2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship

Spherical 5 – Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”

Misano is likely one of the basic WorldSBK venues with the Championship having visited the Italian observe constantly over the many years, with first-time winners, home-heroes and epic remaining lap battles shaping the headlines.

Within the fifth spherical of the FIM Superbike World Championship, which will likely be hosted over the weekend on the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Pirelli will present riders with a brand new SCQ rear tyre in further smooth compound (specification C004) designed to make sure higher consistency of efficiency over the space in order to cowl the ten laps of the Superpole Race extra simply. The purpose is to enhance the consistency and mileage of the SCQ

Giorgio Barbier – Pirelli

“Within the first rounds of the season, each in WorldSBK and WorldSSP, we concentrated our improvement exercise on the entrance vary, with the introduction of the smooth SC0 for the riders of the premier class and with the comparability between the usual and the bigger sizes in Supersport. This work may even proceed at Misano however now it’s time to concentrate on the rears as effectively, specifically on the SCQ resolution. The present normal further smooth ensures an excellent peak efficiency and subsequently it completely fulfills its position as a qualifier tyre. The purpose now we have set ourselves is to permit it for use additionally within the Superpole Race, which in some circumstances already occurs. With the brand new improvement resolution, we wish to assure this tyre a higher efficiency consistency and subsequently the next mileage in order to make it a key selection for the ten laps of the quick race on all circuits. In WorldSSP300 now we have determined to introduce a brand new improvement set that makes use of some modern supplies”.

Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista’s race tempo was robust on the Misano Test staged after the Catalunya round, the place he was lapping constantly within the low 1’34s and 1’33s, quicker than his tempo from final yr’s full races. He was setting all-time lap report tempo in direction of the top of the primary morning.

Toprak Razgatlioglu additionally had a powerful tempo in the course of the Supported Take a look at, getting ready for Spherical 5 of 2023 the place he’ll hope to problem Bautista in the course of the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Spherical. He made the headlines forward of the occasion, saying he’ll change from Yamaha to BMW from 2024.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

“In testing, we did an excellent job – particularly with race simulation, I’m very robust. However, I do know Bautista is often very robust in Misano! My goal is to win within the lengthy race, not simply the quick race. I just like the Misano observe and the race tempo this yr is for me significantly better, however we are going to see as a result of the race is at all times totally different from testing! I attempt to do my greatest, this yr I’m nonetheless preventing for the championship and it seems like it’s nonetheless doable we will be champion. We’ll see, I’ll strive my greatest in Misano – if we will win two races, three races, I don’t know we are going to see – I simply attempt to win each race.”

Teammate Andrea Locatelli may even be aiming for stable outcomes on house soil, having confirmed that he’ll stay in blue for the forthcoming two seasons. He’s by no means had a podium at Misano in World Superbike.

Andrea Locatelli

“It’s kind of my ‘house race’ as a result of we race in Italy even when it isn’t near Bergamo! Will probably be fascinating to see if in respect to the final two years we will enhance and get some good factors – and struggle for the rostrum. After Misano take a look at we perceive rather a lot and I hope to reach able to be quick instantly from Friday and attempt to be within the entrance group of each session, to be in place to struggle in the course of the races. It’s a flat observe, no up and down elevation or something loopy however the degree of grip could be very excessive and we have to simply discover a great way to begin on Friday to have the ability to push in the course of the weekend. In fact, we additionally hope for good climate as a result of there was loads of devastating rain within the area lately. The purpose will likely be to placed on present – now we have loads of followers travelling for the occasion and it’s at all times good to take pleasure in this help at house.”

Bautista’s teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s tempo in the course of the Misano take a look at was additionally spectacular, and while not fairly as quick as Bautista, he has the potential for a podium, with him setting 1’34s somewhat comfortably.

Italian rider Lorenzo Baldassarri had a stable take a look at at Misano and will likely be one to look out for in the course of the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Spherical, with Axel Bassani additionally seeking to make a powerful impression at his house spherical. He and Michael Ruben Rinaldi will renew their fierce rivalry after their Barcelona fallout, one of many key on-track speaking factors.

Jonathan Rea scored the primary of his 118 profession WorldSBK race wins at Misano, means again in 2009. He now has a complete of eight Misano victories to his identify, making him essentially the most profitable WorldSBK rider at this circuit.

