathan Rea took his 100th career podium, in 2019 his 150th, in 2021 his 150th for Kawasaki, in 2022 his 100th career front row.

96/99 – Alvaro Bautista is within striking distance of seventh in the all-time list for podiums. His tally is 96, with Chaz Davies on 99. 

95 – 95 podium placements for Ducati riders at Misano are an all-time record. The next highest is from Assen, as the Italian manufacturer have 89 there. 

64 – Misano has hosted 64 WorldSBK races so far, third overall with Donington Park. Only Phillip Island (70) and Assen (68) have hosted more races. 

42/43 – After a win at Assen, Razgatlioglu needs only one win to reach Noriyuki Haga in fifth in the all- time list (43 wins). 

37 – This is the track in which a single manufacturer has won the highest number of races: Ducati have won 37 times. Next up is also Ducati, with 33 wins at Phillip Island and Assen. The best value for another team is 19 by Kawasaki at Donington Park. 

15 – 15 years ago (2009), Jonathan Rea claimed his maiden WorldSBK win at this track.

12 – Ruben Xaus is the only rider who won here starting outside the top ten on the grid. In 2003, he recorded a double starting twice from 12th on the grid for the factory Ducati team.

12/13 – In 2022, Ducati claimed back the record of poles at Misano, 12, after Kawasaki had equalled them in 2021. Last year Ducati went one step ahead with 13.

12×5 – The last 12 wins here came all from the first five grid spots: the sequence started after Jonathan Rea won from 9th in Race 2 in 2018.

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.

9 – From 2011 to 2021, Kawasaki set a record streak of nine poles here. That equalled the absolute record streak in WorldSBK set by Ducati at Brands Hatch: nine straight poles from 1995 to 2002 (double race weekend in 2000).

8 – In 2019, Jonathan Rea became the most successful rider at Misano, upping his tally to eight wins. Troy Bayliss is second with six. Last year, Bautista matched Bayliss.

7 – This is one of the two tracks in which Tom Sykes set the record for poles at any given track, with seven. The other is Donington Park.

7 – Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu have won the last seven races at Misano, with Bautista winning five and Razgatlioglu two.

6 – Six points between the Championship leader and second place after nine races is the smallest margin since 2020, when Rea was leading Redding by four points. It’s also the sixth smallest gap ever after 9 races (the record is one point in 1993 and 2012)

5/7 – Five winners this year: to find a season with more we have to go back to 2020 (7).

3/6 – After just three rounds, BMW are already in the position to equal their best season: they have three wins, with their best years being 2012 and 2013 with six.

3 – There are only three riders in history with two-digit podium figures at Misano: Jonathan Rea (17), Troy Corser (16) and Troy Bayliss (11).

3 – The last three wins at Misano came from pole, a streak that hadn’t happened here since 2014-2015 (Tom Sykes: a double in 2014 and Race 1 in 2015). The last streak of four happened in 1999 and 2000, doubles from pole by Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser.

3 – Alvaro Bautista can become the first Ducati rider with 3 straight poles at Misano.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Following on from a Pirelli Dutch Round at the Assen TT that saw five different riders pip podium places, the WorldSSP Championship is back in action, and is live from Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. Interestingly, Misano has hosted 26 WorldSSP races so far, with 19 different winners; there could very well be another shock upset on the cards. Stefanzo Manzi was the winner here last year, displaying an impressive performance twelve months ago. There are several storylines already developing from this 2024 season, which is sure to only get even more dramatic as the season progresses.

DRAMA IN TITLE FIGHT: Top four riders separated by TWO points in the standings

Three rounds in, and already this 2024 season is promising to be one of the most exciting in recent WorldSSP memory. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team), Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) all occupy the top four positions in the championship yet are separated by just TWO points. Huertas and Montella both have two race wins this season, whilst Manzi, who also has a race win, has been a regular on the podium, as has the German Schroetter. This title fight is sure to only get more intense as we head to the Adriatic Coast.

