During qualifying for the Race of Champions at World Ducati Week (WDW) in Misano, Superbike World Championship ace Andrea Iannone caused a surprise...
World Ducati Week (WDW) in Misano Adriatico had its first highlight on the program on Friday evening. Race of Champions qualifying saw 15 aces Ducati of various international racing series compete on Panigale V4 identical.
With the participation of the brothers Marquez via MotoGP Customer Team Gresini, the event took on even more brilliance. In addition to the MotoGP world champion Pecco Bagnaia, VR46 drivers Fabio Di Giannantonio et Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez et Enea Bastianini were in the lead from the start.
Shortly before halftime of the 25-minute session, bagnaia achieved a time of 1'35.0. Ten minutes before the end, the representatives of SBK Nico Bulega et Andrea Iannone were fighting for positions 2 and 4. Two and a half minutes before the end, Iannone, in the wake of Marc Marquez, achieved the best time with a minimal lead over Bagnaia of the order of four hundredths of a second. No one could counter, and Di Giannantonio completed the first line.
Andrea Iannone: “ Gigi Dall'Igna told me that if I didn't get pole I wouldn't have anything to drive next year »
« Gigi told me if I didn't get pole I wouldn't have anything to drive next year », joked Iannone after his exploit. The Go-Eleven rider did not want to get into MotoGP speculation and said: “ This bike works very well, I quickly found myself, the seating position suits me very well. It's always interesting to compete – and also to see what the boys do differently »
At the arrival, Marc Marquez was in the first two sectors with two red helmets, but it was only enough for position 5. The first 8 until Enea Bastianini are separated by less than five tenths of a second. The performance of the Superbike world champion Alvaro Bautista in penultimate place 14 was disappointing.
The Race of Champions will start in Misano Saturday afternoon at 17 p.m. and will be broadcast live on YouTube. Before that, there will be stunt shows, celebrations of Ducati 916 and trials for all with the new Panigale V4. The icons Carl Fogarty et Troy bayliss, having won seven titles between them SBK for the Borgo Panigale brand, will also be present to celebrate this event.
Qualification Ranking
