Rinaldi scores a tenth place in race 1 at Portimao

Barni Racing Team’s rider Michael Rinaldi seals tenth in race 1 at Autodromo International do Algarve, Portugal where MOTUL FIM WorldSBK round 10 is taking place.

The 23 years old from Romagna scored another top 10 result (third in a row in a “long” race after the two in Laguna Seca) after 20 tricky laps throughout the Portuguese rollercoaster track. A bittersweet feeling after a result under the expectation for the team, but solid points that consolidate its eleventh postion in the overall standings. Cortese (108 points) Rinaldi (103 p.) and Torres (101 p.) are now packed into sevent points play for the top ten in the Championship.

Superpole 

Rinaldi was able to cut down his yesterday’s best time breaking the wall of 1’42 but the his time - 1'41.301 - placed him eleventh in the starting grid.

Race 1 

Started from the fourth row Rinaldi was ninth after the first lap but he lose two positions going wide at turn 6. Due to the crash of Baz and Sykes he became ninth but Bautista soon overtook him. In the second part of the race Rinaldi spent a large part of time stalking Melandri battling for ninth place, but he wasn‘t able to join him. As the race went on, the gap between the riders ahead expanded slowly and the Italian man crossed the finish line tenth, 22 s far from the leader.

Marco Barnabò - Teanm Principal     

"Something more was expected because during the tests with almost the same temperatures we had a better pace. Maybe the track conditions were different, because of that we have to take the right decision to improve the race pace that could let us to be ahead fighting for a better position".

 Michael Ruben Rinaldi #21

"It was a strange race because after three laps I was not able to maintain the pace I thought to. I suffered lack of grip and that’s why I tried to manage the tyre. It leaves me a bitter in a mouth because during the tests my pace was stronger and if we will be able to find the same feeling I’m sure we could make a great step forward".