The Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round kicked off in style at the Misano World Circuit with an engaging media event and meet & greet at the MWC paddock. At the newly inaugurated Padel Arena, riders met with fans and competed on the brand-new courts.
The highlight of the event featured mixed doubles matches with WorldSBK riders teaming up with WorldWCR riders, who will be making their debut in the new FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship this weekend. Alvaro Bautista teamed up with Lucy Michel, Andrea Locatelli with Tayla Relph, and Roberta Ponziani paired with Tarran McKenzie.
Team Lucy emerged victorious, showcasing impressive skills and teamwork. As a prize, Lucy Michel received a set of Pirelli tyres, ready to further hone her riding abilities. The event was a perfect blend of sport and fan interaction, setting an exciting tone for the upcoming races.
The event’s highlight featured mixed doubles matches, pairing WorldSBK riders with their WorldWCR counterparts. This marked the debut of the WorldWCR riders in the new FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship taking place this weekend. The pairings included Alvaro Bautista and Lucy Michel, Andrea Locatelli and Tayla Relph, as well as Roberta Ponziani and Tarran McKenzie.
Team Lucy emerged victorious, showcasing impressive skills and teamwork. As a prize, Lucy Michel received a set of Pirelli tires, primed to further hone her riding abilities. The event seamlessly blended sport and fan engagement, setting an exciting tone for the upcoming races.
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back with a bang as the magnificent Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” hosts Round 4 of the season. A day before the riders jump on their machines and try to tame them, the anticipation is palpable. We’ve gathered the best quotes from the Misano paddock, ranging from podium aspirations to future plans.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I am not in a hurry… I don’t feel that Ducati have been pushy.”
Speaking about Misano and his future, Bautista said they are looking forward to their home round and the enthusiastic Ducati fans. They had a productive test, trying different setups and engine options, and are focused on getting the best out of the bike this weekend. Bautista is relaxed and not feeling any pressure from Ducati regarding his future.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “I’m almost feeling 100%…”
Petrucci is happy to be back in the paddock, though he still has some lingering pain in his right shoulder from a recent injury. His goal is to race all three races this weekend and simply enjoy being back, without any big expectations.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “A podium would be above expectations… starting to be able to ride the bike in anger!”
Rea is optimistic after a good test, and Misano holds special memories for him. He’s made progress in getting a better feeling with the bike and is aiming for a podium, though that would exceed his current expectations.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “Being ahead in the Championship after this weekend is not important for me; the focus is race by race, like 2021.”
Razgatlioglu is focused on winning the race this weekend, not on the championship battle. He’s happy with his teammate Mickey and the improvements they’ve made to the bike.
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “I have some proposals on the table… having a factory bike is important.”
Iannone is back racing in Italy and hoping to improve on his struggles from the test. He’s looking ahead to discussions with manufacturers about his future, as having a factory bike is important to him.
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I want to stay… if I have some good results, I think I can!”
Van der Mark is aiming for a return to the podium this weekend, and he’s optimistic about his future with the team if he can produce strong results.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “It’s always special to ride here…”
Bulega is excited for his home round and hopes to be competitive, having tried some different setups in testing. He’s happy with his teammate Bautista and is focused on the present, rather than speculating about future teammates.
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): “Feel like I can use my body more and brake harder…”
Rookie Lowes is making progress with adapting his riding style to the Ducati Panigale V4 R. He’s confident in his and the team’s ability to continue improving throughout the season.
Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “It’s always special to come here and race at home!”
Bassani is looking forward to his home round and is hopeful that the gains they found in testing will help him in Tissot Superpole. He’s unable to comment on the new Bimota project at the moment.
Official World SBK Press Release
