Motul FIM Superbike World Championship
Imola Circuit
Imola, Italy
May 13, 2018
Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 19 laps, Total Race Time 34:03.420, Best Lap Time 1:46.898
2. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale R), -4.019 seconds, 1:46.987
3. Tom Sykes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), -9.530, 1:47.566
4. Xavi Fores, Spain (Duc Panigale R), -14.159, 1:47.630
5. Jordi Torres, Spain (MV Agusta F4 RC), -15.479, 1:47.900
6. Alex Lowes, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -16.162, ran off track, 1:47.662
7. Michael Rinaldi, Italy (Duc Panigale R), -17.197, 1:47.870
8. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Kaw ZX-10RR), -17.554, 1:47.806
9. Eugene Laverty, Ireland (Apr RSV4 RF), -22.331, 1:48.196
10. Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Kaw ZX-10RR), -30.176, 1:48.663
11. Loris Baz, France (BMW S1000RR), -30.267, 1:48.647
12. Roman Ramos, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), -40.061, ran off track, 1:48.596
13. Yonny Hernandez, Colombia (Kaw ZX-10RR), -51.973, 1:49.286
14. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Honda CBR1000RR SP2), -55.268, 1:49.587
15. Ondrej Jezek, Czech Republic (Yam YZF-R1), -69.455, 1:50.048
16. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), -103.833, ran off track, 1:47.885
17. Marco Melandri, Italy (Duc Panigale R), -11 laps, DNF, crash, 1:47.675
18. Michael Van Der Mark, Netherlands (Yam YZF-R1), -11 laps, DNF, crash, 1:47.707
19. Vladimir Leonov, Russia (Kaw ZX-10RR), -13 laps, DNF, retired, 1:50.119
20. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), -15 laps, DNF, crash, 1:47.929
21. Jake Gagne, USA (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), -15 laps, DNF, retired, 1:49.224
22. Jason O’Halloran, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), DNS
World Championship Point Standings (after 10 of 26 races):
1. Rea, 209 points
2. Davies, 162
3. Sykes, 137
4. Melandri, 131
5. Fores, 124
6. Van Der Mark, 113
7. Lowes, 92
8. Razgatlioglu, 58
9. TIE, Torres/Baz, 52
11. Leon Camier, 42
12. Rinaldi, 39
13. Savadori, 33
14. Ramos, 32
15. Mercado, 31
16. Laverty, 27
17. TIE, Jacobsen/Gagne, 17
19. Davide Giugliano/Hernandez, 11
21. Haslam, 7
22. Jezek, 2
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team:
Gagne retires from Imola Race 2 in weekend to forget for the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Italian Round
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Italy
The Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team ended their Imola WorldSBK weekend with a retirement from Jake Gagne in Race 2 as the team endured a disappointing visit to the fabled Italian circuit.
After Gagne finished in P16 in Race 1 yesterday, the signs were looking good for an improved performance today as the American rider set the twelfth quickest time in this morning’s Warm Up session following a setting change to the bike overnight. Lining up in P18 on the grid, Gagne hoped to get a good start but a poor getaway caused his clutch to overheat, ruining his chance of making up places in the opening phase of the race.
Gagne pressed on valiantly, however five laps into the race his clutch issue became terminal with the rider returning to the pits and retiring for his first DNF of the season. After five rounds Gagne sits in eighteenth place in the championship standings with 17 points.
The Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team will now regroup and head to Donington Park in the UK in two weeks for round six of the 2018 FIM World Superbike Championship.
Jake Gagne 45
The day started really well, we made some good improvements with the bike and my riding style for Warm Up and I was able to set a really strong pace, much closer to the top guys than yesterday. I felt like I was on for a good race result, but unfortunately at the start I made a mistake and I slipped the clutch a lot which lost me some time and then during the first lap I could tell something wasn’t right with the clutch. I was hoping after a couple of laps the clutch would recover but it continued to get worse so I had to retire. It’s a real shame, especially given how strong I was in Warm Up but I’ve still learned a lot this weekend and we’ll try turn it around in Donington.
