The last time the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship was in action was at Misano at the start of June. The unpredictability of the Championship returns after a six-week hiatus with the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola hosting WorldSSP300’s breath-taking action. The Prometeon Italian Round promises to be another stunning weekend of action as the title fight gears up – it will be the halfway stage of the season for WorldSSP300 – while a wildcard returns to action and hopes to surprise again.

IERACI RETURNS: will he repeat his Misano feat at Imola?

At Misano, Bruno Ieraci (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) stunned everyone with his first two wins in the Championship as a wildcard. Ieraci is one of the most experienced riders in WorldSSP300 with 50 races under his belt but his two victories, his first two in WorldSSP300, came as a wildcard. He took a maximum 50-point haul from Misano and the 22-year-old will be hoping he can put the cat amongst the pigeons once again at Imola and drag himself up the standings. Ieraci has valuable experience of Imola from his time in the domestic series, including wins in the Pre Moto3 class in 2014.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT HEATS UP: looking to leave Imola on top

Ieraci will face stiff competition on home soil as riders fighting for the Championship look to leave Italy with a clear advantage over their rivals. Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) heads into his home round one point clear of Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) in second at a circuit neither have raced at in WorldSSP300. Gennai, however, has raced there when competing in the Italian championship albeit between 2016 and 2018. Will his experience here help extend his lead? Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) will be looking to get his Championship charge back on track and the Dutchman was on the grid last time WorldSSP300 came to Imola in 2019; although the race was cancelled.

HOME HEROES: can other Italian riders give the fans something to cheer?

Aside from the four race winners in 2023, plenty of Italian riders will be searching for glory at Imola. Two-time race winner Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) has two podiums at Imola in CIV Supersport 300, while Alfonso Coppola, making a return to WorldSSP with the Sublime Racing by MS Racing squad, was victorious at the historic circuit last year in CIV. Mattia Martella (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) has also won there in CIV: could there be an inter-team fight for victory during the Italian Round? Gabriele Mastroluca (Arco Motor University Team), Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse), Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – Pi Performances), Devis Bergamini (ProGP Racing) and Alessandro Zanca (Team#109 Kawasaki) will also go in search of strong results on home soil. Michael Agazzi (Sublime Racing by MS Racing) will make his WorldSSP300 debut at Imola as will Roberto Jason Sarchi (Gradaracorse) as the second wildcard.

THE FIGHT FOR THIRD: four nationalities looking for the top three

Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) currently heads the battle for third with 71 points and just six points separate four riders from four different countries. Chasing down German rider Geiger are Spain’s Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR), France’s Samuel Di Sora (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) and Brazil’s Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America Team). How much will the order change in the battle for third, or will any of them be able to close the gap and make the title fight even more unpredictable?

HISTORY AT IMOLA: what happened on previous visits?

WorldSSP300 has gone to the stunning Italian circuit on three occasions although the Race in 2019 was cancelled due to torrential rain. There have been two different polesitters in three Tissot Superpole sessions – Mika Perez in 2017 and 2019 and Ana Carrasco in 2018. Neither are on the grid in 2023, so we are set for a brand-new rider on pole this time around. Carrasco also claimed victory in 2018 on her way to being crowned World Champion, while 2017 Champion Marc Garcia won at Imola the year he won the title. Could a race winner in 2023 continue this form of being crowned Champion the same season they won at Imola?

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Pirelli will bring a mix of standard and development solutions to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola for Round 7 of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The development SCQ tyre returns to action during the Prometeon Italian Round as well as other development solutions for both the front and rear tyres as Pirelli continues to innovate and develop their products in WorldSBK.

DEVELOPMENT SCQ IS BACK: several rear solutions at Imola

After making its debut at Misano, the C0004 development SCQ-A compound returns to action at Imola to provide more consistency over the 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race when compared to the standard SCQ using a new structure and compound. It is the only SCQ tyre available during the Italian Round with four sets for each rider to use, although the extra soft tyre cannot be used in Race 1 or Race 2. There are three other rear tyres available too with two from the standard range, the SCX super soft and SC0 soft, while there’s a development SCX-A super soft too with the B0800 spec; it made its debut in 2022 and has been used prominently throughout 2023.

