Arezzo/Borgo Panigale (Italy), Tuesday 2 June 2015 – Round 7 of the Superbike World Championship sees the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team and riders Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano travel to Portugal, and the ‘Autodromo Internacional do Algarve’.
Last year’s Portuguese event brought mixed results for the Ducati pair as, while they both reached the race 2 podium, crossing the line in second (Giugliano) and third (Davies) position, race 1 resulted in a seventh place finish for Davide and a crash for Chaz, from which he was able to return to the track and conclude the race eighteenth.
With regard to the 2015 championship, Ducati men Davies and Giugliano were last out just over a week ago at the Donington Park circuit in the UK. The Welshman concluded both of the day’s races on the podium, with a double third, while the Italian crossed the line in seventeenth (after a pit-stop to change tyres) and fifth place. Six rounds into the championship and Davies is in fourth position in the general standings (155 points), while Giugliano, having only competed in two rounds, continues to build his points total to place fourteenth (40 points). Ducati is second in the manufacturer’s championship having collected 196 points thus far.
Comments ahead of the event:
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7)
“I really like the Portimao track and think it is one of the best tracks in the world. It has elements that are similar to a motocross track and in certain sections it’s a little like a BSB track. We had a solid weekend there last year and I’m optimistic that we can do well and put up a good fight against our biggest rivals. We continue to aim for podium finishes at every round, something I’ve achieved in every race that I’ve finished so far…”
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #34)
“Portimao is a fun track but also, I think, one of the most difficult tracks of all. Last year we achieved a significant podium finish in Portugal and this season, considering all of the improvements that have been made to my bike, I would hope to be able to do better. After the Donington weekend my motivation is even higher and I hope that Sunday can bring two strong results.”
Circuit Information:
Country: Portugal
Name: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
Length: 4.592 km
Pole position: right
Race distance: 20 laps/91.840 km
RECORDS: Best lap – Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’42.475 (2013). Superpole – Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’41.360 (2013).
2014 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Sykes (Kawasaki); 2. Guintoli (Aprilia); 3. Baz (Kawasaki). Race 2 – 1. Rea (Honda); 2. Giugliano (Ducati); 3. Davies (Ducati)
Rider Information:
