Baldassarri claims victory in the famous "100km of Champions" at Rossi’s ranch
Racing alongside Elia Bartolini, WorldSBK-bound Lorenzo Baldassarri won the pairs race at Valentino Rossi’s ranch to close out his 2022 season in style
After making a mark on the FIM Supersport World Championship in his rookie season, Lorenzo Baldassarri ended his 2022 campaign in style with victory in the pairs race at Valentino Rossi’s ranch to win the “100km of Champions” pairs race. Baldassarri raced alongside Elia Bartolini to take victory in Sunday’s finale to round out his season with victory, closing out a stunning WorldSSP season for the rookie while also beginning preparations for his maiden WorldSBK campaign in style.
Italian duo Baldassarri and Bartolini started the race from second place, behind the pairing of nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi and his half-brother, Luca Marini, while Franco Morbidelli and Andrea Migno lined up from third. The race was contested over 50 laps to make up the 100km race, which was postponed from Saturday until Sunday due to bad weather. Track preparations began on Sunday morning with the race getting underway in the afternoon.
The race for victory turned into a fight between the Baldassarri-Bartolini pairing and the Rossi-Marini pairing, with the fight coming down to the last lap, with Baldassarri and Bartolini able to hold on for victory in the eighth edition of the race, which takes place at Tavullia, while Rossi and Marini took second place. Moto2™ duo Celestino Vietti and Nicolo Antonelli completed the podium after 50 laps of racing.
Reflecting on the weekend, Rossi said: “We knew that Elia and Balda were very fast and we fought right away. However, we finished second: it was a great weekend, and the race becomes more and more competitive every year. The best way to end the season.”
Alongside Baldassarri, plenty of WorldSBK stars were in attendance at the event. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) raced alongside Alessandro Zaccone and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was partnered with Alberto Surra. From WorldSSP, both Fuligni brothers took part with Filippo racing alongside Lorenzo Gabellini and Federico raced with 2022 race winner Stefano Manzi. Raffaele De Rosa was able in attendance, racing alongside Fabio di Giannantonio while 2023 WorldSBK rider Danilo Petrucci competed alongside Gautier Paulin.
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