Kervin Bos
Team Manager
The team worked really well to improve the setting for Jake after Race 1 yesterday and his pace in warm up was his best of the weekend so we were confident of a much improved result. Unfortunately a small mistake by Jake at the start of the race meant his clutch overheated and although he battled on, after 5 laps he had to retire. It wasn’t the result we deserved but these things happen in racing so we’ll learn from this experience and get ready for Donington in a couple of weeks.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Record Equalling Double For Rea As Sykes Podiums
In taking his first double race win of the season at Imola today Jonathan Rea (KRT) made WorldSBK history by equalling the all-time record of 59 career race wins. He now shares that honour with WorldSBK legend Carl Fogarty. Tom Sykes (KRT) finished a fighting third in race two, after sharing a third row starting position with Rea.
After a masterful race one win for Rea from pole position on Saturday, Sunday’s 19-lap race delivered a victory of a different kind. Starting from ninth, and not getting away as cleanly as his team-mate Sykes, Rea had to put in several passes before getting into the slipstream of early leader Chaz Davies.
Rea was in second place after four laps, and sat behind Davies for much of the race before deciding to make a final pass into the Variante Alta, on lap 13. Rea put in two blistering laps with clear track ahead of him and eventually won by a margin of 4.019 seconds. He has now won half for the races in 2018, but this is the first time has been able to win the second race of any weekend, rather than the first.
He now has the chance to become the stand-alone record holder for race wins at the next round, at his home circuit of Donington.
For Tom Sykes a less than perfect front end feel in race two held him back down the order for some time, even after he had made a strong launch from his seventh place grid position.
As some other riders fell Sykes used all his experience to catch and pass Xavi Fores with three laps to go, and took his fourth podium of the 2018 season. In doing so he has moved up to third in the championship rankings.
Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) just missed out on a point after running off track late in the race, being classified 16th.
In the championship standings, after five of 13 rounds, Rea leads Davies by 47 points, 209 to 162, with Sykes now third on 137.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “We got it done and it was probably the best race win of the season. Coming from ninth on the grid, it was so difficult. I was not so confident I could win today. In fact, it was Fabien Foret, who kept talking me round. I think I was over-thinking the first lap a lot – and my track position – coming from the outside of row three. I lost places in the first corner but eventually I was able to stick in some passes. I wasted no time so when I arrived with Chaz I was able to relax a little bit behind him and understand where I could pass him. I tried two or three times, but he was determined to come back. The final time I made it through, into the Variante Alta, it was time to put my head down, set two clean laps and make a gap. It was really nice to equal the record total of race wins, and with a long season left I feel confident that I can extend my win tally, and that is super-nice.”
Tom Sykes, stated: “It is positive that I am now third in the championship, so we are coming back. We had a difficult feeling with the front of the bike today and it was not easy to do what I wanted on the entry to corners. That meant I suffered with rear traction on the exits, so it was difficult for me to manage the race. I kept pushing and I could see the guys in front of me had better overall speed but, strategically, I tried to come back at them and slowly, slowly got there. Michael van der Mark made a mistake and he and Marco Melandri were out of the race and that made it easier for me to manage. On a ‘bad’ day I was able to take a podium so I have to be happy for this.”
More, from a press release issued by Gulf Althea Racing:
A complicated weekend for Gulf Althea BMW at Imola
Imola (Italy), Sunday 13 May 2018
On track at Imola for round 5 of the Superbike World Championship, the Gulf Althea BMW Racing Team and rider Loris Baz crossed the line eleventh in the second SBK race while, in the Superstock 1000 category, an injured but courageous Alessandro Delbianco concluded his race in ninth position.
Superbike – Race 2 – Baz, thirteenth off the line, struggled to find pace in the first part of the race, in a similar way to yesterday. Fifteenth through the opening laps, he made up three positions during the central phase. Lapping, in the later stages, with times very similar to those of the riders immediately ahead of him, the Frenchman could not improve any further, taking the chequered flag in eleventh position.
STK1000 – Race – from the front row of the grid, Alessandro found himself battling with both his rivals and his painful shoulder, having fractured it just one week ago during testing. He oscillated between second and fourth position as far as the mid-race point, after which he gradually lost ground, struggling to maintain his earlier pace due to the physical effort required to fight. Gritting his teeth, Delbianco did well to conclude the race, crossing the line in ninth position.
