WSBK Misano Presentation: from Ducati to Pirelli, all of Italy will be in tune, but it is the Spaniard Bautista who will be the big favorite

This weekend, the Misano track welcomes the World Superbike paddock which will, in a way, make a new start to its season after the long interlude which followed the last round in Catalonia. The deadline is expected as a great Italian celebration and firstly because it will take place under the patronage of the unique manufacturer Pirelli which will celebrate its 20 years of presence in the category reserved for motorcycles from the series. Then, Ducati should continue the domination observed since the start of this campaign, but under the leadership of the reigning world champion Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista. A scenario with a common thread that the local heroes will still want to upset, and not only them…

After being severely impacted by the elements, Emilia Romagna will try to forget the ordeals suffered during a motorsport weekend, an environment which makes its reputation and which it claims as its wealth. It's the WSBK whose mission will be to put smiles back on faces and the Italian public should have something to celebrate with its compatriot brand Ducati.

Last year, Alvaro Bautista had managed to win the two long races, while Razgatlioglu had been relentless in the Superpole Race to take his first victory of the 2022 season. Toprak had also won Race 2 of 2021, depriving Michael Ruben Rinaldi, the teammate of Baptist, a hat-trick at home. Baptist ahead Razgatlioglu of 69 points in the championship: will the Turk be able to take advantage of the fact that Misano does not require high top speeds to catch up with the No. 1? In any case, during the last and recent test in Misano, Baptist et Toprak Razgatlioglu seemed to be a step above...

In Misano outsiders will have to reveal themselves in view of 2024

In Misano, Rinaldi et bassani who had stuck to Barcelona, ​​will find themselves with multiple reasons to do it again. A place to take within the official team Ducati and the search for national supremacy should alone catalyze their already heightened passions... Meanwhile, Jonathan Rhea will be in search of its past splendor with a Kawasaki who will do the same, with the aim of taking back third place overall from the Yamaha factory rider Andrea Locatelli, also renewed for 2024. With which teammate? Razgatlioglu being on his way to BMW, Gardner et agitated have a lot to play for in Iwata's clan.

At Honda, it will be a question of confirming his status as spoilsport and better outsider than BMW where four drivers now know that one will have to disappear from the shelves next year to make way for the Turkish 2021 world champion. And then there will be the eternal outsiders among whom will be one Danilo Petrucci for whom it will also be a party at home…