Jonathan Rea

“It’s nice to be again at Misano. It’s a nice a part of the world to host a race. I at all times spend loads of time right here with my household, having fun with the Italian hospitality, the seaside, the meals. It creates a very nice scene, an important backdrop of a race weekend. The circuit itself has so many good recollections for me. I gained my first WorldSBK race there again in 2009. Since then now we have loved some good moments. I benefit from the observe and it has a mixture of the whole lot, with quick and sluggish sections, and I notably just like the quick Curvone on the finish of the again straight. We had a current take a look at at Jerez the place we tried to enhance within the sort of circumstances we really feel we are going to face once more right here. I feel we enter this weekend in constructive temper and searching ahead to seeing what we will do. Will probably be so good to face the Italian followers, and while I’m not Italian, or have ridden for an Italian producer, they at all times give me loads of love and help. Hopefully we will placed on present for all of the individuals of Emilia-Romagna which have gone by way of a tough time after the current floods.”

Alex has household connects to the Misano space and he’s one other who enjoys every weekend in a rustic that’s as passionate as any for all types of motorsport. Lowes has recorded two podium finishes at Misano and is out to try to add to that rating this coming weekend.

Alex Lowes

“Misano is at all times an important spherical on our annual racing schedule. My brother’s spouse was initially from a spot very near the circuit, so it’s an space now we have spent a while collectively in as a household – it’s beautiful. The observe itself is loads of enjoyable to trip, particularly the center part with the quick flowing corners. We had take a look at in Spain lately and improved my feeling slightly bit in these hotter circumstances that we will anticipate finding this weekend. My purpose is to be again on the rostrum and have some enjoyable with my KRT group.”

Honda have been near the rostrum battle a couple of occasions this season and at the moment are searching for that kind to be the norm somewhat than the odd one out. Vierge scored a better of fourth within the Superpole race at Misano final yr, whereas Lecuona completed fifth in each the Superpole race and Race Two.

Xavi Vierge

“Misano is a observe and a spot that I like, and I used to be deeply sorry to listen to of the disastrous floods that the Emilia-Romagna area and its individuals have suffered. Final yr’s Misano spherical was among the finest for me, apart from the race 2 contact with Bassani and subsequent crash that brought on me to injure my proper hand, however the feeling was there. We accomplished checks at Misano lately and, regardless of the combined circumstances that clearly affected our work schedule, I used to be proud of my feeling with the bike and assume we did job understanding the path to take when it comes to the setup. It’s seemingly that we might want to alter the whole lot slightly bit to adapt the settings to totally different climate circumstances, however I feel now we have the potential to finish an excellent weekend”.

Iker Lecuona

“We return to Misano following a two-day testing session that was characterised by combined climate and combined emotions, as a result of we tried many objects and felt higher with some and fewer so with others, so we must see if we will be part of the dots over the upcoming weekend. Hopefully we’ll have steady circumstances all through the weekend with the intention to outline the very best setup and enhance our pace and race tempo for the races. And in wishing for good climate, our ideas after all flip to all of the individuals affected by the current devastating floods and nonetheless battling in such harsh circumstances.”

Following a combined Spherical 4 in Barcelona, the place each GYTR GRT Yamaha riders scored good factors regardless of some unhealthy luck, the GYTR GRT Yamaha rookies are wanting to struggle for prime locations in what the vast majority of the group proudly calls their house race. Aegerter and Gardner have already loved observe time on the Italian circuit this yr in the course of the take a look at from Eleventh-Twelfth Might, the place each acquired useful information on their Yamaha R1 machines with quite a lot of observe circumstances.

Filippo Conti – GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Staff Supervisor

“We went testing in Misano and we’re assured that these days will likely be useful for the upcoming weekend. It’ll be our house spherical as effectively, and it’s at all times nice to really feel the eagerness of our supporters. We’ll be blissful to welcome our companions, too. Furthermore, we’d like to offer a particular thought to the Emilia-Romagna area, affected by severe flooding in current weeks. We all know very effectively how robust the persons are right here, we’re positive they’ll rise once more rapidly.”

Straight after the Misano take a look at, Aegerter stayed in Italy for arm pump surgical procedure and he’s now prepared for the rest of the season.

Dominique Aegerter

“We had been a bit unfortunate with the climate whereas testing in Misano, however we acquired useful information. I underwent arm pump surgical procedure shortly after and now I’m feeling higher for the remainder of the season. I’d prefer to thank the docs who made the operation doable. We’re aiming for an additional robust weekend and to struggle for the highest positions, keeping track of the climate. I’d prefer to ship my ideas to the Emilia-Romagna area too, I hope we will make some individuals smile for a bit in the course of the spherical.”

Remy Gardner

“The take a look at was OK, just a bit bit unusual with the climate, so we should take note of the forecast for the weekend. I’m trying ahead to this subsequent race, I can’t wait to be again on observe, and hoping to enhance our efficiency and emotions. I actually hope this weekend can supply one thing good to the native individuals who have been by way of rather a lot lately.”

