eni FIM Superbike World Championship

Imola, Italy

May 10, 2015

Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 19 laps, 34:06.825

2. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -4.399 seconds

3. Jordi TORRES, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -26.020

4. Davide GIUGLIANO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -30.853

5. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), -35.379

6. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -38.818

7. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -40.663

8. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Ducati Panigale R), -42.067, ran off track

9. Michel FABRIZIO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -55.722

10. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -56.990

11. Santiago BARRAGÁN, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -89.613

12. Imre TOTH, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), -1 lap

13. Gabor RIZMAYER, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), -1 lap

14. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), -5 laps, DNF, mechanical

15. Leon HASLAM, UK (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -11 laps, DNF, crash

16. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR1000RR SP), -11 laps, DNF, crash

17. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4), -14 laps, DNF, retired

18. Randy DE PUNIET, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -15 laps, DNF, retired

19. Christophe PONSSON, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -16 laps, DNF, retired

20. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Honda CBR1000RR SP), -19 laps, DNF, crash

World Championship Point Standings (after 10 of 26 races):

1. Rea, 240 points

2. Haslam, 153

3. Sykes, 128

4. Davies, 123

5. Torres, 99

6. Guintoli, 76

7. VD Mark, 67

8. Baiocco, 66

9. Mercado, 62

10. Alex Lowes, 51

11. Terol, 48

12. Fores, 38

13. Ramos, 34

14. Camier, 33

15. Badovini, 32

16. Salom, 30

17. Giugliano, 29

18. Barragan, 16

19. TIE, De Puniet/Troy Bayliss, 15

21. Fabrizio, 13

22. Barrier, 10

23. TIE, Toth/Ponsson, 5

25. Rizmayer, 3

26. TIE, Larry Pegram/Jed Metcher/Niccolo Canepa, 2

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

Rea celebrates his 150th WorldSBK race with another win

Sykes completes a second KRT 1-2 as Torres claims maiden podium finish in the series.

The second WorldSBK race of the Acerbis Italian Round went the full 19-lap distance, with the Kawasaki Racing duo claiming their second 1-2 finish of the day as Jonathan Rea once again got the better of Tom Sykes with a comfortable 4.399s lead at the line. For Rea it was the eighth win from ten starts, which also completed his third double of the year.

After a second technical fault for Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team), the final podium position went to Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) who claimed his career’s first rostrum finish as he crossed the line third ahead of Italians Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team), Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) and Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati).

Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Ducati), Michel Fabrizio (Althea Racing Ducati) and Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) completed the top ten.

Sylvain Guintoli and his Pata Honda team-mate Michael van der Mark both crashed out before half distance as did Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils). A number of other retirements meant only 13 riders completed the race.

In the championship standings Jonathan Rea heads to his home round at Donington Park with a stretched points advantage after his double race win, the gap to his nearest rival Leon Haslam is 87 points.

Jonathan Rea #65 – Kawasaki Racing Team

Race 1 1st – Race 2 1st

Twitter: @jonathanrea

Instagram: @jonathan_rea

Facebook: JonathanReaOfficial

“It has been incredible this weekend and I do not know what to say because this kind of run has never happened to me before. The key to the weekend was working hard with Pere and Paolo Friday and Saturday to make sure we had a package we could fight with. I was honestly a little bit worried about the six lap first race because we were not really set up to be so strong in the beginning of the race. In race two I watched the gap behind and Arturo was giving me great signals from pitlane. When the gap got to one second I thought ‘keep going and no mistakes’.”

Tom Sykes #66 – Kawasaki Racing Team

Race 1 2nd – Race 2 2nd

Twitter: @TheRealTomSykes

Facebook page: Tom-Sykes-66

“We made some improvements at this round and I am very happy. Jonathan rode a strong race in race two and we had a big gap to the guys behind. In the end I just had to accept that this was our limit today. The good thing is we have improved from previous events so I think we are heading in the right direction. Still there are some minor things to change but on the whole we have addressed some of our limitations and in Donington at the next round we will keep working. We improved some small things but small things at this level make an incredible difference. To take the wins would have been better, but I am happy.”

Davide Giugliano #34 – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK

Race 1 3rd – Race 2 4th

Twitter: @davidegiugliano

Instagram: @davidegiugliano34

Facebook Page: Davide-Giugliano

“I’m really pleased with the podium, which on a personal level is like a win for me. After the first ‘heat’ I was already tired and the second part of the race was extremely difficult, I couldn’t have done any more. I was undecided as to whether to do race 2 at all as the first race really wore me out, but thanks to the Clinica Mobile’s help and the support of all the fans here, I was actually able to complete race 2, in fourth place. It’s been an important weekend for us, and has helped us see that we can fight for the top positions at every round.”

