WorldSBK in Misano: new race and track records set respectively by Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Jonathan Rea. Outstanding feedback for Pirelli from the new SCX A0557 specification, used by all the riders

The MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship weekend at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli has just drawn to a close with four winners in the three different Championship categories.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R), after winning Race 1 on Saturday, also claimed victory in the la Tissot Superpole Race, thereby giving the manufacturer from Borgo Panigale a spectacular double, whereas Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) triumphed in Race 2 ahead of the Italian rider and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), who holds onto the leadership in the overall standings with a twenty-point advantage over the Turkish rider.

WorldSSP provided the setting for another exciting battle in a Race 2 interrupted by a red flag. Finishing on the top step of the podium was Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6), consolidating his first place in the championship standings, ahead of Luca Bernardi (CM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6), now third in the overall rankings, and Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6). Lastly, in the WorldSSP300 Championship race, 2018 World Champion Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300 / Kawasaki Ninja 400) was back to her winning ways.

During this weekend, Pirelli collected important information and confirmation. First and foremost, on the new SCX development solution, which is the super soft solution the Italian tyre company introduced here in Misano that allowed a new race record to be set in the Tissot Superpole Race and which was chosen by the entire SBK grid for Race 2. Furthermore, on Saturday, the new Y0449 specification qualifying tyre performed brilliantly, setting new track record for three rounds in a row now - at MotorLand Aragón, the Estoril Circuit and yesterday at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

WORLDSBK Tissot Superpole Race:

It was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) from the second spot on the grid with the best start, moving into the lead straight away ahead of pole man Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), and Ducati riders Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) and Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R). As early as the second lap, the Italian on the red bike demonstrated an incredible pace, attacking the Brit for second, going on to snatch the lead from Razgatlioglu on the sixth lap. Rinaldi continued to control the race with his pace, beginning to widen the gap ahead of his rivals. At the end of the ten race laps, he finished first in front of his home crowd ahead of Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea. An outstanding performance for privateer Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R) as well, as he finished the Tissot Superpole Race sixth, behind a solid fifth place for Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR).

WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race Standings:

1. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
2. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
3. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
4. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
5. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
6. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
7. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
8. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
9. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
10. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
11. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
12. K. Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
13. E. Laverty (RC Squadra Corse / BMW M 1000 RR)
14. T. Rabat (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
15. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
16. C. Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
17. S. Cavalieri (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
18. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
19. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)

• RT. C. Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
• RT. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
• RT. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

WorldSBK Race 2:

Local hero Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) started well from pole position ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), but Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) made an astonishing double overtake during the first lap to move into the race lead. The first part of the race was a constant back-and-forth between the defending World Champion and the Italian Ducati rider, battling it out for the lead, with Razgatlioglu and Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) watching from behind. At mid-race, Toprak Razgatlioglu demonstrated an outstanding race pace and, after doing the fastest lap in 1’34.852 on the fifth and seventh lap, he managed to get the better of both the Brit’s Kawasaki and then Rinaldi, taking the lead. The Turkish Yamaha rider skilfully fended off the Italian rider’s attacks to hold on to the race lead and authoritatively widen the gap ahead of the group. The final laps held no surprises and Toprak took the win in Race 2, finishing first ahead of Rinaldi (second) and Jonathan Rea rounding out the podium on his Kawasaki.

WorldSBK Race 2 Standings:

1. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
2. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
3. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
4. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
5. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
6. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
7. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
8. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
9. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
10. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
11. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
12. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
13. K. Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
14. T. Rabat (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
15. E. Laverty (RC Squadra Corse / BMW M 1000 RR)
16. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)
17. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
18. C. Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
19. S. Cavalieri (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
20. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

• RT. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
• RT. C. Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R)

WorldSSP Race 2:

Between the Tissot Superpole Race and WorldSBK Race 2, the second FIM Supersport World Championship race was held with Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6) in pole position. The championship leader started well, but already on the first lap, it was Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6) who took the race lead. Behind him was Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team / Yamaha YZF R6), who launched several attacks on the French rider, managing to gain the upper hand during the fourth lap. The red flag came out on the seventh lap so the track could be cleaned after being compromised by an accident. The new start time was 1:00 p.m. for the remaining twelve laps, where Odendaal maintained the lead ahead of Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team / Yamaha YZF R6) and Jules Cluzel in the last podium position which, however, was skilfully stolen by Aegerter two laps from the end. In the meantime, Odendaal was penalised for exceeding the track limits and Gonzalez made a mistake that cost him several positions. This left Aegerter to take the win in WorldSSP Race 2, ahead of Luca Bernardi (CM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6) and Frenchman Cluzel.

