From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

PODIUM FOR LANZI (DUCATI BREIL) IN ITALIAN SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND AT IMOLA

Imola (Italy), 8 May 2004: Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Breil) put in a good showing to finish third in round 2 of the Italian Supersport championship held today at Imola’s Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit.

The Ducati Breil World Supersport rider, entered as a ‘wild-card’ in the Imola round, finished on the podium in the 14-lap race after working his way up from ninth place on the grid.

After crossing the line in sixth at the end of lap 1, Lanzi then passed Scalvini on lap 11 and Goi the next time round to make sure of the final podium place with two laps remaining.

“It was a tough race but I am quite pleased with the result because I made a good recovery in the last few laps” declared Lanzi. “My lap times were a second quicker than yesterday during qualifying and so I’m pleased because everything we set out to do for the race proved to be the right way to go. Now we’ll be looking for even more improvements in the next round of the world championship at Monza.

“In the last part of the race as the fuel load went down and the bike became lighter, we were lapping quicker and quicker so that’s an important indication, just like the fact that I set my quickest lap three laps from the end.

“With the 749R we’re improving step by step, and you also have to consider the fact that we have never raced on this track. Now we’ll see how things go at Monza.”

Round 4 of the World Supersport championship, which sees Lanzi currently lying fifth on 30 points, will be held next weekend at the legendary high-speed Autodromo di Monza Formula 1 circuit

RESULTS: 1. Giugovaz (Honda); 2. Migliorati (Kawasaki); 3. Lanzi (Ducati Breil); 4. Goi (Yamaha); 5. Scalvini (Yamaha); 6. Carlacci (Yamaha); etc.

POINTS (after 2 of 5 rounds) : 1. Giugovaz 50; 2. Goi 33; 3. Migliorati 31; 4. Carlacci 23; 5. Scalvini 21; 6. Lanzi 16; etc.