Top 5, top Ducati, top job: Rinaldi shines at home in Misano!
It was another strong performance from home-hero Rinaldi, who took another top five in 2019!
Once more, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) was top Ducati as he powered to a fifth position, beating the likes of the ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati of Chaz Davies, whilst also closing down the battle for the final podium position between Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team).
A seventh in the Tissot Superpole Race and a fifth in Race 2 mean Rinaldi is certainly finding his form in dry conditions, particularly when both are coupled with his fourth place at Jerez in Race 2. Had it not been for a crash out of the top ten in Race 1 in the wet on Saturday, the 23-year-old Italian may have found himself inside the top ten of the overall standings heading to Donington Park.
“In the practice, we were pretty good I think. However, Race 1 was wet and it was my first race in the wet conditions. I was in seventh position but I make a mistake and I crashed. I know that our potential is coming in every race, we are getting better and better with each race. The team have done amazing work and I think that today, I gave my 100%!
“We are here, in P5, and I am so, so happy! Donington Park is a completely different track but we have found a good base setting, so we arrive with the same base setting and the same mentality. I think that we can fight for the top five there too.”
Rinaldi had a disastrous Donington Park in 2018, with a 12th in Race 1 and a retirement in Race 2 proving to be his results. But Rinaldi has found some strong form and will now look to build on that ahead of his second WorldSBK venture to the iconic British circuit.
Will Rinaldi be a top five challenger at Donington Park? Find out with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