More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:

FIRST PODIUM OF THE SEASON FOR JORDI TORRES, THIRD IN RACE 2 AT IMOLA

LEON HASLAM, FOURTH IN RACE 1, CRASHES OUT IN RACE 2 WITHOUT INJURY

APRILIA WINS IN SUPERSTOCK 1000 WITH LORENZO SAVADORI STRENGTHENING HIS LEAD IN THE STANDINGS

Imola, 10 May 2015 – The Imola Sunday ended for the Aprilia colours with Jordi Torres’ first podium of the season in Superbike Race 2 on a completely new track for him and with Lorenzo Savadori’s decisive affirmation, increasing his hold on the lead in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup with his Aprilia RSV4 RF. The rider from Cesena won the second race of the season with a gap of more than two seconds ahead of his closest rival.

It was a complicated day for Team Aprilia Racing – Red Devils, key players in the World Superbike Championship. In Race 1 the Leon Haslam got off the line well for the Italian team on his RSV4, then maintaining his pace until the race was red flagged (six laps from the end) with a consequent restart for a shortened distance. In the six laps that decided the finishing order, Leon rode to a fourth place finish which is fundamental in terms of championship points.

The English rider was not as fortunate in Race 2 with a highside on Turn 3 during the eighth lap. Haslam was taken to the track Medical Centre where X-rays showed no fractures, but further tests will be needed to rule out any complications.

Leon holds onto second place in the overall standings, just a few days from his home race at Donington.

Leon Haslam: “A difficult day for me. In Race 1 I brought home the best possible result. In Race 2 I was struggling in the braking section and I even went wide a couple of times, ending up behind VD Mark and Jordi. Then I found a good pace but just as I was making up ground I had a bad highside on turn 3. I’m hurting all over now, but thinking about the crash I think I’m lucky and I should be at 100% by Donington”.

Jordi Torres took his first podium in his rookie year in the category, finishing Race 2 in third place after a shrewdly ridden race. The Spanish rookie, forced to withdraw in Race 1 after running straight on, is now lying fifth in the Rider Championship standings and is demonstrating more and more feeling with his RSV4 RF. After a complicated début in Friday’s practice sessions due to difficulties on a new track for him, Jordi improved consistently, arriving at the podium in the end, a result thanks to his efforts and those of his team.

Jordi Torres: It’s incredible! After the practice sessions on Friday I thought that this was a difficult track with chicanes that are my weak point and a very narrow track. In Race 1 I had a few problems with the gearbox. I was struggling in downshifting and in the end I had to withdraw after running straight on. The guys did a great job fixing my bike for Race 2 and this third place goes to them. I have definitely changed my opinion on this track. Now I think it is the best one in the world! Seriously though, I’m very pleased with the improvements we made. On a new track we did a great job. I think that on tracks we know we’ll be able to confirm our progress.

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Double Win For Rea As Sykes Takes Two Second Places

Jonathan Rea (KRT) scored two convincing WSB wins at Imola today and in a strong performance from the Kawasaki Racing Team in general his team-mate Tom Sykes was second in each contest. Rea has now won eight of the ten races run so far in 2015.

Rea’s phenomenal Imola performance means he has scored eight wins from ten starts in the FIM Superbike Championship this year, and he now enjoys a huge championship points advantage of 87 points over his nearest challenger.

For Sykes, two second places were his best results of the season putting him up to third in the championship. He is now only 25 points from second place rider Leon Haslam.

The first race was shaping up to be a fight between the top Kawasaki riders until it was stopped at just over half distance. The championship rules demanded a restart, which was only six laps long, but counted for full points. Rea and Sykes once more disputed the lead in this race, with early leader Sykes deposed by Rea on lap three. Rea was to go on to win by 0.482 seconds.

In race two, with marginally warmer track temperatures, again the KRT riders proved the fastest this weekend, with Rea easing away from Sykes in the later stages of the full 19-lap race to make it a double success for himself. With Sykes second again it was a double 1-2 for the KRT squad.

In the championship standings Rea has an almost perfect 240 points, Haslam is second with 153 and Sykes is now third on 128.

The next round takes place at the home round of each rider, Donington Park in the UK, with raceday on May 24th.

Jonathan Rea: “It has been incredible this weekend and I do not know what to say because this kind of run has never happened to me before. I am just enjoying the moment. The key to the weekend was working hard with Pere and Paolo Friday and Saturday to make sure we had a package we could fight with. I was honestly a little bit worried about the six lap first race because we were not really set up to be so strong in the beginning of the race but we were able to win. In race two I watched the gap behind and Arturo was giving me great signals from pitlane. When the gap got to one second I thought ‘keep going and no mistakes’.”