After round five of the WorldSBK, Baz is now tenth in the general standings with 52 points. Delbianco also places tenth in the Stock1000 championship, with 15 points.
Loris Baz:
“In the end, the race was fairly similar to yesterday’s. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough grip and there’s too much wheelieing. The only difference today, compared to yesterday, is that we were able to maintain a slightly faster and more consistent pace for the duration of the race. It’s not the result we were hoping for, but I can say I gave it my all again today. Now we’ll work on preparing as best we can for the next round at Donington.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Davies 2nd in Race 2 at Imola, Melandri forced to retire due to a contact
After taking third place with Melandri in Race 1, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team took another podium at Imola (Italy) with Chaz Davies. The Welshman, who started from pole position after finishing Race 1 in fourth position, led the race for 10 laps while pulling away with Rea to finish second in front of the ducatisti fans who filled the stands.
Melandri was instead forced to retire due to an accident during lap 8. The Italian was in fourth position and well within podium contention when he was unfortunately hit by another rider under braking, a contact that fortunately didn’t result in any injuries but forced him to retire.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi enjoyed a memorable start, leading the race for the first two laps, then he faced a small drop in pace to finish in seventh position once again with the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team. After five rounds, Davies (162 points) and Melandri (131 points) are respectively second and fourth in the championship, while Rinaldi is twelfth. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team and the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team will resume action at Donington (U.K.) for the fifth round of the WorldSBK Championship, scheduled for May 25-27.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 2nd
“We did our best today but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. The temperatures were higher and I didn’t have much feeling, so I was struggling a bit both in corner entry and acceleration. I thought I’d try and go with Rea but realistically I knew it would have been too risky. Twenty points is the best we could do today. It’s very important for me to be on the podium at Imola, Ducati is very close and there are so many fans supporting us. We would have liked to give them an even better result, but we still had fun.”
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #33) – DNF
“It wasn’t our lucky day, because during WUP we managed to make another step forward with the setup, which allowed us to be a bit more consistent and fast during the race. Unfortunately, we still struggle under braking, especially with a full tank, and this penalizes us while trying to overtake. The podium was well within our reach, but unfortunately VD Mark hit me under braking and my race couldn’t go on. Looking ahead, Donington is a track I really enjoy and our bike keeps improving, so we can aim high even though we need to be faster on new tires.”
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team #21) – 7th
“I’m quite happy with this round, which finished with two seventh places and the satisfaction to have led the race for two laps. We have the potential to do better, but we still lack a bit of experience. The important thing is to keep improving, and we’ll try to do that in Donington as well, another track that I really like.”
Stefano Cecconi, CEO Aruba and Team Principal
“To race at Imola is always a great pleasure. Our riders gave everything they had to bring home a win, but unfortunately this time it wasn’t possible. We need to keep working hard to allow them to challenge for the win in any condition. Anyway, we’ll have a chance to bounce back soon at Donington.”
More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
Forés missed the podium in race 2 at Imola
Imola (BO), 13th May 2018. A positive weekend ended for Barni Racing Team at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, MOTUL FIM World Championship Round 5. In front of italian fans (76.000 people during the weekend) Xavi Forés was able to improve the result of saturday being fourth under the checkered flag of race 2. Riding his Ducati Panigale R the Spaniard was third till the lap 16 when he was overtaken by Skyes. Forés tried to fight for the podium till the last lap when, before the attempt to overtake, he lose the line at Acque Minerali and than he was too far.
Thanks to the grid revised from race 1 where he was fifth, Xavi started from the second place of the grid. In the first part of the race he struggled with others Ducati overtaking Rinaldi and managing to keep up Melandri in fifth position. Behind the two leaders Davies and Rea, Forés had a solid pace but he was overtaken by Sykes three laps to go. At lap 17 he posted his fastest lap in race 1’47.630 but it was not enough to get the podium.
In spite of this it was a positive weekend. Exactly as happened in Assen he get 24 points combining the two races but thanks to the “zero” by Melandri and Van der Mark the flagbearer of the team from Bergamo is now fifth overall with 124 points. Van der Mark is now down by nine and Melandri is only six points far.
