Round six of the 2015 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda, kicks off today on the Adriatic coast of northern Italy at Misano World Circuit in Misano – the Pata-sponsored Rivieri di Rimini round of the World Superbike championship.
Despite three races remaining on the 2015 calendar, and a long break between this weekend and the next round at Jerez in Spain on 20 September, it’s possible that the title could be decided at Misano.
Spaniard Javier Orellana sits comfortably on top of the points table with a commanding 50-point lead over his rivals, having finished all but one of the five rounds to date on the top step of the podium.
Only one other Honda CBR650F pilot has won this season, Italian rider Emanuele Pusceddu, who took victory at his home race in Imola last month. However, the 19-year-old broke his collarbone at the following round at Donington Park in the UK and will be hoping to be fit enough to challenge Orellana this weekend.
Another Italian rider, Paolo Grassia, sits third in the championship standings, two points behind Frenchman Guillaume Raymond. He will also be desperate to impress at his home round but any of these three will do well to stop the relentless charge of Orellana to the 2015 EJC title.
In the inaugural FIM Europe Women’s European Cup, New Zealander Avalon Biddle will be looking to continue her own winning streak at Misano and edge closer to becoming the first European women’s champion.
All 2015 European Junior Cup races are streamed live on the internet and can be viewed at: http://europeanjuniorcup.com/ejc/watch-ejc-live/
Gerry Bryce - series director
It’s good to be at Misano after an eventful race at Portimao. Emanuele Pusceddu will be fit again and, as it’s his home race, I’m sure Paolo Grassia will want to challenge for a win. However, Javier Orellana is now 50 points clear and he could clinch the title this weekend. I think that, given his form in the races so far this season, we certainly can expect him to be at the front, barring any misfortune. It’s possible we could have a championship winner in June, which would certainly be a strange sensation!