Category: Superbikes

1. GUINTOLI ON THE PODIUM AT IMOLA

   Posted on 5:42pm Sunday 11th May 2014

   The Aprilia Racing Team leaves Imola with the third place Sylvain Guintoli took home in Race 2 which, together with his fifth place in Race 1, keeps the rider close to the top of the championship standings. Sylvain, coming off two wins and demonstrating consistent performance, now lies in third place in the championship, just 16 points behind the new leader, Rea, and 12 behind Sykes.

   In the first race, after holding onto second place for much of the race, Guintoli suffered a drop in tyre performance which forced him to a more defensive strategy in the second part of the race. These are important points in a Championship which, after only four rounds, promises to be extremely well balanced. Sylvain's redemption came in Race 2 where he played a key role, staying in the leading pack from the start and finishing in third place in front of some of his fiercest rivals in the battle for the title.

   Sylvain Guintoli: “It was a hard battle in both races. In Race 2 we managed to improve our pace quite a bit. I knew I would have to start off strong because we are struggling a bit at the moment in the second half of the race. I fought all the way to the end. I knew that the podium was within reach so I gritted my teeth and tried not to make any mistakes. A fifth and third place don't exactly make me jump for joy, but in any case they mean 27 points. I know that I put forth my best effort on this track. The test tomorrow is important because we'll be able to continue improving and looking for new solutions so that we can be incisive in any conditions”.

   The weekend at Imola was decidedly disappointing for Marco Melandri who, after two days of positive sessions, was expecting to be strong in the races. Instead, his sixth place in Race 1 and eleventh place in the second match, despite two excellent starts, kept the rider from Ravenna out of the spotlight on the track at Imola.

   Marco Melandri: “This was a very disappointing Sunday race day, definitely not up to our expectations which were quite high after such a good start to the weekend. Friday and Saturday were positive and it seemed like we were on the right track. This means that we still have a lot of work to do. I am quite capable of bringing home very different results, but that's how this sport is at these levels”.

2. GREAT START FOR THE APRILIA TEAM IN THEIR HOME ROUND

   Posted on 8:43pm Friday 9th May 2014

   PROTAGONISTS IN BOTH SESSIONS ON THE IMOLA TRACK, MARCO MELANDRI AND SYLVAIN GUINTOLI ENSURE A GOOD SPOT FOR THEMSELVES IN THE SUNDAY RACES.

   Imola, 9 May 2014 - On a decidedly summer day the World Superbike engines roared to life at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit at Imola. For the Aprilia Racing Team, reigning Manufacturer World Champion, it was a very promising début: Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli were protagonists straight away in the two sessions today, demonstrating great determination and an excellent pace. The only black spot on the day was a red flag 12 minutes from the end of the second session when the riders were getting ready to test the last solutions.

   Marco Melandri, playing on his home pitch, ended the day with the third best time in the combined standings. The young man from Ravenna improved consistently until arriving less than two tenths of a second from the ranking leader. Efforts will be focused on two fronts tomorrow: continuing the search for the best settings in view of the race and finding speed on the flying lap in order to do well in Superpole. In fact, one of the characteristics of the Imola track is difficulty overtaking.

   Marco Melandri: "I am really quite pleased. For us today was like a new, positive beginning. I feel good on my RSV4 and I am able to ride very smoothly. Today we did a lot of work in preparation for the race, trying to understand how the tyres behave and working on our electronics strategies. Tomorrow we'll continue in this direction, also looking for speed on the flying lap for Superpole. The interruption in the second session didn't even create any big problems for us. We already have a good base to build on".

   It was also a decidedly positive day for Sylvain Guintoli, winner at Assen and fourth best time today. The Frenchman put in a lot of laps at Imola and showed that he is consistently fast. There are a few regrets about the time lost in the last session, which could have led to further improvements. For Sylvain and his team tomorrow promises to be a rather intense day.

   Sylvain Guintoli: "We started off well. As usual we are working on race pace, but my initial feeling with my RSV4 is very good. With all the red flags that interrupted the practice sessions there are still a few things left to test. I hope we can get some consistent time to work tomorrow and finish what we have planned. In any case our times are promising and I'm confident that starting from the good work we did today we'll be able to improve even more".

3. HOME ROUND FOR APRILIA: SUPERBIKE RACES AT IMOLA

   Posted on 7:52am Thursday 8th May 2014

   MARCO MELANDRI AND SYLVAIN GUINTOLI ARE READY TO INCITE THE ITALIAN FANS.