Marco Barnabò, Principal Manager
“Even if we were fourth we are not so happy. We fought for the third place till the very end and I think the podium was deserved. The rider was fantastic obtaining the best possibile in both of race. Imola is not an easy track, we suffered lack of grid at the rear tyre but the crew worked very well and was able to find a setup which was good for Xavi”.
Xavi Forés, #12
“Unfortunately I missed the podium in the last few laps. The problem was at the front loosing a lot on the chicanes. I was not able to defend the third podium because in the Variante Alta and in the turn 21-22 the grip was compromised and the line too. Anyway the weekend was positive because we took advantages in the overall Championship”.
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:
A SUNDAY RICH OF SATISFACTIONS FOR TORRES AND DE ROSA IN IMOLA
Jordi Torres did an excellent comeback taking the 5th place in WorldSBK Race1 and getting the best result for the Superbike squad in 2018. After a thrilling WorldSSP race Raffaele De Rosa, in 3rd position, scored another podium finish, equaling his best seasonal result.
WorldSBK – MV Agusta Reparto Corse Team
The second race day at Imola circuit begins with some difficulties for Jordi Torres, with the Spaniard involved in a crash during the WarmUp session that forces the squad to quickly reassemble the F4 RC ahead of Race 2.
Thanks to the quick work of the mechanics Jordi manages to take part in the race. When the lights go out he is able to stay inside the Top 10 area, setting a solid race pace. At the end of the 19-lap race, the Spaniard will cross the finish line in 5th position leaving behind the Yamaha of Sam Lowes, after a strong 5-positions comeback.
WorldSSP – Team MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag
Raffaele De Rosa make a quick sprint, lapping in 4th position after only two laps, very close to the podium area. When there are less the eight laps left, De Rosa make the most of the excellent bikes’s setting and takes the second position behind Cluzel, trying to pass the race leader.
In the last stage, Raffaele tries repeatedly to attack but he doesn’t find the right conditions for overtaking, ending up 3rd, only 0.5s far from the race winner.
Due to a bad start, Ayrton Badovini immediately lost several positions finishing in 16th position. Unfortunately for the Italian rider his comeback stops on the second lap due to a crash at corner 6.
Jordi Torres – The day started with some difficulties due to the crash in the WarmUp, but I have to really thank all my mechanics because they set the bike in record time, allowing me to ride in the best condition. Speaking about the race, I did my best to make a solid comeback and I must say that the fifth place is a great result that repays us all of our hard work.
Raffaele De Rosa – I’m very happy to be back on the podium even if I think I had the potential to get a better result. My bike proved to be perfect during the race, meaning we are doing a great job with the chassis. Unfortunately, I hadn’t much power at the exit of the corner and I couldn’t hold the first position after overtaking Cluzel. Along with the team we are working hard and if we keep doing like this we will be able to fight for the podium at each race.
Ayrton Badovini – I am deeply disappointed since I have wasted a good race weekend due to a bad start. I tried to push hard to close the gap but then I crashed and it ended up like that. I wish to congratulate the team and Raffaele De Rosa for the excellent result today, I cannot wait to get back on track for the next race because I really want to leave this result behind.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
#ImolaWorldSBK Day 3 – Record-breaker Rea fights off Davies for Imola Double
Rea equals Carl Fogarty’s legendary win record in thrilling Race 2
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has won Race 2 at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, equalling Carl Fogarty for the most wins in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in the process. Victory number 59 came after a stunning battle with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who fought off several attacks from the reigning champion before having to settle for second place.
The battle had been anticipated all weekend, but it was Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who made the early move, flying out from the blocks and taking the lead ahead of Davies. The Welshman kept close behind however, finally making his move at Variante Bassa at the end of lap 3. By then, Rea had made it up to third, and a few bends later, at Tosa, passed Rinaldi and set up the fight.
For nine laps, it was cat-and-mouse game, with barely a tenth of a second separating the two. For several laps, Rea stalked Davies, creeping up and planning his pass. He fired the first shot at Tamburello on lap 10, going wide and allowing Davies back through by the straight. Shot two came at Tosa two laps later, and it couldn’t have been closer. Rea found the pace he needed around Tosa, but Davies took the inside line. The pair touched, Rea went wide, and the Ducati stayed in front.