BATTLE FOR TOP TEN: Six riders, sixteen points

Like the top four tussle for the WorldSSP title, the wider battle for the top ten is equally as enthralling. Bahattin Sofuoglu in P5 and Lucas Mahias in P10 are separated by just sixteen points, highlighting how high the level of competition is in WorldSSP this year. Frenchman Mahias scored an impressive podium in Race 2 at Catalunya, whilst Dutchman Glenn Van Straalen scored a brilliant win in Race 2 at Assen last time out. Mahias’ fellow Frenchman Valentin Debise has also been a podium scorer, achieving this in Race 1 at Assen. Heading into Round 4 at Misano, this is a battle that you do not want to miss!

RIDER CHANGES: Navarro and Baldassarri swap, Simon Jespersen replaces Okubo

Since the last WorldSSP outing at Assen, there have been a few changes in the paddock. Jorge Navarro and Lorenzo Baldassarri have swapped teams, with Navarro heading to Orelac Racing Verdnatura. Italian Baldassarri has gone the other way, joining the WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM – Triumph team. It will certainly be interesting to see how both riders’ fortunes change with their respective moves. Elsewhere within the WorldSSP paddock, Danish rider Simon Jespersen has been drafted in to replace Hikari Okubo at Vince64 Racing Team by Puccetti, piloting the Kawasaki ZX-6R.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The Turkish superstar (ROKiT BMW Motorrad World SBK Team) has enjoyed an electric start to his BMW career, scoring three race wins and three further podiums in his maiden campaign with the Bavarian manufacturer. In a special in-depth interview, the #54 rider sat down to discuss his thoughts on the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship title race, potential title rivals and more!

THE BIG MOVE VINDICATED? “We have shown people it’s a winning bike!”

The first topic on the mind of Toprak was his incredible weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. Not only was it a weekend that saw Razgatlioglu pick up his first win onboard the M 1000 RR, but it also saw him place on the podium in all three races. Toprak, reflecting, said: “It was an incredible weekend in Barcelona, because we got two wins and one podium. It was also a special Superpole race. I finally did it in Barcelona, Valentino Rossi style. I think it was my best overtake in my career!” Discussing the vindication felt following the final flag, Toprak said: “Many people said that this bike is not a winning bike. Everyone said that ‘his career is finished’. We have shown the people that this bike is a winning bike. It’s funny, because now I see the comments from people, and they’re very nice comments.”

THE BMW PROJECT: “I am focused on winning this Championship”

Temporarily switching gears, Toprak’s focus then shifted to the wider picture of the BMW WorldSBK project. Looking at the project, as well as the progress made by the Bavarians, ‘El Turco’ said: “This is a big project for BMW, and I am part of it. It looks like the potential is very high, and it looks like it’s possible to win the championship this year. I said before that maybe we could take some podiums and some wins, and this is good. But now my mentality is changing completely, and I am focused on winning this Championship – why not? It’s my first year with BMW. With this bike, maybe we are not 100% ready, but we are working step-by-step and getting stronger every race weekend.”

M 1000 RR IMPROVEMENTS: “If we can find feeling in the rear, then our lives will be a lot easier”

Toprak next spoke about the improvements required in order to take the M 1000 RR to the next level. Talking about the improvements required, Razgatlioglu said this: “I see the team working very hard, and I am working harder. I think it is very good motivation. We are just focused on rear grip, because if we can find feeling in the rear, then our life will be a lot easier, because everything will be in the feeling. The Grip is now getting better, and the feeling is now better as a result. But we are still trying to improve the grip a little bit. For me, changing direction is a little bit heavy. But this is not bad, because I am still riding the bike.”

