Strong comeback for Rinaldi in race 1 at Imola

It was a crazy Saturday for Barni Racing Team and his rider Michael Rinaldi at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, where the 5th round of MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship took place. After a disappointing Superpole where Rinaldi was able to do only one flying lap due to a technical problem, he was the protagonist of a great comeback in race 1 until the eight position.

Superpole

Michael suffered a technical problem both in free practice and in Superpole, where he crashed out. He suffered an injury at his neck but greeting his teeth he was able to be on the saddle again. Thanks to the hard work of the crew, Michael went back on track in the last minutes of the Superpole, scoring 1’48.783 and qualifying 17th.

Race1

Rinaldi had a storm start earning immediately the 13th position and overtaking Reiterberger at the first lap. In the early part of the race, the Barni Racing Team rider fought with Zanetti, trying to catch Cortese. From the lap 6 Rinaldi found his rhythm and moved up overtaking Zanetti, Torres and Cortesein the same lap and scoring his best time with 1’47.911. When Sykes went out Rinaldi took the eighth place and riding consistently he conserved the position until the end. Thanks to this result Rinaldi put in his pocket 8 points and now has 44 points in the overall Championship.

Marco Barbabò - Team Principal  

"It was an hard day due a lot of technical problem in the free practice and in Superpole. The crew did a great job permitting the rider to be on track with the second bike and than to start in race 1 with a good setup. Michael rode well conquering the eighth place after the start in seventeenth". 

Michael Ruben Rinaldi #21 Superpole: P17 - Race 1: P8

"It was a tough day and we had to face many problems. Due to the crash in Superpole I suffered a neck injury which luckily did not prevent me to go back on race. I suffered a lot of pain and I had to clench my teeth to finish the race. I'm a little bit disappointed because without problems I could be even more competitive".