It was third time lucky for Rea, however, one lap later, at the entry to Variante Alta. From there on, the fired-up reigning champion put on an incredible display, giving Davies no chance to even answer back, and increasing the lead to four seconds by the checkered flag.
Behind the flying duo was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), completing an all-British duo for the first time this season. Sykes had a beautiful battle with Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) throughout the race, finally managing to make it past the Spaniard, who finished fourth, with three laps to go.
Before that, Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), who had been contending for that final podium place, came together on lap 10 around Rivazza. The pair collided and ended up on the gravel, neither man able to return.
Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) scored his best result of the season with a scintillating fifth place finish, after starting on Row 4. One place behind him on the grid and finally at the flag, Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) came in sixth, equalling his best Imola result.
Rinaldi also equalled his Race 1 result in seventh. The Italian was unable to keep up his initial pace, but comes out of the Pata Italian Round with his best return over two races in WorldSBK. He beat Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) to the flag, also matching his best WorldSBK result.
In ninth, Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) made his return from injury a successful one. Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), closed the top ten, with one of his best performances of the season.
P1 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
“I’d forgotten all about the win record! Honestly I felt really good, a lot better than yesterday. The temperature crept up and I was able to feel good on the bike, its incredible as we’ve taken a full set. I’ve been fastest in every session from free practice, to Superpole and with two race wins it’s a perfect weekend. We’ve made a huge step here since last year, and I just want to say thanks to Pere all the boys!”
P2 – Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I was disappointed not to continue our form from the last couple of years here, but with a crowd like this its hard to be disappointed. It’s a pleasure to be here, it could have been the opposite, I had some hairy moments, I just wasn’t feeling it with the bike at all and it was just a battle from beginning to end. When I smoothed it up the lap time didn’t come and when I pushed it didn’t come but anyway, 20 points, not so bad and congrats to Jonny!”
P3 – Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
“There’s not much to say, we made a small change but struggled to get the bike into the corner’s, and then it was a big battle. I couldn’t get into the turn and be able to utilise the power from the Superbike. It took me a long time, and by the end of the race I could just get my head around how the bike was working, and we made the best out of a bad situation.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha Fights Forward as Lowes Charges to Sixth in Race 2 at Imola
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team’s Alex Lowes mounted a superb charge through the field in Race 2 at Imola on Sunday at Round 5 of the 2018 FIM Motul Superbike World Championship. The British rider lined up 12th on the grid and when the lights went out immediately showed podium pace and was on a charge before he ran off track. Recovering and getting straight back into his rhythm to do it all again, Lowes blazed his way to a sixth-place finish to mirror his teammate’s result from Race 1. Michael van der Mark started from the front row and was battling in the podium group when he made a small mistake and crashed out of the race on lap 9, recording his first DNF of 2018.
It was another glorious day at a hot and humid Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari with hardly a cloud in the sky and track temperatures reaching 48°C on Sunday afternoon for Race 2. It would turn out to be a case of déjà vu for the Pata Yamaha team as, for the second race in succession, one of their riders would storm his way through the field from 12th on the grid to cross the line sixth.
This time it was Lowes who lined up on the fourth row of the grid after he brought his R1 home in tenth during Race 1. The 27-year-old wasted no time in getting down to business when the race started and had blasted his way up to eighth by the end of lap 2. He was demonstrating podium pace and had closed right up to the back wheel of Tom Sykes at the end of lap 3 when he made a small mistake and missed his braking marker into the Variante Alta chicane, running wide and dropping back down to 13th.
Undeterred, Lowes immediately got his head down and resumed his charge. By lap 9, he was up to seventh place and had set his sights on the top six, while also riding as hard as he could to keep wildcard Leon Haslam, who was nipping at his heels, at bay. He battled all the way to the chequered flag, maintaining his consistent pace to cross the line in sixth and collect 10 points which, when added to the six he secured in Race 1, means he leaves Assen occupying seventh in the overall standings with 92 points, now just 21 points behind his teammate. Up next is Lowes’, and the team’s, home round at Donington Park and the 2013 British Superbike Champion cannot wait to get back to racing at his local track, also one that traditionally suits the characteristics of the Pata Yamaha R1 more than the Imola layout.
