Monza (Italy), Sunday 12 May 2013: Team SBK Ducati Alstare and Ayrton Badovini fought hard during today’s fourth round of the World Superbike Championship at the ‘Autodromo di Monza’, concluding the day’s races in ninth and eleventh position. Carlos Checa did not take part due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
Race 1 – starting from twelfth position on the grid, Ayrton lost a few positions through the first chicane but was able to make up two of those lost places before the end of the first lap, positioning himself fourteenth. He then set out to chase down Sandi and Neukirchner immediately ahead of him, passing both of them during the course of the subsequent laps. By lap eight Ducati Alstare’s flag bearer was in eleventh position and, by keeping Neukirchner firmly behind him during the second half of the race, he was able to cross the line in that same position, scoring five championship points as a result.
Race 2 – Badovini made a good start to the second race, making up a couple of positions through the first corners and moving into eleventh position during lap two. Once past Neukirchner, Ayrton tried to push to reach Baz a few seconds ahead of him. By mid-race he was in ninth place but unfortunately, due to the gap that had opened up between him and Loris ahead of him, he was unable to further improve on his position and so brought his 1199 Panigale home in final ninth position.
Ayrton Badovini: “Race 1 was difficult as we had chattering issues through the fast sections of the track. We solved this in part for the second race by making some changes, or tests, and we saw that something good came out of it. In the coming days we’ll test at Mugello, where the aim will be to focus on what we’ve found here today and try to refine it in preparation for the next races. I’d like to thank all my sponsors, fans and the many Ducatisti who’ve come to cheer us on this weekend – I’m always grateful for their support.”
At the end of Round 4 Ayrton holds 32 points and lies in thirteenth position in the general standings. Carlos, having not participated in this weekend’s races, is fourteenth with 29 points.
Team SBK Ducati Alstare, with rider Ayrton Badovini, will take part in Ducati’s next development tests at the Mugello circuit this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Melandri (BMW); 2. Sykes (Kawasaki); 3. Laverty (Aprilia). Race 2 – 1. Laverty (Aprilia); 2. Melandri (BMW); 2. Sykes (Kawasaki)
CLASSIFICATION: Riders – 1. Guintoli (Aprilia) 137; 2. Laverty (Aprilia) 124; 3. Sykes (Kawasaki) 119; 4. Melandri (BMW) 96; 5. Davies (BMW) 94; 6. Baz (Kawasaki) 75; 7. Fabrizio (Aprilia) 74; 8. Rea (Honda) 71… 13. Badovini (Ducati Alstare) 32; 14. Checa (Ducati Alstare) 29… Manufacturers – 1. Aprilia 172; 2. BMW 144; 3. Kawasaki 130; 4. Honda 78; 5. Suzuki 68; 6. Ducati 52