   Noale, 7 May 2013 - The first Italian round of the 2014 World Superbike Championship season is coming up. The factory derivative bikes are getting ready to take on the Imola track, the historic circuit on the banks of the Santerno which has always stirred up the hearts of fans. Its nature as an "old school" track, despite the changes that have been made over recent years, always makes it a particularly demanding circuit for bikes and riders and, consequently, for any gearhead.

   For Marco Melandri motivation abounds. After the demanding weekend at Assen the rider from Ravenna is keen to improve his synergy with to find the consistency and speed he'll need to aim for the title. Imola is definitely not an easy track. Experience and focus are required to turn up at the races Sunday in the best possible conditions and Marco has plenty of both.

   Marco Melandri: "Imola is my true home round and I really want to do well, so I'll take to the track with a huge desire to battle and to do well. I certainly don't expect things to be easy. There will be a lot of fast riders here, but with the entire team we have put in a lot of hard work and the time is coming to reap the benefits of what we have done so far to improve."

   A key player in Holland, where he took a win and just barely missed making it a double, Sylvain Guintoli will take on the Italian round with an eye to confirming his progress. He now lies in second place in the rider standings, just 12 points behind Sykes in the lead, a truly slim gap considering the fact that this is only the fourth round of the season. The podium he took here in 2013 during his rookie year on the Aprilia RSV4 is a nice calling card for the French rider who has recovered from the blow he suffered during Race 2 at Assen.

   Sylvain Guintoli: "In Assen we made big progress with the RSV4 and we showed our fighting spirit, it paid off with the win in race1. I want to continue in this way in Imola. Although my back was really painful after the crash in race2, I am now back to full fitness and ready to fight for the win".

4. Mitas is the official tyre supplier of 2014 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series

   Posted on 8:00am Tuesday 6th May 2014

   Mitas has signed a multiyear contract with BSI Speedway, the promoters of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix, to be the official tyre supplier and associate sponsor of the world championship series for the 11th consecutive year. The Czech-based company will also be the title sponsor of round three on 17 May, which will be known as the 2014 Mitas Finnish FIM Speedway Grand Prix.

    

   Paul Bellamy, managing director, BSI Speedway, said: “Mitas has been a great supporter of the world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix series for many years, and we look forward to continuing this relationship.  It is exciting times for the world championship, and we are delighted that Mitas are also title sponsor of our inaugural Finnish SGP at the Ratina Stadium, Tampere, on 17 May.“

    

5. Fernandez wins wet EJC race at Assen

   Posted on 1:49pm Monday 28th Apr 2014

   Spaniard Augusto Fernandez won today’s second-round European Junior Cup race at Assen in the Netherlands, leading from first corner to chequered flag to narrow the lead at the top of the 2014 championship.

   Fernandez is second in a Spanish 1-2-3 at the top of the table with Marc Miralles leading the way after finishing in third place in today’s six-lap race at the 4.542km Assen circuit, adding to his first round win at Aragon in Spain two weeks ago. Javier Orellana could finish only eighth today, but still sits in championship third position.

   In damp conditions in Assen, which followed disruption to the schedule following a heavily-delayed second World Superbike championship race, Jesper Hubner finished in second place today. The Swedish rider is just one point behind Orellana in the table.

   Podium finisher in Aragon, Mika Perez, was one of several riders who fell victim to today’s wet conditions but local Dutch wildcard, Ricardo Brink, finished in a creditable fourth place, while his fellow Dutchman and the second Assen wildcard, Jamie van Sikkelerus, rounded out the top ten.

   “It was a difficult weekend,” said Fernandez after the race. “I started from sixth place on the grid but my start was OK. I was a bit nervous but went into the first corner in the lead. I thought I could push, but I had to concentrate very hard. I’m very happy with this win, though, and I look forward to Imola.”

    

   2014 European Junior Cup, powered by Honda Racing

   Round 2: Assen, Netherlands - race result:

   1 Augusto Fernandez (ESP)

   2 Jesper Hubner (SWE)

   3 Marc Miralles (ESP)

   4 Ricardo Brink (NED)

   5 Hannes Soomer (EST)

   6 Paolo Grassia (ITA)

   7 Connor London (NZL)

   8 Javier Orellana (ESP)

   9 Alex Wisdom (USA)

   10 Jamie van Sikkelerus

   Championship points after two of eight rounds:

   Miralles 41, Fernandez 38, Orellana 28, Hubner 27, Soomer 20, Grassia 18, Perez 16, Angelo Licciardi (BEL) 14, London 14, Brink 13.

   Next race: Imola, Italy – 9-11 May