Tom Sykes: “We made some improvements at this round and I am very happy. Jonathan rode a strong race in race two and we had a big gap to the guys behind. In the end I just had to accept that this was our limit today. Jonathan was really strong in some areas and could take an advantage, then I would take some back, but finally it was his day today. The good thing is we have improved from previous events, and from last year, so I think we are heading in the right direction. Still there are some minor things to change but on the whole we have addressed some of our limitations and in Donington at the next round we will keep working. We improved some small things this weekend but small things at this level make an incredible difference. To take the wins would have been better, but I am happy.”

2014 WSB Evo champion David Salom (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) suffered a left radius injury after falling in the red flagged first race and as a result missed race two. Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) was 11th in the short race one and then a high scoring seventh in race two, moving him to 13th in the championship standings.

More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Mixed fortunes for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team riders; a podium for Giugliano, two DNFs for Davies

Imola (Italy), Sunday 10 May 2015 – Very different results for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team riders Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies in the Superbike races at the Imola circuit today. While Giugliano scored a podium in race 1 (third) before finishing round 2 in fourth place, Davies was unfortunately prevented from finishing either race due to technical problems.

Race 1 – Both Davide and Chaz made a good start, holding their starting positions (first and fourth respectively) throughout the opening laps. On lap seven Davies moved past Rea into third but a technical problem simultaneously caused him to run off track, from where he was unfortunately unable to continue the race.

A red flag brought the race to a halt on lap eleven, and the ‘quick restart’ procedure saw riders returning to the track for a second sprint race made up of just 6 laps. Restarting from the positions in which they had completed lap nine, Davide lined up second on the grid, between the two Kawasakis of Sykes and Rea. Suffering, as was expected, due to a combination of pain and fatigue, the Italian was passed by Rea on lap one but never gave up, showing instead immense determination all the way to the line, which he crossed in final third position, right behind the two Kawasakis. A fantastic podium for the Aruba Ducati rider in his very first race of the 2015 season.

Race 2 – Chaz and Davide were lying third and fourth through the first lap, alternating positions behind the two Kawasakis. The factory pair did all they could to catch the two green bikes ahead of them but unfortunately they both gradually lost ground, Davies due to a technical issue and Giugliano due to fatigue. Chaz, despite the problems, worked hard to try and finish the race but was eventually forced to stop on lap 15. Davide meanwhile completed a solitary final phase, bringing his Panigale R home in fourth position, a strong result considering his physical condition after three months of inactivity.

As round 5 of the 2015 championship draws to a close, Davies is now in fourth position in the general standings, with 123 points, while Giugliano positions 17th, having earned 29 points today. Ducati positions third in the manufacturer’s standings with 164 points.

Quotes after the races:

Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #34) – 3rd, 4th

“I’m really pleased with the podium, which on a personal level is like a win for me. After the first ‘heat’ I was already tired and the second part of the race was extremely difficult, I couldn’t have done any more. I was undecided as to whether to do race 2 at all as the first race really wore me out, but thanks to the Clinica Mobile’s help and the support of all the fans here, I was actually able to complete race 2, in fourth place. It’s been an important weekend for us, and has helped us see that we can fight for the top positions at every round. We have a high performing bike and, once I’m back to full fitness, I know we’ll be competitive. Today’s races were not at all easy and the results are thanks particularly to all of the help that the team, my family and Doctor Fabio Catani at the Policlinico di Modena have given me over these months, so I want to thank everyone who has supported me, as well as all the fans who were here watching today.”

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7) – DNF, DNF

“A disastrous day for us obviously. We were in a position to be able to complete two good races here today and instead we go home with nothing. In race 1 a technical problem stopped me and so I hoped to be able to make up for that in race two. But once the second race got underway, I knew something was wrong almost right away. I was using the second bike and had to press a couple of buttons to change the setting and after that the bike seemed a bit smoother. But then I started to have other issues, my foot came off the footpeg and I realized there was a little oil leaking, so I tried to be careful and hoped it wouldn’t get worse but it wasn’t possible to finish the race. A day to forget…”

Ernesto Marinelli – Ducati SBK Project Director –

“This weekend has been one of two halves. On the one hand, we’re pleased because Davide’s return after three months of inactivity has clearly been positive. For him to score pole and a podium was definitely no mean feat and confirms his great talent and determination. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to give 100% because he has not had time to put in the necessary training for the two races, but he put all his energies into it and we certainly couldn’t have asked for more. The fact that he was immediately comfortable with the bike proves that we’re going in the right direction in terms of development. On the other hand, two technical stops for Davies are extremely costly at this point of the season. This morning Chaz’s feeling with the bike had improved greatly and he could clearly have completed two good races. We need to analyse exactly what happened to prevent it from happening in the future. So we have a lot of work ahead of us as we prepare for Donington.”

