Imola hasn’t appeared on the WorldSBK calendar since 2019, when Yamaha riders were well in the mix for podium results – only to be thwarted by Razgatlıoğlu himself in the year before he began his Yamaha career. “Loka” has to go back a bit further but can boast an Imola race win from early in his career, on his way to winning the Italian Championship in 2013.
The return to this iconic circuit throws up a real technical challenge for the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK crew and Yamaha’s engineers, as #55 Crew Chief Andrew Pitt explains: “It’s difficult to define the best start point, as the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK has developed so much since 2019, but the track layout and gear pattern is the same. Pirelli’s tyre choices have also come a long way – but it’s going to be the same challenge for all teams.”
Pitt is interested to see the circuit conditions on Thursday to see what effect a lot of car racing has had on the track surface. The biggest change is likely to be the weather condition in July, since WorldSBK was used to visiting in May. It’s going to be very hot, with high surface temperatures and low grip – plus the track’s layout is a physical one for riders, requiring precision and commitment.
“I always thought it was a fun track to ride,” Pitt added. “It was really satisfying to get it right, to get a good rhythm around it – and there’s places to pass if you know what you’re doing!”
A satisfying on-track performance could mark a special career milestone for Razgatlıoğlu in the coming races: he currently has 99 WorldSBK podiums to his name, 84 of which have been achieved since he joined Yamaha in 2020. Only five riders in the history of the championship have collected more than 100 podiums.