FRONT TYRE SOLUTIONS: two standard, one development

Pirelli’s first-ever SC0 soft front compound is back as the Italian company continues development work on it, aiming to make it a standard tyre in 2024. Two standard solutions are also available. The SC1 medium is joined by the SC2 hard to give teams and riders plenty of choice when it comes to the front tyre. The SC1 is one of the most widely used tyres throughout the 2023 campaign while the SC2 made its debut last year and offers better mechanical resistance and greater wear protection when compared to the medium compound.

FRONT TYRE EXPERIMENTS CONTINUE: WorldSBK front tyre available in WorldSSP

As has been the case in 2023, Pirelli are continuing to evaluate whether the SC1 medium tyre from WorldSBK can be used in WorldSSP in the future. It’s once again available to the WorldSSP field along with the SC1 soft tyre, which is standard for the Championship. At the rear, riders will be able to use either the SCX super soft or SC0 soft compound tyres; both from the standard range.

PIRELLI SAYS: explaining the tyre allocation

Discussing the tyres available at Imola, Pirelli’s Motorcycle Racing Director, Giorgio Barbier, said: “We are back on a track we know well, and which has already hosted WorldSBK 17 times, the last one in 2019. Compared to Donington, the conditions will be very different: we expect much higher temperatures and a less aggressive asphalt, and this is why the allocation for Imola includes the front SC0 and the new SCQ in specification C0004 that we saw in action at Misano. On the front, we will therefore have the complete range, from the softer SC0 to the harder SC2, and we will be able to continue the work begun in Barcelona, and then continued in Misano, of verifying the performance of the new soft front.

“As for the rear solutions, the comparison between the standard SCX and the development one in specification B0800 continues, while in qualifying and in the Superpole Race the new SCQ will be put to the test again above all to understand its potential over the 10-lap duration of the short race. The goal with this new SCQ, as stated at the time, is to have a solution which, while maintaining remarkable peak performance, can easily cover the distance of the Superpole Race.”

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As the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rumbles into the second half of the season, starting at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola; Imola for short. It’s the seventh round which means it is the seventh opportunity for YOU to win great prizes with the WorldSBK Predictor! All you have to do is predict the correct WorldSBK Superpole time and you’ll have a Tissot T-Race watch – SIGNED by the polesitter – coming your way!

HOW IT WORKS: easy, fun and with great prizes!

The WorldSBK Predictor works on a points-based system and the closer you are to the correct pole lap time, the more points you earn. An exact prediction, down to a thousandth of a second, will give you 100 points towards the global leaderboard, whilst the points players earn for a non-perfect prediction are scaled down. If you are within 0.250s of the exact time, you’ll get 60 points whilst there are 40 points up for grabs for being within 0.500s and 20 points for being within one second.

THE PRIZES: WorldSBK Pit Lounge passes and MORE!

There are some amazing prizes up for grabs, such as the aforementioned Tissot T-Race watch, signed by the polesitter, making this a true collectible item for any fan of WorldSBK. However, the points gained throughout the course of the season also mean that there are EVEN BIGGER PRIZES up for the taking at the end of the year, ranging from WorldSBK Pit Lounge passes to various models of Tissot Watches.

WorldSBK PIT LOUNGE PASSES: the ultimate key to a stunning weekend of hospitality

The WorldSBK Pit Lounge passes are one of the most exclusive prizes fans can win! Boasting a high level of service, the exclusive Hospitality Programme in WorldSBK makes your three days at the circuit the best. A perfect setting of style, luxury, elegance and exclusivity, whilst being in the heart of the action, make this is a key aspect to the Pure Motorsport weekend WorldSBK is proud to have.

You’ll also be able to enjoy the pit walk, being able to meet your favourite riders and get that must-have selfie, autograph or personal experience which makes the WorldSBK paddock so enjoyable. After that, take your reserved spot in the grandstand, and watch battle commence!

MORE PRIZES: watches on offer for second and third!

