Outspoken forward of Imola
A busy day for WorldSBK as our return to Imola headlines, however 2024 seats stay essential with numerous main gamers nonetheless but to place pen to paper
Spherical 7 of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has arrived and the media day for the Championship gave loads of main speaking factors earlier than a wheel had even been turned. From declarations about 2024 to hoping to bask in some Imola success, we caught up with the principle stars of the present and acquired their ideas about how the weekend might form up and the way 2024’s grid will finally shake out.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “The one expectations that we are able to have for this weekend are battles!”
“It’s one other essential spherical for Ducati as a result of it’s their second dwelling spherical. It’s an essential weekend for me as I don’t have loads of expertise on this monitor. I simply raced right here as soon as, in 2019, and it was arduous as a result of we needed to cancel Race 2 because of the climate. I’ve good recollections of the monitor; the structure is very nice. There are not any expectations as a result of we now have to construct up the references and the sensation with the bike at this monitor. It was the identical as I stated at Donington. I believe Donington, Imola and Most are the three most troublesome races for us. Now we have to be considering step-by-step. It’s troublesome to make some expectations as a result of it’s like we begin from zero. The essential factor is to search out the sensation that I had at Donington or different tracks. I’m positive that if we are able to get that feeling, I might be aggressive. This can be a monitor that we noticed many battles up to now. The one expectation that we are able to have for this weekend are battles. I don’t know whether or not it’ll be for the win or the rostrum or different positions however there will probably be battles as a result of there are loads of factors for overtaking. The best way to strategy the weekend is principally the identical. We have to be extra cautious with the gearing as a result of, in the long run, it’s essentially the most vital. Now we have to attempt to perceive which areas we lose extra in and attempt to work extra in these areas.”
Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Workforce): “I believe on Sunday, there’ll be an announcement of the place I’m going”
“This can be a place that I wish to have enjoyable at. The monitor appears to be like so iconic and there’s loads of historical past right here; I did a few laps with the bicycle final evening and I had goosebumps. A motorbike might at all times be totally different but it surely simply appears to be like wonderful. The timber, buildings, up and downs, I’m actually excited to go and experience this monitor. It’d be good if the bike was good to me this weekend and I didn’t need to focus a lot on the settings and I might simply give attention to driving the monitor. I believe on Sunday, there’ll be an announcement of the place I’m going and what I’m doing for 2024.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Workforce WorldSBK): “I do know the methods of the commerce round right here”
“I’m actually excited to be again right here! It at all times brings again fond recollections; I’ve had some nice races right here. It’s a novel a part of the world to race in a park, with the undulations and it’s steeped in historical past. Our monitor report right here has been fairly good too. My favorite sector at Imola… it’s arduous to present only one! Probably the most iconic half is the drop down from Piratella into Acque Minerali, after which the soar out of there. It’s so troublesome to grasp however whenever you get as near excellent as attainable, it’s a tremendous feeling. You speed up out of there, uphill and it’s actually arduous, combating with the bike. Imola is about having a motorbike that’s simple to experience however that stops very effectively; we’re stopping actually arduous in three or 4 areas of the monitor. We all know we might be stronger right here than the primary a part of the yr, to combat for podiums is the minimal we are able to purpose for. I do know a couple of methods of the commerce spherical right here. It’s arduous to know whether or not to return to our 2019 setting or our present setup.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “I’m solely taking a look at Jonny… I hope we combat for the win”
“I’m very excited to come back again to Imola. I bear in mind 2019, I’ve good recollections right here as I took a podium. In 2015, I had an enormous combat with Caricasulo in Inventory 600! My purpose is to combat for the win once more. Jonny is generally very robust right here. I hope we’re combating with him; I’m solely taking a look at Jonny. Additionally, I believe Alvaro will enhance this yr because the bike has modified rather a lot. He will probably be very robust right here. I hope it may be a great weekend to recuperate some factors. This yr, I’ll attempt to win in an extended race. I hope we combat for the win.”
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Workforce): “It will be a dream to get a podium right here!”
“It’s actually particular as a result of I haven’t been to Imola since 2011. Nonetheless, I used to be already with Barni Racing and I’ve good recollections. I can’t wait to experience once more on the monitor once more, as a result of it’s one of the vital stunning around the globe. Nothing is chosen about my future; as I stated at Donington Park and in the beginning of 2023, I wish to win a race right here. I’m right here to try this. With Alvaro, Toprak and Jonny and others, it’s troublesome. Perhaps I would like yet another yr to try to win and be extra constant within the Championship. After the rostrum at Donington Park, we wish to repeat that efficiency however we’ll see as a result of each at Donington Park and Misano, we had a brand new monitor floor. This time, we’ll have one thing a bit extra regular, so it’s a great take a look at for us to see if we are able to combat for the rostrum commonly. It will be a dream to get a podium right here.”
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Workforce WorldSBK): “We’ve been dreaming about this!”
“I’m excited for him and the crew! We’re actually shut however to have one other good crew within the WorldSBK Championship is nice and possibly sooner or later, it’d even be two riders. For such a great crew in Moto2™ to reach right here is barely going to make the Championship stronger. Marc van der Straten is a improbable man and his persona will probably be nice. On the opposite facet, about my brother, it’s improbable! We’ve been dreaming for an extended, very long time since we have been youngsters, to race motorbikes and possibly race collectively in the future. On a private be aware, away from the monitor, I’m so, so completely happy. With our present schedules, we spend loads of time aside however to race collectively, journey collectively, it’s going to be improbable. The crew have been World Champions and Sam has gained a Grand Prix simply two months in the past, so the extent he’s driving at is improbable so we are able to anticipate him, the bike and the crew to be robust.”
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I like this monitor… it’s unbelievable to experience!”
“It was a tough crash at Donington Park however this morning, we determined with the medical doctors to a minimum of try to experience the bike. I really feel fairly good; final week, I didn’t really feel too good, so we now have achieved extra examinations, particularly with the top. It’s the toughest half to examine and to verify it’s in the correct manner for racing bikes. I really feel good with the top now, the ankle continues to be not so good but it surely’s not damaged, so I’ll attempt my finest to experience the bike and get good outcomes. I like this monitor and it deserves to remain on the calendar; it’s unbelievable to experience right here. My finest reminiscence was once I gained the STK1000 race after a wierd race with two crimson flags, three begins and on the final one, my mechanics needed to change the clutch! It was powerful as they completed altering it when the pitlane was open and we solely 50 seconds to exit the pitlane! About my future, I hope that there will probably be updates, however for the second, the main target is to get again on the bike with a great feeling.”