More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:

Fifth-placed Guintoli takes positives from Imola

Pata Honda rider Sylvain Guintoli and his team were able to take a number of positives away from an eventful raceday in round five of the 2015 World Superbike championship today at Imola in Italy where both races were won by Jonathan Rea.

The 32-year-old French rider endured problems in getting his Pata Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP set up for the technically demanding 4.936km Imola circuit and consequently started today’s races from 15th on the grid.

The first race was stopped following a crash on lap 11 after Guintoli had fought his way up to seventh place, and he was able to improve to fifth in the six-lap restart after showing a better pace than earlier in the weekend. However, he crashed out unhurt on the opening lap of race two after being forced wide on to a dirtier part of the track.

Guintoli’s Pata Honda team-mate Michael van der Mark had an equally dramatic day, fighting his way back to ninth place in race one – which matched his grid position – after a difficult start had left the 22-year-old Dutch rider languishing in 17th place.

A better start in the incident-packed second outing allowed van der Mark to battle for sixth place with the factory machines of Jordi Torres and Leon Haslam but a coming together with Halsam on lap eight forced van der Mark off the track, resulting in a crash which also put him out of the race.

Sylvain Guintoli – 5th and DNF

Race one was much better than we expected and I was able to race hard and get up to fifth from fifteenth on the grid. The bike felt better than it had done all weekend and we found some good data that allowed us to make some positive changes for the second race. I was really looking forward to race two and with the hotter weather we could use the softer tyre. I was in the pack on the first lap but I had to leave some room for, I think, Leon Camier who dived in to overtake me at turn nine. I had to go wide on to a dirty part of the track and just lost the front. It was one of those first lap racing incidents but it’s a shame because I think we could have recovered well again. But we’ll take the positives and the fighting spirit from race one and move forward at Donington Park which is like a home race for me.

Michael van der Mark – 9th and DNF

It’s been quite a difficult weekend throughout all the sessions but we improved in each session from Saturday morning. In race one I had a problem with the launch control system so that’s why I lost so many places at the start. In the end I rode step-by-step and made up around ten places and, although the pace wasn’t great, it was an improvement again. Then we had the six lap sprint after the red flag when I tried another tyre but I didn’t get any grip, which was quite disappointing. The start of race two was not too bad and I was able to make up some places in the first corner. I moved forward and passed Leon [Haslam] and had a nice fight with Torres. Leon wanted to pass but he hit me and I crashed. I was really disappointed with that because if you look at the end Torres got to the podium and, f or sure, a fourth or even a third place might have been possible.

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

In race one Michael did not have a good start and he had to come all the way from the back. Sylvain did get a good start and was lying in seventh place, when Michael had come up to eighth, but then there was a red flag. In the six lap race that followed, Michael struggled with the start but Sylvain managed to bring the CBR home in fifth which was a good result considering the weekend we had. It was good to see him fighting and enjoying himself a little. Michael was on the other end of that group and finished ninth. In race two, Sylvain had another good start and got in the middle of the pack. He had to pick another line because another rider was coming through and he just ended up on the dirt. Michael had a decent start and was fighting for fifth but crashed out of the battle. I think he could have finished fourth, or th ird even, and that gives us some positives to take to Donington.

More, from a press release issued by Voltcom Crescent Suzuki:

One top ten for Lowes and Voltcom Crescent Suzuki at Imola

Alex Lowes fought a determined race to take tenth on his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki in the second outing at the Imola Circuit today for the eni FIM Superbike World Championship Acerbis round in Italy.

A good start looked to have given Lowes what he needed to battle his Yoshimura-powered GSX-R in the top ten, before he was caught in the crash of Honda’s Sylvain Guintoli, relegating him to the back of the field. His determination as resolute as ever, the British racer began his comeback, fighting his way through to 11th by lap nine to join the top ten for the final five laps.

The morning race had seen a similarly good start from Lowes, keeping him in the mid pack before running wide at turn six on the first lap. Regrouping in 16th to continue the fight, the red flag came out on the ninth lap after a turn 15 crash from Kawasaki’s David Salom. A six lap sprint race concluded the morning’s action as Lowes, taking to the grid in 13th, crossed the line in 12th, collecting 10 points from the day’s two races.

