Andrea Locatelli enjoyed a strong Saturday performance “at home” in front of his enthusiastic fan club with a seventh-place finish in Race 1 at Misano World Circuit, for Round 7 of the FIM Superbike World Championship in Italy today.
Qualifying on the third row in P8, the #55 Italian Pata Maxus Yamaha rider made a clean getaway and, after some dicing with other riders in the first couple of laps, rode a metronomic pace in seventh place from Lap 6 onwards. The hottest race of the day saw track temperatures rise above 50 °C, but it did not affect Locatelli’s performance and the 29-year-old is aiming to take another step on Sunday.
On the opposite side of the pit box, the team’s Spanish rider Xavi Vierge was hampered by a mistake in Superpole that saw him start from P14 on the grid this afternoon. He did his best to make progress in the opening part of the race, working his way through to 11th before crossing the line in 12th place. Vierge was positive about his teammate Locatelli’s performance and hopes to emulate the Italian to fight inside the top 10 tomorrow.
In the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha’s Chloe Jones joined teammate Beatriz Neila on the podium for the first time this season – as the Brit was promoted to third following an epic battle between five riders that went right to the wire. Neila keeps her championship title hopes alive for Ampito Crescent Yamaha with another hard-fought race against main rival Maria Herrera.
The final day in Misano starts on track at 8:55 CEST for 10-minute WorldWCR Warm Up, followed by WorldSBK at 9:15. The Superpole Race begins at 11:00 for the premier class, WorldWCR’s Race 2 at 11:50 and WorldSBK Race 2 to end the weekend at 14:00.
FULL SUPERPOLE RESULTS
FULL RACE ONE RESULTS
Andrea Locatelli – SP: P8 / Race 1: P7
“We were pushing hard from this morning and in the end, we found a good feeling! As I said yesterday, we were working hard for this because I was sure that with an improved feeling on my R1 we could do a better weekend and a positive Race 1. I think our Superpole was important and we did a good job, with a good position because for sure starting from P8 was a big help. I started the race well and tried to fight hard from the beginning. It was difficult to stay with the top group at the front, but I tried to give my maximum – and I am quite happy today, but for sure we need to keep working hard to find something more with the performance and make another small step forward to progress. Like always, we have here a bit extra motivation in Misano with all the fans here to support me – thank you also to them, to come here and believe in me, I will try to do the same! Push hard and try to achieve the best possible results.”
Xavi Vierge – SP: P14 / Race 1: P12
“Unfortunately, I didn’t make the best qualifying today – we had a much better rhythm, but I made a mistake on my fourth lap and this cost a lot, so I started P14. We know that starting on the fifth row of the grid can make the race more difficult. I tried to make a good start to go forward, but it wasn’t possible. The pace wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t in the position I needed to be so it was so difficult. No excuses, it was in my hands and we need to understand how we can be faster tomorrow to try to make a better race because my teammate Loka did a very good job. He started eighth and he was able to stay in that position until the end, so I need to learn how he was racing and try to go forward!”
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