VOL. 52 ISSUE 19 MAY 12, 2015 P83
Briefly...
Imola marked the first of two Italian
rounds in 2015 and talks had already
started to make sure Imola remains
on the calendar through 2016 and
beyond. It was the third best attend-
ed round of 2014, with Magny-Cours
and then Phillip Island the next best.
In 2015 Thailand could give all of
those venues a run for their money
after a strong crowd for raceday at
the Chang International Circuit.
The silly season started way too
early at Imola as rumors from Italy
suggested that Pata, currently spon-
soring Honda's main World Super-
bike and World Supersport teams,
would join with Valentino Rossi and
Yamaha to create a VR46 branded
team for Yamaha' much vaunted full
today, but it is hard to explain,
because I do not understand
why. Also last year my bike then
was working really well here, so
I expected Honda to be really
fast and for sure Ducati and
Aprilia, because they are always
the strong two manufacturers
at the front. I cannot speak for
them but we concentrated on
our race."
Possibly the best equipped
rider to set out on such a
season-long task as scaling
Rea's Mount Olympus of points
is his own teammate Sykes. He
had not only his best two results
of 2015 at Imola (second place
continued on next page
(Left) It was a one-two punch from
the Kawasaki factory squad at the
legendary Italian circuit.
Giugliano (34) and Jordi Torres
(81) joined the Kawasaki duo
atop the podium in race one
and two, respectively.