Second and third place will both win a Tissot watch; the T-Race Quartz Chronograph will be awarded to second place and, for 2023, this model has been given a new set of colours as it reflects the excitement of WorldSBK action. A watch will also be given to third place with a new-look T-Race watch from Tissot. The new design features a more elegant dial whilst still respecting the watch’s sporty roots.

THE RULES: when is the deadline for prediction?

Each round, the deadline for making your prediction will be the start of the Tissot Superpole session, with the game preventing predictions as soon as the session begins. To make sure you enter to predict your time, login to the Predictor on the website and input your prediction for the pole time.

Don’t forget, you can check previous pole times to give you an idea as well as following the Free Practice sessions that come before Tissot Superpole to give an idea of where the pace is at during the round. The WorldSBK Predictor is all about having fun! Whilst there are top prizes on offer, you can always challenge your friends, family or colleagues to see who can take bragging rights!

PLAY NOW: check out the WorldSBK Predictor and make your predictions throughout 2023!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The seventh round of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship comes from Imola for the Prometeon Italian Round and there’ll be a familiar name on the grid this weekend for the first time this season. Leon Haslam will be in action for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, as original substitute rider Tom Sykes recovers from his Donington Park Race 2 crash, whilst full-time rider Michael van der Mark needs more time to get back to full fitness after his Assen Race 2 crash.

‘Pocket Rocket’ Haslam is one of the most experienced riders in World Superbike, having raced for Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, BMW, Aprilia and Kawasaki during his time in the Championship, clinching podiums with all of those manufacturers. Haslam rode for BMW in 2011 and 2012 and whilst he wasn’t able to take victory, eight podiums – including a debut podium in Australia – saw him a constant front-runner. In 2023, he’s back in the BMW family, having achieved six podiums for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team in British Superbikes, including two podiums last weekend at Snetterton 300. He’s currently fifth in the championship.

Speaking ahead of the round, the #91 is hopeful of doing a solid job at a circuit which he knows well: “It’s a fantastic opportunity. Obviously, I have a lot of history with Imola. We took the Championship in 2010 down to the last round at Imola. It’s fantastic to ride again for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. We are riding the BMW M 1000 RR in the UK so I’m looking forward to working with Shaun Muir and all the guys from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. I have no real big expectations, I just want to try to enjoy and hopefully we can get some good information and some good results.”

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers thanked Haslam for standing in, saying: “First of all, many thanks to Leon for being available at short notice to be with us at Imola. We know each other well from the past, where we celebrated success together, and this season he has returned to the BMW Motorrad family in BSB and is familiar with the new BMW M 1000 RR. He also has a lot of WorldSBK experience, and we are confident that he will quickly get back up to speed at Imola.

“After his crash at Donington, Tom Sykes is on the road to recovery and was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after a week, and we all send him our best wishes. Michael van der Mark participated in a track day last week, however a return for Imola would still be too early, and we have jointly decided that he will sit out this weekend, and then we will reassess the situation.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It’s been four years since the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visited Imola and quite a lot has changed since. Not the track though, with the layout remaining the same, although the riders, bikes and even tyres are all fairly different. That makes it quite difficult to predict what will happen or to even give any meaningful insight, but the information we have from past seasons does make for interesting reading. The pre-round stats for Imola’s highly-anticipated return have landed!

300 – The only riders who scored more than 300 points at Imola are Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) with 349 and Tom Sykes (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) with 303.

100 – With three podiums at Donington Park, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) ended up at 99, 10 short of the 5^th all-time spot held by Carl Fogarty, and just one to hit the milestone of 100. He’s currently tied with Chaz Davies. Ahead of him, in the all-time standing: Jonathan Rea 251; Troy Corser 130; Noriyuki Haga 116; Tom Sykes 114; Carl Fogarty 109.

59 – In 2018’s Race 2, Rea equalled the legendary tally of all-time WorldSBK wins held by Carl Fogarty: 59. Since then, he has increased his tally to 118, the double of Fogarty, an all-time record.

50 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is in a position to become the fourth rider in WorldSBK history with 50 wins; the others are Rea on 118, Carl Fogarty on 59 and Troy Bayliss at 52.

