Imola is a classic WorldSBK venue, offering thrilling races and a vibrant atmosphere. The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari carries a rich history and hosted some of the finest WorldSBK battles such as the Bayliss-Edwards’ Showdown in 2002.

DID YOU KNOW? 

In the 2001 Race 2 at Imola, the victory was decided by a razor-thin margin of just 0.021 seconds separating Regis Laconi and Ruben Xaus, making it the closest finish in the circuit’s history.

IMOLA’S HOT SPOTS WITH TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU
T2-3/ “I enjoy the first sector. In some corners you cannot see as they have blind entries. The first sector is fine and it becomes quite difficult afterwards. The first straight isn’t exactly straight, it’s a long curve before entering the first of four chicanes – Variante Tamburello. This chicane is not small or tight – it’s quite a big one … left, right then a curve on the exit.”

T7/” This is the only real hairpin, with a big climb on the exit. It’s slightly off-camber here. This is a good corner for braking. And you need good acceleration on the way out to arrive at T9. It is all uphill, so you need to carry good the speed with you.”

T18/ “It’s a curving downhill section followed by two left corners. I always like an old school track and an old school bike. I am going to ride here on my Yamaha for the first time.”

WorldSBK | KEY STAT
100
With three podium finishes at Donington Park, Toprak Razgatlioglu has now accumulated a total of 99 podiums, leaving him just one step away from reaching the impressive milestone of 100.
What to look out for in Imola
 
As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship arrives at the historic Imola circuit, anticipation is building for a thrilling weekend of racing.

Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), currently leading the Championship standings, will be eager to make his mark at Imola, Ducati’s home round. With solid past results at this circuit, including a third-place finish in the Tissot Superpole Race and a second-place finish in Race 1 in 2019, Bautista knows what it takes to excel on this demanding track as he looks to add valuable points to his championship campaign and claim his first victory at the historic circuit.

Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) is on the verge of a significant milestone as he stands at 99 podium finishes. Imola presents a golden opportunity for him to reach the impressive milestone of 100 podiums. Despite it being his first time racing at Imola with Yamaha, Razgatlioglu will be pushing hard to achieve this feat and continue his strong form at Imola.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) will be aiming to climb up the championship standings. Imola has been a happy hunting ground for Rea in the past, with his exceptional record at this circuit including 9 victories (among them the last four WorldSBK races at Imola). As he looks to close the gap in the championship race, Rea will spare no effort in his pursuit of success.

Another rider to watch out for is Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who recently celebrated his first podium finish at Donington Park. Competing on home soil, the Italian rider will strive to build on his recent success and deliver a strong performance at Imola.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), currently holding third position in the championship standings, faces a unique challenge as he takes on Imola for the first time with a Superbike. The Yamaha rider will be eager to adapt quickly to the demanding circuit and maintain his strong position in the championship battle.

The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team will aim to carry forward their momentum after Scott Redding‘s solid fourth-place finish in Race 2 at Donington Park. There’s a question mark over Redding’s teammate for the round, as Tom Sykes will be out injured after his Race 2 crash at Donington Park, whilst Michael van der Mark hopes to come back, but will only do so if he’s feeling fit enough. – www.worldsbk.com

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