TOPRAK TALKS TITLE CONTENDERS: “A lot of riders who are very fast”

Lastly, BMW’s star rider discussed the wider Championship picture, as well as the riders who could prove to be an obstacle to his second World Championship. Discussing this, the Turk said: “I am very happy, especially this year. We’re fighting a lot. And not just with Bautista, but with a lot of riders who are very fast. We are all fighting together, which is good. Iannone, Bulega, Bautista, these riders are all very strong. Even ‘Petrux’. Also, Alex Lowes is very strong, as well as his brother, Sam. These guys have started this year very strong. I really like this track at Misano, but we will see with the BMW. Normally, we are always strong here. Maybe I am strong with the BMW here? We will see this weekend.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back once again, and Round 4 takes place at the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna round from Misano. It’s an historic round which sees the debut of the brand new WorldWCR Championship. Track action starts at 09:00 local time (UTC+2) when the WorldWCR paddock take to the track for the first time. WorldSSP300 is next, with Free Practice at 09:40, followed by WorldSBK Free Practice 1 at 10:20, WorldSSP is at 11:20 and the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup rounding out the morning action. After that comes the Tissot Superpole from WorldWCR, WorldSSP300 and WorldSSP, with WorldSBK FP2 sandwiched in between. The day ends with more Yamaha R3 World Cup action. Saturday sees FP3 for the WorldSBK grid at 09:00, before Warm Up sessions for the other classes. The WorldSBK Tissot Superpole commences at 11:00, followed by the first-ever WorldWCR race at 11:50. WorldSSP300 Race 1 takes place at 12:45 before WorldSBK Race 1 at 14:00 and WorldSSP Race 1 at 15:15. Sunday sees Warm Up action across the classes from 09:00 until 10:00, before the Tissot Superpole race in WorldSBK at 11:00. The day ends with Race 2 action across all the classes, following the same schedule as Saturday.

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Friday, 14^th June 2024 (All times are Local Time, UTC+2)

09:00-09:25 – WorldWCR Free Practice

09:40-10:05 – WorldSSP300 Free Practice

10:20-11:05 – WorldSBK Free Practice 1

11:20-12:00 – WorldSSP Free Practice

12:15-12:40 – Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup Free Practice

13:25-13:50 – WorldWCR Tissot Superpole

14:10-14:35 – WorldSSP300 Tissot Superpole

15:00-15:45 – WorldSBK Free Practice 2

16:00-16:40 – WorldSSP Tissot Superpole

17:40-18:05– Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup Superpole

Saturday, 15^th June

09:00-09:20 – WorldSBK Free Practice 3

09:30-09:40 – WorldWCR Warm Up

09:50-10:00 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up

11:00-11:15 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole

11:50 – WorldWCR Race 1 (12 laps)

12:45 – WorldSSP300 Race 1 (12 laps)

14:00 – WorldSBK Race 1 (21 laps)

15:15 – WorldSSP Race 1 (18 laps)

16:15 – Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup Race 1 (10 laps)

Sunday, 16^th June

09:00-09:10 – WorldSBK Warm Up

09:20-09:30 – WorldWCR Warm Up

09:40-09:50 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up

10:00-10:10 – WorldSSP Warm Up

11:00 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race (10 laps)

11:50 –WorldWCR Race 2 (12 laps)

12:45 – WorldSSP300 Race 2 (12 laps)

14:00 – WorldSBK Race 2 (21 laps)

15:15 – WorldSSP Race 2 (18 laps)

16:15 – Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup Race 2 (10 laps)

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship makes its return to Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, the sun-soaked jewel in the crown of the Adriatic coast. Following the high drama already witnessed in the 2024 season so far, one can expect that the Italian coast is set to deliver yet more drama as the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round swings into town and WorldSBK action returns in style. With 24 winners at the iconic circuit already, will anyone be able to add their name to an illustrious list?

A BIG ROUND IN THE TITLE FIGHT? Six points between first and second…

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) leads the standings by six points ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and he’d like nothing more than to extend that lead in front of the passionate Ducatisti. However, he’ll face fierce competition: first, from Razgatlioglu, who showed frankly ridiculous SCQ pace during the Misano test, and then teammate Nicolo Bulega who sits third in the standings. Bautista has won the last four races at Misano, and between the #1 and #54, they’ve won the last seven. Can Bulega, a four-time podium finisher and one-time winner here in WorldSSP, spoil their party? It’s set to be a fascinating contest with three fortunes between the trio in the test: Razgatlioglu rapid, Bautista falling four times and Bulega almost matching the 2021 Champion’s speed.

