Another chapter in the SSP battle between Kawasaki and Honda
The World Supersport 'wild bunch' are back in action again with another chapter in the battle between Kawasaki and Honda; Turkey's Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini) is on top with 81 points, and the Honda men, Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR) and Jules Cluzel (PTR) are right behind. Thirty-nine year-old Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step) is not far off the top either, just 26 points behind his fellow Kawasaki runner.
Experience tends to favour Sofuoglu who in Supersport has already conquered two world titles and 18 race wins, but 22-year-old Lowes and 24-year-old Cluzel have both broken the victory ice this season and after a good start for the Turk they have now caught him up. Kenan is back to full form since his nasty early season crash during Imola testing, and can count on the Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini's specific experience at the track, which is close to its Mantova base.
Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) hopes finally to be in a position to kick-start his season, while Alex Baldolini (Power Team Team by Suriano Triumph) is sixth on 38 points. Massimo Roccoli, who scored his only World Supersport win here in 2006, will be one man to watch as he steps in for the injured Vladimir Leonov on the Yakhnich Yamaha.
Superstock 1000
After a two-round break the Superstock 1000 category is back on the scene at Misano, with Romagna rider Lorenzo Savadori (Barni Racing Team Italia Ducati) leading the way; on his home track therefore Savadori will have a chance to increase his lead over Frenchman Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet), who has slid down to second place, three points from the top, following his crash at Monza. The new Ducati Panigale machine is also going well in the hands of Eddi La Marra, third overall just five points behind his team-mate. Meanwhile the Kawasaki MRS team has replaced Loris Baz, who has been promoted to the official Superbike team, with his compatriot Jeremy Guarnoni.
Superstock 600
Riccardo Russo (Team Italia FMI Yamaha) has ruled the European Superstock 600 roost so far this season in the championship reserved for the under-22s. The 19 year-old Italian has won two out of three rounds, but has been unable to outpace Dutchman Michael van der Mark (EAB Ten Kate Junior Team Honda), who is just seven points behind. Russo also leads the Italian championship and as a result is being watched closely by paddock insiders, as this entry-level category continues to produce interesting young talent.
KTM European Junior Cup
Talented youngsters get another bite of the cherry this year as the European Junior Cup comes into its own, this time on KTM machinery. The 14 to 19 year-olds are racing on identical 690 Duke bikes, with the overall winner getting a chance to move into Superstock at the end of the year and continue his or her career. The previous round at Monza was cancelled because of bad weather so the third round sees the youngsters virtually start from scratch, with Poland's Adrian Pasek leading the points thanks to his win at Assen.
Coppa dei due Paesi (Two-Nations Cup)
Misano will also be the venue for the first of three rounds of the Coppa dei due Paesi, the trophy reserved for Italian and Russian riders. Afterwards the Trophy will head to Brno (July 22) and Moscow (August 26). The 31 riders entered (with several wild-cards from different countries) will race on Superstock 600 machines. In 2011 the first edition of the Coppa dei Due Paesi was won by Russia's Vladimir Leonov who is now one of the protagonists of this year's Supersport World Championship.