It has been a troublesome begin to the season for BMW and this week Tom Sykes (GBR) stand in for the injured Michael van der Mark (NED) till additional discover.

Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

“We used the break and the Misano take a look at to proceed to adapt our new BMW M 1000 RR to the person necessities of the riders. As such, the groups and riders rode totally different programmes, in contrast elements and, amongst different issues, labored on geometry and weight distribution – notably with Scott and Garrett. For Loris, the Misano take a look at was primarily about getting a really feel for the bike once more after his leg harm. He has had three weeks of restoration time since then, and we’re assured that he will likely be stronger at Misano than lately at Assen and Barcelona. The take a look at gave Tom the chance to familiarise himself with the brand new M RR and Michael’s crew. On the entire, the take a look at was good preparation for the approaching races. Our purpose is to carry out effectively with each groups and all 4 riders at Misano, and to transform the laborious work into good outcomes.”

Misano would be the first aggressive WorldSBK spherical for brand new Kawasaki Puccetti Racing signing Tito Rabat, at what’s his group’s house spherical.

Japanese rider Ryo Mizuno will make his WorldSBK debut as he substitutes for the still-recovering Eric Granado with MIE Honda.

After the primary of two Italian WorldSBK rounds on the 2023 WorldSBK calendar, the groups can have one other lengthy layoff from aggressive motion earlier than WorldSBK hits the UK at Donington Park on July 2.

World Superbike Championship Factors

WorldSSP

Nicolo Bulega arrives in Misano on the prime of the Riders’ Championship standings, with 152 factors. The Ducati rider loved two non-public checks forward of the fifth spherical of 2023, the primary one at Misano and the second at Mugello. In 2022, he completed each races in third place that means he’ll goal for his first win at Misano.

Two podiums for Marcel Schroetter in Barcelona means he now sits in second place within the standings, 33 factors behind Bulega. Will probably be the German’s first look at Misano with WorldSSP.

Italian riders Stefano Manzi and Federico Caricasulo, respectively third and fourth within the standings, may even goal for stable outcomes at their house spherical. Manzi will goal a podium end which he has been lacking in 2022, while Caricasulo will likely be hoping to repeat his 2018 victory.

Bahattin Sofuoglu, recent off his first WorldSSP win in Barcelona, will likely be aiming for a stable weekend for MV Agusta’s house spherical.

Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) stays unfit following his Assen Race 2 crash the place he injured his arm and he wil he will likely be changed, like in Barcelona, by Lucas Mahias. At Yamaha Thailand Racing Staff, Apiwath Wongthananon will likely be changed by Ratthapong Wilairot on the Yamaha YZF-R6 machine. There will likely be two wildcard riders on observe at Misano.

Simone Corse (Altogo Racing Staff) returns for his second spherical of the marketing campaign and Marco Bussolotti returns to WorldSSP for the primary time since 2018 and as reigning CIV Supersport champion, racing with the Axon Seven Staff with Yamaha equipment. Bussolotti is a three-time Superstock 600 winner, with three podiums coming at Misano from 2007 – 2009.

World Supersport Championship Factors

WorldSSP300

With 69 factors, Petr Svoboda arrives in Misano main WorldSSP300 standings. The Czech rider will goal for stable outcomes on the Italian circuit the place he has by no means completed within the prime ten.

He’ll face the competitors of Italian rider Mirko Gennai, recent from two podium locations in Barcelona, together with a win, who will likely be racing at house.

Third within the standings 19 factors behind Svoboda, Samuel Di Sora will goal for stable ends in Misano, the place he completed two occasions on the rostrum previously two years.

Italian rider Matteo Vannucci, who took his first WorldSSP300 win in Misano again in 2022, will likely be one to look out for having claimed two podium locations within the final 4 races.

FIM Supersport 300 World Championship riders can have at their disposal a brand new improvement set of DIABLO Superbike, in SC1 entrance and SC2 rear compounds, which makes use of some new supplies.

World Supersport 300 Championship Factors

WorldSBK Misano Schedule
(AEST)

2023 FIM Superbike World Championship Calendar
Date	Circuit	WSBK	WSSP600	WSSP300
24-26 Feb	Phillip Island	X	X
3-5 Mar	Mandalika	X	X
21-23 Apr	Assen	X	X	X
5-7 Might	Catalunya	X	X	X
2-4 Jun	Misano	X	X	X
30 Jun-02 Jul	Donington Park	X	X
14-16 Jul	Imola	X	X	X
28-30 Jul	Autodrom Most	X	X	X
8-10 Sep	Magny-Cours	X	X	X
22-24 Sep	Aragón	X	X	X
29-Sep-01 Oct	Algarve	X	X	X
13-15 Oct	San Juan Villicum	X	X