THE CHARGING ITALIANS: could another home hero be in the mix?

Home heroes tend to do well and Misano is no exception. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) goes in search of a first WorldSBK win and what better place to do it than on home soil in front of his adoring fan club? Tied on points with ‘Loka’ is Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), both on 64, with ‘The Maniac’ also looking for a maiden win. A regular fixture in the top ten in MotoGP™ on the Adriatic coast, and a podium finisher in Moto2™, can the #29 return to the WorldSBK rostrum at Misano? For Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) – currently ninth in the standings – it’ll be his comeback round after missing Assen through injury. He’ll need to be declared fit ahead of the round, but he was on track at the Misano test recently. Elsewhere, Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has often gone well at the historic circuit and been a podium contender, as has Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing). The pair are currently languishing 16^th and 17^th in the standings, so will their home round kickstart their 2024 style?

A POTENTIAL RETURN TO THE ROSTRUM: riders looking strong in 2024…

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) sits fourth in the standings after a strong start to the season, only failing to finish in the top six once this season – when he crashed out of Assen Race 2 – and he’ll be aiming to repeat that consistency at Misano. Strong in testing, and a podium finisher in the past here, the #22 will be hoping to keep his rich vein of form going. It’s been similar for Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) too, although without the wins and podiums. He’s been close, though, and getting closer to the front. He’s not raced here since 2021 but, when finishing, he’s not been outside the top ten for Honda, Yamaha, or BMW. Perhaps Misano is the circuit where the Dutchman makes a rostrum return. And what about Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha)? Eight times a winner at Misano, the most of any rider, but a 2024 that’s been difficult so far for the #65 means he’s still searching for a Yamaha podium. Team boss Paul Denning described Day 1 of the Misano test as Rea’s best test day, while Rea revealed the changes made to the R1 are to help him ride the way he wants. With more progress and more mileage under his belt, the six-time Champion will be aiming for a return to the front.

A STEP FORWARD: Gardner to fight for the podium again, Honda’s upgrades to pay dividends?

GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team’s Remy Gardner claimed a maiden podium last time out and will be keen to repeat that, while teammate Dominique Aegerter will be looking to end his rostrum drought that stretches back to the 2023 season finale. After bringing plenty of upgrades to the Cremona and Misano tests, including different swingarms and exhaust pipes, Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge will be hoping to find progress after what’s been a 2024 to forget so far. Lecuona showed good pace here last year to fight in the top ten until he was taken out in the Tissot Superpole Race, which forced him to miss Race 2, and it was the same (in terms of pace) for Vierge who claimed fifth in Race 2. Lecuona will need to pass a medical check on Thursday after he was declared unfit at Assen.

STRONG TESTS, NO TESTS: a spanner in the works?

One rider who stood out in testing was Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The Spaniard was racking up laps like they were valuable collectables across the Cremona and Misano tests, and he also showed good speed. Will Misano be a breakthrough weekend for the Puccetti Kawasaki squad? Elsewhere, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda duo of Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin enjoyed a productive test, even if the #95 did lose time with a technical issue, as did Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) who once again showed his outright speed. But, in contrast, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and teammate Scott Redding didn’t test at Misano, although did at Cremona, and nor did Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) crashed heavily during the test. Will this impact them during the Emilia-Romagna Round?

RIDER LINE-UP AND WILDCARDS: a return to WorldSBK action for Pirro

Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has been a key member of Ducati’s recent success as a test rider in both MotoGP™ and WorldSBK and he’s been rewarded for his efforts with a wildcard appearance at Misano. The #51 has nine WorldSBK races under his belt already, with five of them at Misano. He’s been a model of consistency, too, finishing four of those five races in eighth. His WorldSBK best is sixth – at Jerez in 2015 and Magny-Cours in 2013 – but he’s not raced in the Championship since 2019. Will he be in the mix come race day at Misano?

