SBK | Pata Italian Round, Race1: third place for Marco Melandri

In the first race of the home round at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, the Aruba Racing Team Ducati was unable to contain the superiority demonstrated by Kawasaki: Davies and Melandri had in fact had to deal with stability and gap problems of the Panigale's engine, which did not allow the Italian rider to go beyond third place.

Melandri got off to a very good start at the start, closing in on the Kawasaki duo in the lead but gradually lost ground, finishing over 6 seconds behind the leader: Marco was able to contain the comeback in the final stages of his teammate, Davies, for a third place which allows him to forget the bad round in Assen.

Davies had a race complicated by a bad start and a mistake at the chicane of the low chicane which caused him to lose time and positions: the Welshman was however good at setting a good pace and taking the opportunity to make some good overtaking which was fun the public and allowed him to recover from ninth to fourth position.
In Race2 Davies will start from pole position and will try to replicate the same strategy as Rea, therefore trying to escape from the opening stages.

For the Junior Team, Michael Ruben Rinaldi was the author of another very good race, also fighting for the virtual podium until about halfway through the race, only to then suffer a slight decline and cross the finish line in seventh position.

“All in all we can be satisfied, because today I couldn't have done more. It was a really tough race, in the initial stages I struggled with a full tank and it wasn't possible to keep up with the Kawasakis. I tried in every way, but I was at my limit and I made a couple of mistakes. From mid-race onwards, however, we were very fast, so we need to analyze the data as best we can to start from there in Race 2. In the meantime, I want to thank the fans for their support, the atmosphere here is always incredible. This podium is for them, and we hope to do even better tomorrow” – he said Marco Melandri.

“Unfortunately we weren't able to get a good start. This, also considering that I went off track at the Variante Bassa, forced us to do a comeback race. After half the race our pace was very good, and I'm sure we could have fought for the podium if not the victory, but we found the rhythm a little too late. Looking on the bright side, tomorrow we will start from pole. It's the first time we can take advantage of this rule, but we can also improve some details to be more consistent. I am confident” – he declared Chaz Davies.

“I started quite well and wanted to stay with Melandri, but I made a small mistake. Afterwards I pushed as hard as I could to recover, but when the tires dropped I still struggled a bit. This is what we want to focus on, we just need experience. It also happened to us in Aragon, but here the gap at the end of the race decreased, so the balance is positive. We have good margins for improvement” – he said Michael Ruben Rinaldi.

“It was a tough and hard-fought race, in which our drivers gave their all. Marco, after a few difficult rounds, was able to count on a more stable bike and his third place gives us confidence for the rest of the season. Chaz unfortunately paid for the difficulties in the initial stages, but showed a pace in line with that of the best. We want to take revenge tomorrow” – he commented Marco Zambenedetti, Technical Coordinator Ducati Corse on the track.