The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team enjoyed an unforgettable weekend in Imola. After taking the Panigale R to a historic first win on Italian soil in Race 1, Chaz Davies did the double in Race 2. The Welshman’s tally also includes Superpole and the fastest lap in both races.
Thanks to another ‘holeshot’ at the start, Davies managed to impose his rhythm and quickly pulled away from the rest of the field, posting the race’s fastest lap with a 1:42.240 in lap 6 and then increasing his lead to five seconds, a margin he administered until the finish line, preceding Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes.
Davide Giugliano, fifth in Race 1, showed a strong progression with a pace worthy of the podium. Some difficulties in the early laps prevented him from fighting with the factory Kawasakis, but two top-five finishes give the Italian confidence ahead of the next races. With five rounds in the books, Davies (186 points) and Giugliano (88 points) sit in second and fifth position respectively in the championship, while Ducati (196) is second in the Manufacturers rankings. The WorldSBK season will resume in two weeks’ time in Sepang (Malaysia).
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 1st
“It’s just been an incredible week-end, from start to finish. The latest upgrades Ducati brought for the Panigale R in Aragon allowed us to compete for the win in each race. To seize a victory here in Imola, Ducati’s backyard, is special. To do a double, is unbelievable. Today the conditions were different, but we were able to create a gap since the first few laps. I made a couple of mistakes in lap 9 that made me lose a second, but also helped me stay focused until the checkered flag. We head to Sepang with confidence, as we have a more competitive package than last year, when we still left Malaysia with a second place and a win. Our goal is to keep the momentum and further cut the gap in the championship.”
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #34) – 4th
“Today we made another step forward with the setup and I probably could have fought for the podium as my pace was similar to Sykes’, but I struggled early on to warm up the rear tyre. Compared with the last couple of races, this round has definitely been positive, with two top-five finishes that give me a confidence boost to get back on the right track. I want to give my special thanks to the many Ducati fans who showed an incredible warmth despite our recent struggles. Sepang will be another tough battle, both because of the climate and the layout, but we’re not holding back.”
Ernesto Marinelli, Superbike Project Director
“This has been one of the best week-ends one could hope for, with two undisputed victories. It has been a while since the last time we achieved that in Imola, where the passion for Ducati is so strong. We’re extremely happy with the work done both by the team and the people at home. I want to congratulate Chaz for two perfect races, and Davide for taking another step in the right direction. We hope to see them both on the podium soon.”