Read the Official Programme for Misano HERE, catch up on all the action from Assen in the 46-minute highlight show HERE and watch every moment from Misano using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 WorldSBK campaign will now feature a visit to the Circuito Estoril in October following the cancellation of the Hungarian Round, which had been scheduled for August. The Estoril Round will take place from October 11^th-13^th, becoming the penultimate round in the 2024 campaign. The Portuguese venue will host WorldSBK action as well as WorldSSP and WorldWCR, the classes originally scheduled to race at Balaton Park in August, but also the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale.

Due to works at the Hungarian venue not being completed by the scheduled date (August 23^rd-August 25^th), Balaton Park will no longer host WorldSBK action. Estoril’s round will take place a week before the season finale at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, making for an action-packed end of the season.

Estoril hosted WorldSBK action as recently as 2022 and provided thrilling races. In World Superbike, all three races went down to the last lap with incredible battles involving Jonathan Rea, Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu. In WorldSSP, Dominique Aegerter claimed a double victory, while in WorldSSP300, Samuel Di Sora pulled off an unbelievable comeback from 31^st on the grid to claim a sensational but implausible victory. In 2020, the Portuguese venue was the scene where Rea claimed his unprecedented sixth title.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is well and truly underway, and anticipation continues to build following the conclusion of testing at Misano, Italy. One man who was around to offer his expert view on all things WorldSBK was none other than former MotoGP™ rider, and previous WorldSBK runner-up, Marco Melandri. who was present at the track to provide mentoring and support for Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK’s Axel Bassani. 

“I TRY TO DISCOVER THE WORLD… THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME”: Melandri on life outside of racing

The first topic that came up with Marco was life outside of racing. For a person who remains so intricately connected to the paddock, Melandri appears to enjoy life outside of motorsport. Discussing life recently, he said: “I’m just enjoying life. I’m also trying to keep time for myself. I still follow WorldSBK and MotoGP. I also work with a motorcycle company. From when I was a kid, I had a passion to be a DJ, so now I’ve started, more and more, to work as one. I do some mountain bike races with E-bikes, so I try to discover the world – new places, new people. That’s enough for me.”

“I THINK IT’S GOING WELl… HE NEEDS TIMES ”: Marco talks Axel Bassani

Discussing the reason for his presence on the Adriatic Coast, attention soon shifted to KRT rider Axel Bassani, especially given Melandri’s new-found mentor role for the young Italian rider. Discussing how he is finding his role in advising the Italian, Melandri said: “Yes, it’s going well, actually. I like to help him and be with him. I like the technical details of the bike, so I try to see him on track, and to help him and help him to process the data. I try to help give the technicians and Axel an easier time. It’s not easy, it’s step-by-step. But every day we will strive to get better.” The former #33 rider then elaborated on Bassani’s adaptation to the Japanese machinery and had this to say: “For sure, coming from a Ducati is not easy. But I think he’s very motivated. He’s going hard, but there’s been a few times where he’s not had a lot of luck. But when you look at the data, you see that in some corners he is faster than Alex. I think the potential is there, but he needs time, because this is his first time working with a Factory team.” Furthermore, Marco discussed his expectations for the #47 rider going forward and was very positive in his appraisal of Axel: “You actually never know. We’re expecting to improve race-by-race. For me, fighting for the top five is not so far.”

“I HOPE IT WILL BE A BATTLE TO THE LAST RACE”: Melandri expects epic end to Championship

Lastly, Marco Melandri gave his opinion on the 2024 WorldSBK title race, as well as the key players involved. Speaking about the current state of play, Melandri said this: “Yes, it’s very good actually – a lot of fun. I think Toprak can really mix it up; I really like his style of racing. But Alvaro looks like he has found the balance. It looks like the battle for the Championship will be between those two. Bulega looks very consistent. He needs more experience, for sure, to be ready to fight for a Championship. But the spirit he already has…”

Melandri gave his opinion about six-time champion Jonathan Rea, as well as his early struggles onboard the Yamaha R1: “You can see that he is not 100% comfortable on the bike. But for sure, he is so mentally strong; he will never give up. I think he will be ready to fight for podiums soon; I already saw him become much better by the end.” Marco also spoke about fellow Italian, and Team GoEleven rider, Andrea Iannone and had this to say: “He had an amazing start to the season. I expected to see him struggle a little fighting the other guys. I think he’s very strong, so he’s able to fight body-to-body with the other riders. He doesn’t make many mistakes, so I think he’s making very smart progress.”

