Delbianco to race with Pedercini Kawasaki on home soil at Misano
The Italian will substitute for Leon Haslam with the British rider unable to race at Misano due to other commitments
Alessandro Delbianco will return to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid at the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round with the TPR Team Pedercini Racing outfit at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. Due to Leon Haslam, who was due to race for the team at Misano, now unavailable because of his Suzuka 8 Hour commitments with Kawasaki, the team have drafted in Delbianco for his home round.
Delbianco last raced in WorldSBK last year when he substituted for Leandro Mercado at MIE Racing Honda Team at the Czech Round. Prior to that, he competed in the full 2019 season and scored a best result of ninth place, coming at Donington Park in Race 1. The Emilia-Romagna Round will be the first time Delbianco has raced on a non-Honda machine in WorldSBK as he steps onto the Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
In 2018, Delbianco raced in the STK1000 class where he finished seventh in the standings with one podium to his name when he finished second at Brno. Delbianco does have experience of Misano in WorldSBK as he raced there in 2019, claiming 11th place in Race 1 and not finishing either the Tissot Superpole Race or Race 2.
Discussing his return to WorldSBK, Delbianco said: “I am happy to return to the WorldSBK paddock - I have a lot of nice memories there. I’m 24 years old this year with a lot more experience than when I first raced in the World Championship, and I am maybe more ready and more prepared now. It’s very important for me to return in Misano because it’s my home. I will only need to learn and understand the team and the bike, not the circuit because I already know very well the layout. It should therefore be easier for me than if I was making a wildcard in another country. I am happy and positive that together with the team we can make a good result and am positive for the weekend.”
Lucio Pedercini, Team Principal, added: “We are happy to welcome Alessandro to the team for the Misano round. We tried once before to make something happen together, but the time wasn't right. Being able to announce an Italian rider of the calibre of Delbianco for our home round is a dream come true.”
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