26 – 26 wins out of 33 at Imola came from the front row of the starting grid.

18 – Yamaha is on its best podium streak ever, 18.

17 – Ducati is the most successful manufacturer at their home track, with one more win than the sum of its rivals: 17 wins, with Kawasaki following at eight, Honda at seven and Aprilia at one.

14-12 – Ex-teammates Rea and Sykes are record holders for Imola rostrums: 14 for Rea, 12 for Sykes.

14/5 – The last 14 races held here were all won by British riders (Sykes, Rea, Davies): a remarkable record for just one country at Imola, started ten years ago with a double by Sykes. Also, on five occasions, the Imola podium was composed only by British riders.

13 – Rea finished his last 13 races at Imola in either first or second place.

13 – 13 years ago, Tom Sykes recorded his maiden career pole at Imola: 50 more followed, to make him the all-time leader for poles in WorldSBK history.

12 – So far, 12 different riders take pole out of 17 race weekends at Imola. The only riders with more than one pole that are on the current grid are Sykes with three and Rea with two.

5 – Rea is in position to become the first rider with five straight wins at Imola. At the moment, he shares his streak of four (2014-2015 and 2018-2019) with Chaz Davies (2016-2017).

1 – Six-time Champion Rea is the only rider with four consecutive wins at Imola across two different manufacturers: Honda (2014) and Kawasaki (2015).

0.021 seconds – This is the smallest margin for a win at Imola, coming from 2001 Race 2, between Regis Laconi –his maiden win and podium appearance – and Ruben Xaus. Xaus took revenge two years later, beating Laconi with the biggest win margin at Imola in WorldSBK: 12.038s in Race 2.

SHORTHAND NOTEBOOK

2019 race winners:

• Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki, Race 1 and Superpole Race)

Last three pole-sitters at Imola:

• 2019: Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1’45.180
• 2018: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 1’45.797
• 2017: Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1’45.662

Manufacturer podium places accumulated from all races at Imola (and wins):

• Ducati: 43 (17)
• Kawasaki: 23 (8)
• Honda: 13 (7)
• Aprilia: 12 (1)
• Suzuki: 3
• Yamaha: 3
• BMW: 2

Key gaps from Imola 2019:

• Front row covered by: 0.901s
• 1 second in Superpole covered… the top three: 0.901s
• Closest race gap between 1^st and 2^nd: 2.141s (Rea 1^st, Davies 2^nd Superpole Race)
• Closest race podium: 6.864s (Rea 1^st, Davies 2^nd, Bautista 3^rd, Superpole Race)
• Closest Imola podium of all-time: 0.844s (Laconi 1^st, Xaus 2^nd, Okada 3^rd, Race 2, 2001)

Manufacturer top speeds at Imola, 2019:

• Ducati: Chaz Davies – 286.6 km/h, FP3 and Superpole Race
• Kawasaki: Jonathan Rea – 284.4 km/h, Superpole Race
• BMW: Markus Reiterberger – 282.9 km/h, FP3
• Yamaha: Alex Lowes – 279.9 km/h, FP2
• Honda: Leon Camier – 274.9 km/h, FP2

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Source: WorldSBK.com

There are very few tracks as famous as Imola; the historic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is named after the father and son of one of the world’s most famous car marques and on two and four wheels, it has hosted some of the most memorable races in history. After four years off the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship schedule, we’ll be back in action this week. The action on track will be interesting but it’s the off-track action that will be setting tongues wagging in the build-up. Most of it will be centred around the red bikes and what Ducati do for next year. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is confirmed for 2024 and it looks increasingly likely that there will be another independent Ducati on the grid in the form of Sam Lowes on a Marc VDS machine, but what about the other seats?

PROGRESS FOR PETRUCCI: is he in the shop window?

Misano and Donington Park showed progress for Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and he was rewarded with his first WorldSBK podium last time out. The 32-year-old is a MotoGP™ race winner and factory rider, so his talent is beyond doubt. Whether he’s earnt the factory Aruba.it seat is a bigger question mark. Two rounds of progress will give encouragement to Ducati but will it be enough to warrant a change of rider?