SURPRISE OF THE SEASON; FINAL DAY DRAMA? Melandri talks dream end to season

Lastly, Marco was asked who, in his opinion, has been the surprise package of the season so far. His response was as follows: “For sure, Bulega. Nobody expected him to get a pole position and win in Phillip Island. I was always sure that Toprak could be fast on the BMW”. And as for his perfect end to the 2024 WorldSBK season, Melandri outlined this scenario: “It’s not so easy. I hope it will be a battle to the last race. I think it will be between Toprak and Alvaro.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship continues to gear up for the next round of racing, coming from Misano, Italy. Whilst on the Adriatic Coast, Michele Pirro, the official test rider for the Bologna manufacturer, sat down to discuss all things wildcarding, WorldSBK and being a core part of Ducati’s success over the past half-decade.

LIFE TESTING THE BOLOGNA BULLET: “This is not simple…but this is my job”

Michele Pirro is a core, fundamental component of Ducati’s setup, playing a pivotal role in testing and development of all racing machinery. Pirro sat down to discuss his views on testing such a variety of machinery. It is interesting to note that Pirro had split duties, testing the Desmosedici GP bike in the morning, before switching to the Panigale V4 R Superbike in the afternoon. Speaking about his role, Pirro said: “This is not simple! When you arrive at the track, and you use two different bikes at the same track…it’s for the whole package. When you exit the track two or three times just for new parts and then after switch for a new bike, this is not simple. But this is my job. The first thing that is important is to improve the MotoGP™ area, and now in the afternoon I only try and improve the Superbike and keep the feeling. I understand the tyres and the bike. The feeling is improving lap by lap, and I am happy.”

WILDCARDING AT MISANO: “Good chance to stay at a good level”

The #51 rider next spoke about the opportunity to appear in a wildcard capacity for Ducati on the Italian Coast. Needless to say, the Italian was extremely happy about the opportunity to ride a Panigale V4 R. Speaking about his upcoming wildcard appearance, Michele had this to say: “For this year, the wildcard is a dream! WorldSBK is a good chance to stay at a good level. For my job, as a test rider, it is necessary to stay at a top level, and this wildcard is a great chance to do that.” Pirro also offered a realistic insight into his chances during his wildcard, saying this: “Today, my big problem is understanding the front feeling, because the Pirelli tyre is a different story compared to Michelin, and also the Dunlop. I check the data of the other riders, but I try my best.”

THE STATE OF THE WORLDSBK CHAMPIONSHIP: “The level is very high!”

Given his extensive experience of testing the Ducati Panigale V4 R and being generally involved within Ducati’s WorldSBK efforts, Pirro was asked for his views on the Championship, and offered this insight: “I am old, compared to five or six years ago! I see the level of WorldSBK is very high and the bikes are very competitive. I see the BMW and also the Yamaha is fighting a lot more compared to the past. But we will see at the race weekend. It’s my home race, and I’m really happy to be riding in the Aruba colours at the Italian race.”

PIRRO PROCESSES PART PLAYED IN DUCATI SUCCESS: “The story is completely different to when I joined”

Lastly, Italian Pirro was asked whether he felt proud of his part played in the revitalisation of Ducati’s competitive fortunes across the motorsport classes. Pondering this question, Pirro said: “The story is completely different to when I joined Ducati in MotoGP™ 12 years ago. I am really happy, because I am still in the middle of all of this, and I test the best bikes. When you are one rider, you are also trying to put all this experience and information into this one bike. I think this is the first company to try and create this situation. Not just with one thing, but over the last five or six years, trying to improve in EVERY championship.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com