A second home round for the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team as it takes to the Misano World Circuit for round six of the Superbike World Championship, while the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team will take on the fourth round of the season.
It will be an important weekend for Sandro Carusi’s team and for rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who will make his debut aboard the YZF-R1, returning to WorldSBK alongside the promising Bahattin Sofuoglu.
Having made consistent progress over the first half of the season, the young Turkish rider will be looking to continue this trend, while Rinaldi will work to build confidence with a bike and team that are completely new to him.
The fourth round of the WorldSSP 300 championship will see Sandro Carusi’s team field young talents Marc Vich and Gianmaria Ibidi. The Spaniard has now recovered from an injury that limited him earlier on in the season, while at Most, the Italian showed that he has the potential to run top ten.
The Misano track was designed in 1969 and underwent significant work in the 90s, becoming an increasingly efficient facility. In 1993 the track was extended to 4.060 kilometres in length and a new garage building was constructed.
At the end of 2006 the circuit was closed and a new track built in the space of just five months. The new track measured 4.180 kilometres and ran in a clockwise direction. Grandstand capacity was increased to more than 23,000 seats. The track currently measures 4.226 kilometres and incorporates sixteen turns, ten of which right-handers and six left. Pole position is to the right.
"The Misano round has always been an important one for us, and this year it is even more significant, because we’re celebrating ten years of racing with the R1, and because it will be the first time we take to this track with two bikes and with the faith of Yamaha, that has also entrusted us with Michael. We are all eager to do our very best and achieve the best possible results.”
Michael Ruben Rinaldi - Rider #21
“The Misano track is one of my favourites and I’m pleased to return to Superbike at this track, where I’ve also won in the past. I carried out a test at Vallelunga to start building confidence with my new bike and with the team, and I can’t wait for Friday when I can line up against the competition. I don’t have any specific goals for this round, just to do my very best in front of our sponsors and supporters.”
Bahattin Sofuoglu - Rider #99
“I had my best Superbike weekend so far at Most, and so Misano comes at the right time. I’ve trained hard to be ready for this important round because I want to keep improving and worked with the team to be more and more competitive. It’s the team’s home round and so I’ll be going all out to score good results.”