WorldSBK Race 2 Standings:

1. D. Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
2. L. Bernardi (CM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
3. J. Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
4. M. Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
5. S. Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
6. P. Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
7. R. De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
8. M. Alcoba (Yamaha MS Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
9. F. Caricasulo (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
10. H. Soomer (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
11. C. Bergman (Wójcik Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
12. M. Roccoli (Promodriver Organization / Yamaha YZF R6)
13. M. Patacca (Bike e Motor Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
14. H. Pratama (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
15. L. Ottaviani (RM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
16. D. Stirpe (Extreme Racing Service / MV Agusta F3 675)
17. A. Pontone (Bike e Motor Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
18. D. Pizzoli (VFT Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
19. L. Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
20. E. McManus (WRP Wepol Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
21. Fed. Fuligni (VFT Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
22. S. Kawasaki (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti / Kawasaki ZX-6R)

• RT. C. Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
• RT. V. Takala (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. N. Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti / MV Agusta F3 675)
• RT. K. Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. M. Herrera (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. L. Montella (Chiodo Moto Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. R. Krummenacher (EAB Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. M. Fabrizio (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
• RT. S. Frossard (Moto Team Jura Vitesse / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. R. Mercandelli (Team Rosso e Nero / Yamaha YZF R6)
• RT. Fil. Fuligni (D34G Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)

WORLDSSP300 RACE:

The final event of the day was the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race. Taking the win was 2018 World Champion Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300 / Kawasaki Ninja 400), who finished on the top step of the podium ahead of Meikon Kawakami (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing / Yamaha YZF-R3) in second and Frenchman Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo / Kawasaki Ninja 400) in third.

The Pirelli solutions chosen by the riders for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP races:

In the Tissot Superpole Race, most of the grid confirmed the solutions chosen for Race 1. The SCX development solution at the rear in A0557 specifications (option B) was selected by eighteen of the riders on the grid, whereas for the front, fifteen riders went with the A0508 SC1 development tyre (option A). As an alternative to the most popular choice, the solutions used were the standard SC1 (option B) for the front and the standard SCX (option A) for the rear.

In Race 2, the A0508 SC1 development solution (option A) was once again the most widely used on the Superbike grid, whereas some riders preferred the standard SC1 (option B), with Jonathan Rea being the exception on the Z0628 SC1 development tyre (option C). As for the rear, on the other hand, the choice was unanimous, with all the riders relying on the new SCX solution in A0557 specification (option B). The total support for this development solution was a source of great satisfaction for Pirelli, a testament to the fact that the Milan-based manufacturer has taken the right path, as well as to its constant efforts in research and development.

In WorldSSP Race 2, the choices from Saturday were confirmed, with the winning combination made up of the standard SC1 (option A) at the front and the new standard SCX (option A) at the rear.

Pirelli statistics for the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R), in 1'34.356 on the 2nd lap
• Most used front solution: A0508 SC1 development (15 out of 22 riders)
• Most used rear solution: A0557 SC1 development (18 out of 22 riders)
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO Superbike tyres: 278.4 km/h, done by Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse / BMW M 1000 RR) on the 1st lap
• Air temperature: 30° C
• Asphalt temperature: 46° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), in 1'34.852 on the 5th and 7th lap
• Most used front solution: A0508 SC1 development (14 out of 22 riders)
• Most used rear solution: A0557 SC1 development (22 out of 22 riders)
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO Superbike tyres: 275.5 km/h, done by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) on the 1st lap
• Air temperature: 31° C
• Asphalt temperature: 55° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSSP Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team / Yamaha YZF R6), in 1'38.637 on the 8th lap
• Most used front solution: standard SC1 (31 out of 33 riders)
• Most used rear solution: Standard SCX (33 out of 33 riders)
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO Supercorsa tyres: 237.9 km/h, done by Phillipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R) on the 1st and 2nd lap
• Air temperature: 30° C
• Asphalt temperature: 53° C