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Aprilia's win at Imola came with their previous model, the twin-cylinder RSV1000, back in 2001 in Race 2. Since then however, ten more podiums have followed, including a curious pattern: three third places in the last three of the second races held at Imola. Sylvain Guintoli was the rider on the rostrum in 2013 and 2014 for the marque, followed by Jordi Torres last year.

BMW scored two podium finishes at Imola in 2012, with Leon Haslam third in both races. Last year, aptly-named Ayrton Badovini was the best-placed BMW rider with two impressive results, as he came home sixth and fifth in the races.

Ducati won for the last time at home in Imola in 2012 and have an impressive record at the track: their tally of victories, 13, is more than what all of their rivals combined have managed so far (Honda 7, Kawasaki 4, Aprilia 1). Last year, Ducati started from pole with Davide Giugliano and the Italian also climbed on the podium with a P3 in Race 1.

Honda is the second most successful team at Imola with seven wins, the last three picked up by Jonathan Rea: 2011 Race 1 and a double victory two years ago. Last year, their best result was scored by Guintoli in fifth as his rookie teammate Michael van der Mark had an uncharacteristically difficult weekend.

Kawasaki last year counted on Imola as one of their strongest performances of the season, with a double 1-2 finish for Rea and Sykes, who ran 1-2 for all the laps of the two races and were also 1-2 in the fastest laps rankings…twice. Kawasaki have scored nine podiums so far at Imola, and all of them with their current pairing of factory riders.

MV Agusta are still chasing their first points at their home track, as last year Leon Camier suffered two problematic races. They are in the best position to bounce back as in the last weekend at Assen they posted their best ever WorldSBK result with the aforementioned Camier, fourth in Race 1, and will have their sights set up the grid once again.

Yamaha have had three podiums so far on this Italian track. They were all third places, scored in the single 2005 Race by Noriyuki Haga, in the first 2006 one by Andrew Pitt and in 2010 Race 2 by Cal Crutchlow. In their last visit here, back in 2011, they were just short of a podium finish as Eugene Laverty finished fifth and fourth. With a whole new bike, the Japanese factory will be eager to see where they are upon their return to WorldSBK.