#ITAWorldSBK Imola – Saturday roundup: World Superbike, World Supersport, World Supersport 300
WorldSBK
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his dominance in WorldSBK Race 1 at Imola, clinching his 17th win of the season and inching closer to the record for most victories in a single campaign. The race witnessed a thrilling battle, with Bautista emerging victorious ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), who celebrated his 100th WorldSBK podium and extended his impressive streak of 16 consecutive rostrum finishes. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured a solid third place, further adding to his extensive collection of 252 career podiums.
Meanwhile, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) put up a remarkable performance, leading the race initially and eventually finishing in fourth place. The Italian rider displayed excellent pace, battling against fierce competition. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his tenacity as he fought his way to fifth place while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) demonstrated resilience and skill, crossing the line in sixth position after a hard-fought race.
With his triumph, Bautista not only solidified his lead in the championship standings with 382 points but also equaled the record for most wins in a season, tying with Doug Polen in 1991 and Jonathan Rea in 2018 and 2019. Bautista’s performance highlights his unwavering determination to etch his name in WorldSBK history.
WorldSSP
Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) claimed victory in WorldSSP Race 1 at Imola, securing his second win of the season. The result allowed him to close the gap to championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) to 46 points. Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished in second place, marking his fifth podium of the season. Bulega crossed the line in third, earning his 20th podium in the series and bringing Ducati their 50th rostrum.
In an intense battle for fourth place, Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) engaged in a fierce fight in WorldSSP Race 1 at Imola. Sofuoglu initially overtook Huertas on Lap 8 but faced determined resistance. Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) joined the fray, passing both Sofuoglu and Huertas for fourth. However, on the penultimate lap, Tuuli and Huertas crashed together, resulting in an abrupt end to the race. Yari Montella secured fifth place, followed by Raffaele De Rosa in sixth.
WorldSSP300
In WorldSSP300 Race 1 at Imola, Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) secured an emotional home victory, holding off Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) by a slim margin of 0.090s. It was Vannucci’s third WorldSSP300 win and his sixth podium finish. The race featured a intense battle between Vannucci and Geiger, who broke away from the chasing pack and remained nose-to-tail throughout the race.
Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) claimed the third spot on the podium, while Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) finished just two tenths behind in fourth.
Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America Team) took fifth place, and Kevin Sabatucci (Flembbo – PI Performances) secured sixth position. Notably, Marc Garcia (China Racing Team) scored Kove’s first WorldSSP300 points, finishing in eighth place.
Source: WorldSBK.com