Van der Mark started Race 2 from the front row after he had pulled off an almost identical feat to Lowes in Race 1, crossing the line in sixth after lining up 12th on the grid. When Race 2 started, the 25-year-old Dutch rider got a good initial drive off the line but was having some issues in trying to get his Pata Yamaha R1 stopped for the tight chicanes due to a lack of front-end grip. Riding around this problem, he managed to stick with the group battling for the podium in the opening laps and then, as is his trademark, his pace started to improve as the laps ticked off. He recorded his fastest time on lap seven and by that stage was in fifth place and closing down Marco Melandri ahead of him.
Unfortunately, while chasing Melandri on lap 9 into Turn 18, he just could not get his R1 stopped in time and, despite his best efforts to avoid a crash, ended up making contact with Melandri and both riders went down, luckily escaping unhurt. Immediately, he made his way over to Melandri in the gravel trap to apologise and then went straight to the Italian’s garage to apologise to his team, admitting he was at fault. Disappointed to have missed out on the chance to fight for the podium and some vital championship points, van der Mark still leaves Imola happy with the progress made on his Pata Yamaha R1 and determined to bounce back at Donington Park. His first DNF of the season sees him drop to sixth in the overall standings with 113 points, just 11 points behind Xavi Forés in fifth.
After a weekend of mixed results but buoyed by the improvement shown at, traditionally, one of the toughest tracks for the R1, the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team head to their home round at Donington Park in the UK on the 25th-27th May full of confidence. Check out the Race 2 results from Imola.
Alex Lowes
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team – 6th +16.162s
“I am happy with P6 and my pace, especially considering where I started and the mistake on lap 3. Obviously, for whatever reason, yesterday the race was very difficult for me and I didn’t have the pace I had enjoyed in all the other sessions so, I was really frustrated but today was good. I felt really good early on and felt like I could go forward. I was a few places behind Michael but catching up quite quickly, but I got a little bit too deep at the chicane and made a mistake, so to get sixth with a runoff and after being 12th on the grid at a very difficult track to pass – I am quite happy. The guys did a good job with the bike, I am still not 100% comfortable on corner exit but I did my best in both races and sometimes that’s not as good as other weekends but I am looking forward to Donington now. A massive thank you to all the guys, especially Andrew and Christophe who, alongside Yamaha’s engineers, have worked so hard on the bike and the electronics. We just need to keep chipping away because there is a lot of potential.”
Michael van der Mark
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team – DNF
“I had quite a good start, especially the first part but the second phase wasn’t that good and I was struggling a bit, but then I found a good pace. Jonny and Chaz pulled away and Marco passed me and then, with Marco, we started to chase down Forés and the pace was improving. To be honest, I was struggling in the race to stop the bike as the front grip didn’t feel as good as yesterday so a few times I had a warning and ran wide. Coming down the hill into Turn 18, I was behind Marco and I couldn’t stop the bike and I dived to the inside to try and avoid hitting him but we were unlucky. I am sorry to Marco and his team to have made him crash out of his home race, we both had a good pace and could have fought for the podium, so I am sorry. Hopefully, at the next round at Donington, we can get some great results for the team’s home round.”
Paul Denning
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team Principal
“Both our guys had very exciting Sunday races here in Imola and showed huge promise but unfortunately for Michael, his mistake when fighting with the podium group and the collision with Marco put an end to an extremely positive performance and a very positive weekend at such a challenging circuit. Obviously, we hope that Marco is physically okay and behalf of everyone in the team we would like to apologise for ending his race. Nonetheless, Michael can leave Imola with his head held high, we have made big steps at this circuit compared to past years and the fact that he crashed when fighting for the podium shows significant progress. Alex, by his own admission, really struggled yesterday. We made some changes to the bike today and he absolutely came out swinging – his pace at the start of the race was so much faster than we expected! He was able to make very precise passes and battle his way through to the front group but unfortunately, on the entry to the Variante Alta chicane he got sucked in behind Sykes, missed his braking point and that cost us the chance to fight for the podium, which is where Sykes finished and, of course, Alex was on his back wheel at that point. From there it was a great recovery and a very strong ride. The R1 wasn’t at its best here at Imola but we have made good improvements and are very excited about getting to Donington and Brno where the more open character of the racetrack will really suit the Yamaha’s natural abilities.”