RINALDI’S FUTURE: bad form at the worst possible moment

The rider in question for the factory seat is Michael Ruben Rinaldi. The 27-year-old has won four races for the Italian manufacturer and has had 17 podiums in the Superbike class but is that enough to hold on to his ride? On pure results it isn’t. But racing is about more than just the box scores. Rinaldi knows his place within the Ducati garage. That place is to be a rear gunner for Bautista and not cause any waves. He does this job better than anyone else Ducati can hire. This could be his saving grace.

On these pages I’ve defended Rinaldi in the past. The decision to drop Chaz Davies or Scott Redding was taken with the knowledge that Rinaldi would be a capable rider on the second seat. His job isn’t to win races and titles, it’s to ensure that Ducati win races and titles. Ducati has been able to meet their goals this year because Bautista has been sensational but what about moving forward?

POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS FOR RINALDI: Bassani or Bulega?

In the past, it was Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) that Rinaldi had to look over his shoulder towards. That rumour has gone cold in the paddock now and Bassani looks set to stay at Motocorsa. For Rinaldi, the disaster of Donington Park will be fresh in Ducati’s mind when we arrive at Imola. So too is Rinaldi’s mistake at Misano when chasing Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) for P2. Indonesia and Assen were disappointing weekends. They’re clocking up for Rinaldi at a time when Ducati is seeing Nicolo Bulega win regularly in the Supersport class. 

Bulega, like so many others, has turned a nondescript Grand Prix career where he was a Moto2™ points scorer into an opportunity at a factory seat in WorldSBK. His journey is on a par with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and his WorldSSP career has shown enough progress to give Ducati hope that he’s the best option as a Bautista back-up.

There’s little doubt that Bulega will be on a Ducati Superbike next year, the only question is the team. His WorldSSP form will give him a chance to be the factory rider. Ducati has already put resources into him to give him the best chance possible. Four days testing with the factory has yielded impressive results where his times have been very competitive. WorldSBK is about more than single lap times but for Ducati having a young, hungry Italian on the bike is key. Rinaldi fitted that mould in the past but now they have a better option in Bulega.

A MANIAC PLOT-TWIST: one name who COULD change it all

After talking about a possible expansion of the team in the WorldSBK paddock at Donington Park, Marco Barnabo – team principal of the Barni Spark outfit – said that they could expand to a two-bike team for 2024, even if they’re still to define their project. The name being linked with the second seat is none other than Andrea Iannone. WIth the Italian’s four-year ban coming to an end, Barni could potentially field two ex-Ducati factory MotoGP™ race-winning riders next year. Iannone is keen to come to the paddock regardless, so just where he ends up could be one of the most intriguing.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads back to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola for the first time in four seasons this week and you can be at the track to watch the incredible action. The Prometeon Italian Round is the Championship’s second visit to Italy in 2023 and you won’t want to miss it with WorldSBK, WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 on track. You can purchase your tickets HERE and if you buy before July 13^th, you will receive a discount of up to 5%.

Seven races will take place at Imola with WorldSBK, WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 on track as every rider looks for a shift in momentum right before the summer break. With two rounds to go before that break, will Imola make or break some competitors’ campaigns as the title races heat up across all three Championships?

As ever with WorldSBK, the on-track action is complemented by the off-track entertainment with plenty to enjoy in the paddock. The podium celebrations will take place in the famous Paddock Show area, allowing you to get even closer to your favourite riders when they celebrate their incredible success. There will be interactive games on all three days as well as quiz games and chat shows; allowing fans to get as close as possible to the riders. Live music will also be performed throughout the weekend to add to the entertainment.

Don’t miss out on WorldSBK’s return to Imola and purchase your tickets HERE!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola hosts Round 7 of the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship season as the action heats up. All eyes will be on Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) as the Championship leader, racing for Ducati, looks to be strong at home but will his compatriots be able to take the fight to him? Will experience count at a circuit that has not hosted WorldSSP action since 2019? All will be revealed throughout the Prometeon Italian Round.

MANZI LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK: can he close the gap?