Continuing to struggle with confidence in the new electronic control systems, Randy de Puniet retired his Suzuki GSX-R1000 from both races having completed 4 laps of each, leaving him in 19th place in the Championship.

The weekend’s 65,000 strong Italian crowd witnessed the British domination of the WSBK Championship continue under cloudless skies, as Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea took victory in both races from his teammate Tom Sykes, the two riders each collecting a fastest lap award in the process.

The home race, for both Voltcom Crescent Suzuki and Alex Lowes, now beckons as the team return to the UK in preparation for Donington Park in just two weeks’ time on Sunday 24th May.

Alex Lowes:

“A difficult day but I tried my best in both races. It’s frustrating that we haven’t made more improvements but we’re that far into it now that we just have to keep going, keep our heads down, work as hard as we can and see if we can go better at Donington. Obviously I will have the advantage that I know the track and I think it will be less critical on the electronics so I’m looking forward to Donington already. You have two choices when things aren’t going your way, you either give in or you keep working, keep doing your best, keep trying to improve the bike and see what happens, so that’s what we’re doing!”

Randy de Puniet:

“I’m very disappointed as Imola was another bad weekend for me. We are still struggling to find the correct base setting for the electronics system and it has now affected three race weekends. I really hope we can find the solution at Donington so we can start building our season from there.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“A very challenging day at the office. The whole Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team could not be working harder to find the correct solutions – from tyre technicians to crew chiefs, everybody is giving 100%. The biggest frustration is that the very clear results of our testing after Assen did not translate at all to the Imola Circuit. If a bike has issues with throttle connection, driveability and engine brake control, these issues will be multiplied at Imola due to the very technical layout of the track and that’s exactly what happened. Equally, when the focus is on these fundamental problems, normal chassis setting work takes a back seat and the overall bike performance doesn’t progress as it should.

“Again, Alex simply did all we could ask of him and rode really well to score good points. He has continued to apply himself in a difficult situation, and to set his best lap time of the day on the final lap of race two shows his commitment to the very end. His efforts and natural speed indicate that we will be straight back into a stronger position when the fundamental problems are solved.”

More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing:

Superbike: Imola Sunday Races

Imola (Italy) 10 May 2015

The World Superbike weekend at Imola has concluded positively for Team Althea Racing. Matteo Baiocco finishes the two races eighth and sixth, while Michel Fabrizio crosses the line in tenth and ninth place, not far behind his teammate.

Matteo Baiocco completed two great races at the historic Imola track, confirming the continuous progress made between the start of the championship and now. Unlucky yesterday during the Superpole, Baiocco today started further back on the grid but in race 1 he made up positions lap after lap and was lying tenth when the race was brought to a stop with a red flag. In the restarted 6-lap sprint, Matteo never lost focus and crossed the line eighth. In race 2, with track temperatures of roughly 46°C, he was able to manage tyre wear and maintain a constant rhythm to the line, securing a sixth place finish and important championship points.

Matteo Baiocco: “I’m really pleased with today’s two races, which went to making up for yesterday unlucky Superpole episode. I was able to see that if we’d started a little further ahead on the grid I would have been able to make a great race. A solid result in terms of the championship anyway, two good positions and consistency throughout the races. The team has worked really well and these results give us confidence for the next races. I would like to thank everyone who was here, Genesio Bevilacqua and all my staff, who never set a foot wrong and who have helped me complete two strong races. I will continue to try and repay them with results that are equal to or better than these.”

Michel Fabrizio’s return to a championship that he hasn’t competed in for a year was a positive one. The Italian was able to complete two good races, not far off the results obtained by his teammate. In only three days he has had to deal with a new bike, after a long break, and trying to find the right feeling with his Ducati Panigale R. The work completed together with his team was efficient, and meant that Michel was well prepared. In race 1 he was able to finish inside the top ten but was unlucky in race 2, losing precious time after making contact with another rider and almost losing his boot in the process. This set back forced him to push hard to make up for lost time and he eventually finished in ninth position.

Michel Fabrizio: “This was a good weekend for me and the best thing is that I felt like a rider again. I thank the entire team for having given me so much over these three days. I would have liked to repay them with a great result and it was a pity about the contact with Mercado which literally pulled my boot off. I almost had to stop to put it back on because it was sliding off my foot. I lost precious seconds and so seeing as how the race went I think ninth was the best I could do. Ninth which wouldn’t normally be positive for a rider but after a year’s break I think it’s a great result. I’m particularly disappointed for the team.”