Imola (Italy), Tuesday 25th June 2013: team SBK Ducati Alstare and its riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini prepare to compete in round 7 of the 2013 World Superbike championship this weekend at Ducati’s home track in Imola, Italy.
Checa and his team hope to be able to build on the solid progress made almost three weeks ago at Portimao in Portugal. Having concluded race two in sixth place, the team is confident and ready to work hard in order to obtain strong results on the Italian track. Imola has proved to be a rich hunting ground for the Spaniard in recent years; he has won five of the last six races.
Badovini would like to complete two good races in front of the Italian public and Ducatisti at what is a home track for both the young Ducati rider and the Italian manufacturer. The circuit, officially known as the ‘Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola’ is located only about 40km from Ducati’s HQ in the Borgo Panigale area of Bologna.
On Monday, immediately after the race weekend, Team SBK Ducati Alstare will take part in an official test day arranged by the championship organisers at the same track.
Carlos Checa:
“I think I’m physically fit now. In recent days I’ve been working hard but also enjoying some relaxation time. I’m feeling good and so hope that I won’t have to think about my shoulder any more while riding. We worked well during the Portimao weekend and on race day I was a lot more comfortable on the bike. So we’re coming to Imola at the right time. It’s one of the tracks that I really like and where I’ve always been fast. It’ll be the first time I’m riding the 1199 there and I hope that I can get back to being the best Carlos Checa, to bring the Panigale to the position that it deserves. I’m feeling really enthusiastic.”
2009: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 10th
Ayrton Badovini:
“I can say that I have high expectations this weekend. The races will be hard from a physical point of view of course but I have been able to prepare better than I have for previous rounds so I’m feeling confident. Also, Imola has always been a pro-Ducati track and I hope that this is the case this year for us and the new 1199 Panigale. It’s my home track and I’d like to complete two good races in front of the Italian public. It’s always great to have the support of the fans that give us further motivation… and then I live so close by that at night I can even go and sleep at home!”
2011: Race 1- 9th, Race 2 – 10th
CIRCUIT DATA
Race distance: 21 laps/103.656 km
LAP RECORDS: Best lap – Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’47.552 (2012). Superpole – Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’46.748 (2012).
2012 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. 1. Checa (Ducati); 2. Sykes (Kawasaki); 3. Haslam (BMW). Race 2 – 1. Checa (Ducati); 2. Sykes (Kawasaki); 3. Haslam (BMW)
