Superbikes Italia 2012: Imola, land of revenge and opportunities

The circumstances have wanted us to reach one of the most beautiful and exciting circuits of the year with an enviable situation. The Italian round of Superbikes will have, as is tradition since 2001, to Imola as protagonist already adding 19 championship races. Good weather will accompany us with almost total probability on a track a priori very favorable to Ducati's interests and the 1098R and, consequently, for Carlos Checa and his entire team. A fact to highlight because we come from Phillip Island, another of the venues where El Toro had everything in his favor to emerge as the leader of the championship.

However, the fall in the Catalan rider's first race of the year adds more pressure and weight on his shoulders. If he does not get good results in Italy, Carlos would be complicating the championship. The calendar is full of opportunities that should not be missed so as not to put our hands on our heads when they suffer in places like Monza. He is not the only one with great expectations in Imola, Max Biaggi runs with the support of a good part of the crowd and the Japanese and German sectors are becoming more competitive every day.

On the one hand we should expect good performance from the unofficial riders of Borgo Panigale's signature like Jakub Smrz, Sylvain Guintoli or Lorenzo Zanetti. Too Davide giulianoAs the STK1000 Champion, you take on the role of a rookie and will try to prove that you deserve your place on the team. Already in 2011 we saw a podium full of Ducatis, why not see it this time?

For several reasons. The strongest is that here Kawasaki and Tom Sykes already took pole in 2010. The duo is racing and victory is not far off. The effort of the factory and Sykes' visually pleasing talent make the green team one of the contenders for victory. Obviously Aprilia cannot be ruled out; Max Biaggi, apart from having thousands of fans, has his morale through the roof after the role he had in Australia. Marco Melandri will also be in the leading group together with Jonathan Rea, who already found his way in 2011 in this place. We can therefore predict races played to the end with about six drivers with real possibilities.

That's not counting our dear Californian. And is that John Hopkins has been cleared to participate in this round of the championship. It is true that Suzuki is not at its best and that the performance of the Japanese machine depends almost exclusively on the good work of the team and the collaboration with Yoshimura but, despite this, Hopper is a pilot who only knows how to win and we can imagine him fighting to get into that top 10 pick.

I leave my bet for the two races, how do you see it ?:

First race:

• Carlos Checa
• Max biaggi
• Jonathan Rea

Second race:

• Carlos Checa
• Tom sykes
• Davide giuliano

Supersport, Kenan Sofuoglu seeks the victory reliever

Kawasaki wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and took the opportunity to travel to Imola a few weeks before to get the Kawasaki ZX-6R ready. Having gone only four laps Kenan Sofuoglu he suffered a severe fall in which a bone in his left knee dislodged from its usual place. He decided to have surgery to be present in this round and everything seems to indicate that it will be so. The Turk arrives at one of his favorite circuits with the intention of fighting hand to hand with whoever decides to challenge him, with no excuses.

Among them will always be the group of favorites that leads the championship table but with an exception guest, Alex Baldolini. Baldo headed to Supersport to find victory again after his time in Moto2 and after getting used to his Triumph we hope to have a good job taking advantage of the fact that he is racing at home. Here again, we expect tight races. If nothing happens, this is one of the essential weekends for a two-wheeler.