Stefano Manzi’s (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) UK Round was the definition of a rollercoaster. Second place in Race 1 was followed up with fifth in Race 2 after a crash and a penalty, allowing Bulega to extend his Championship lead to 55 points, now more than a round’s maximum available total of 50. The pair will face off again at Imola with the Yamaha rider’s goal clear: cut the gap to Bulega and halt his momentum after his Donington double. With half the season gone, Manzi will need to start his fightback at the challenging Imola circuit.

LOOKING FOR MORE: will MV Agusta be back on form?

MV Agusta scored only 16 points at Donington, their lowest tally of the season. They lost ground to Yamaha in the Manufacturers’ Championship while Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) dropped to fourth in the Riders’ Championship. Schroetter will be looking for a rostrum return at Imola but he will need to undergo a medical check on Thursday after he was declared unfit at Donington following a Race 2 crash. Teammate Bahattin Sofuoglu fell to seventh, behind Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team). The Turkish star raced at Imola in Italian Supersport 300 back in 2021, taking pole position and winning the second race. Will Sofouglu’s experience at a circuit WorldSSP hasn’t visited since 2019 aid him in 2023, or could it be his steepest learning curve yet?

RACED AT IMOLA BEFORE: hoping to start a step ahead

Barcelona Race 2 winner Sofuoglu isn’t the only rider to have Imola experience. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) and Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) were on the podium in the last visit there, while Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), continuing to replace Can Oncu, scored a podium in 2016. Finland’s Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) was seventh in 2018 and all will be hoping that their previous success at the historic circuit will give them a head start when action begins on Friday.

BUILDING FROM DOINGTON: strong form to continue?

Two riders took their best-ever WorldSSP finish in the UK and will be looking to build on that as the Championship heads back to Italy. Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) leads the WorldSSP Challenge following a sixth-place finish on home soil in Race 2, with the Brit showing incredible speed across the UK Round. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) surged up the field for fourth in Race 2. Will their strong form continue at Imola?

RIDER LINE-UP CHANGES: the latest news from WorldSSP

A few riders will need to be passed fit to ride. Andrea Mantovani (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) crashed on Friday at Donington and was declared unfit with a left knee sprain, whereas Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) had a shoulder contusion following a Donington crash. Apiwath Wongthananon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) will hope to be back in action too, with all three needing Thursday medical checks. In terms of wildcards, Luca Ottaviani (Extreme Racing Service) takes the number of MV Agusta machines on the grid to three as he returns to the Championship for the first time in a year. He previously raced in WorldSSP at Imola in 2019, taking 18^th place. He’s joined by Emanuele Pusceddu (J.Angel by Edafos) who will make his WorldSSP debut; he raced in STK600, the European Junior Cup and STK1000 previously, taking victory at Imola in the EJC in 2015.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Tom Sykes (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had been enjoying a strong home round at Donington Park before a Race 2 crash brought his weekend to a premature end. The race was red-flagged in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with Sykes, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) all involved and the Brit has now posted an update on Instagram following his release from hospital, with the 2013 World Champion in his usual good spirits in his statement.

Sykes suffered fractures to ten ribs in the crash, including some multiple times, while he also sustained a thoracic injury and a left ankle injury. He was transported to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham for further assessment where the 37-year-old remained until Sunday, a week after his crash, when he was able to leave the hospital.

In a statement on Instagram, Sykes said: “Here we are leaving the hospital exactly one week after entering it. I have so many people to thank but thankfully they all know who they are. But especially all of the medical staff from trackside at Donington, all the way to my stay through the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. What an amazing job they have all done. Also, my technical sponsors Dainese and Shark Helmets for doing an unbelievable job.

“I have ten broken right ribs and three of those ribs with a double fracture so essentially 13 fractures in the right rib cage (not ideal when you enjoy laughing!). Also, a fracture to the left ankle but that doesn’t count when ribs are involved. That is essentially the first hurdle done. Now I will focus on recovery and time with family and friends for my return. I want to thank everybody for the get well wishes. These are really appreciated and really do makes things that little bit easier. I really do appreciate and love the support.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com