Friday

Positive day of practice for Tito Rabat

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has completed the first day of practice at the Misano World Circuit as it takes on round four of the Superbike World Championship. Having fractured the fifth metacarpal of his right hand in an incident that occurred during the initial stages of the Superpole race at Estoril, Lucas Mahias is unable to compete in what is the home round for Manuel Puccetti’s team. In his place, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing are fielding Spaniard Tito Rabat, who already knows both the bike and the team, having already stood in for an injured Mahias last season, during the final three rounds of the championship. We remind you that at this Italian round all the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing bikes are flaunting the historic ELF livery, a symbol of the ongoing relationship between Manuel Puccetti’s team and Total Italia.

This morning, on a dry track but under cloudy skies and with a few drops of rain, Rabat completed the first practice session, using the time to regain confidence aboard the Ninja. The Spaniard finished in nineteenth place with a time of 1’37”198.

The second free practice ran in the afternoon in much better conditions. Tito continued with the work begun this morning with his team and improved on his time by more than a second, setting a 1’36”063 to round out day one in twenty-second position.

Misano World Circuit – Italy – Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 5) Oettl (Ducati) ……. 22) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Tito Rabat

“This first day of practice has been positive. I lapped consistently with times in the low 1’36s and preferred to work on my race pace and test the tyres to use on Saturday and Sunday rather than focusing on the flying lap. So I’m a little behind in the standings, but we still have tomorrow’s session and then we’ll try to put it all together in the Superpole. We improved by more than a second between the first and second session, which shows that we’re on the right track. Thanks to the team for all their hard work today.”

Can Oncu seventh and Yari Montella ninth in WorldSSP practice

The fourth round of the Supersport World Championship is now underway at the Misano World Circuit. This is a home round for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, which has its base in Reggio Emilia, and is therefore the most important event of the season, during which the team is able to meet with its sponsors and race in front of its fans.

This is also an important round for riders Can Oncu and Yari Montella, who are tasked with confirming the positive results demonstrated in recent races, with the aim of fighting for the win.
This morning, on a dry track but under very cloudy skies, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders completed the first free practice session, in which Oncu finished a very strong third, thanks to a best time of 1’38”660. Montella closed seventh, having set a best of 1’39”125.

In the afternoon’s second free practice, which ran in warmer conditions, both Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders suffered crashes. Although they were unhurt, the incidents hindered their progress during the session. Oncu ultimately finished seventh (1’38”618), while Montella closed in ninth place (1’38”907).

Misano World Circuit – Italy – Supersport World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Manzi (Triumph) – 3) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 4) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 5) De Rosa (Ducati) – 6) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 7) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 8) Van Straalen (Yamaha) – 9) Montella (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu

“It was a good day despite the fact I made a few small mistakes and crashed in the final part of the second session. Generally speaking, we’ve worked well though and showed that we are competitive, so I’m sure that we can do even more tomorrow and in Sunday’s race. A big thanks to the team as they’ve worked really hard as always.”

Yari Montella

“This morning went well and I immediately found good feeling with the bike. I worked with used tyres almost the whole time, thinking ahead to the race, and I was quick. Unfortunately, I crashed in the afternoon, almost right away, and this caused us to lose a lot of time, impacting on our work programme. I was unable to improve as much as I’d hoped, but in the end we’re ninth and still have real room for improvement for the Superpole and the two races. Thanks to my technicians who repaired my bike in record time.”

Saturday

Less than a second between Rabat and the points zone in WorldSBK race 0ne at Misano

Conditions were hot and sunny today at the Misano World Circuit, where Kawasaki Puccetti Racing is competing in the fourth Superbike World Championship round. An important event for Manuel Puccetti’s team that, at their home round, is able to meet with its supporters and sponsors.

Tito Rabat, standing in for injured Lucas Mahias, finished yesterday’s practice session in twenty-second place with a time of 1’36”063. This morning, in warm and sunny conditions, the Spaniard completed the third and final practice session, setting a best of 1’35”630 and moving up into twentieth place in the combined standings.

Tito improved further in Superpole and finished nineteenth with a 1’35”420, which put him on the seventh row of the grid for the afternoon’s 21-lap race.

The rider made a pretty fast start and was able to make up several position. In the space of just a few laps, Rabat moved up into seventeenth place before reaching the group that was fighting for the points zone in the final stages. Tito ultimately crossed the line in sixteenth place, missing out on the points zone by less than a second. A positive race, which confirms the Spanish rider’s constant improvement.

Misano World Circuit – Italy – Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Lecuona (Honda) – 3) Oettl (Ducati) – 4) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 5) Rea (Kawasaki) ……. 20) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Superpole: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Lowes (Kawasaki) – 5) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 6) Locatelli (Yamaha) ……. 19) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Race 1: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Rea (Kawasaki) – 3) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 4) Bassani (Ducati) – 5) Lowes (Kawasaki) – 6) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 7) Vierge (Honda) …….. 16) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Tito Rabat

“It was a tough race, but I had fun. I started strong and was part of a group of riders fighting for the points zone. I battled with them, passing and re-passing each other, and only just missed out on scoring points. Considering this is my first race of the season with this bike, I’m quite pleased, but of course we need to continue to work to improve and achieve the kind of results that I know are within reach. Thanks to all my guys as they’ve worked really hard again today.”

Can Oncu just misses out on the podium as Yari Montella finishes a strong sixth

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing is at the Misano World Circuit for day two of the fourth Supersport World Championship round. This is the home round for Manuel Puccetti’s team, the staff therefore having chance to meet with their sponsors and supporters, and race in front of their fans.

After having finished yesterday practices in seventh and ninth place respectively, Can Oncu and Yari Montella were back out on track today, in warm and sunny conditions, for the Superpole, which establishes the starting grid for the weekend’s two races.

With a time of 1’37”844, Montella finished in fifth place, while Oncu stopped the clock on 1’37”995, to close in seventh position.

As a result, the Italian lined up from the second row and the Turk from the third for the day’s 18-lap race.

Both riders got away fast when the lights went out, moving straight into the leading group. As the laps went on, both Oncu and Montella unfortunately lost ground with respect to the front three riders and found themselves battling as part of the chasing group. Very strong in the final stages, Can crossed the line in fourth place, while Montella finished sixth, just a few thousandths from his team-mate.

In the championship standings, Oncu lies fourth with 69 points, while Montella is sixth with 43.

Misano World Circuit – Italy – Supersport World Championship

Superpole: 1) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 2) Bulega (Ducati) – 3) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 4) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 5) Montella (Yamaha) – 6) Brenner (Yamaha) – 7) Oncu (Kawasaki)

Race 1 – 1) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 2) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 3) Bulega (Ducati) – 4) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 5) Manzi (Triumph) – 6) Montella (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu

“At a home race for the team P4 is difficult to accept but we are in this situation which is really difficult at the moment. But, it is important to keep ourselves positive for Race Two tomorrow. Today is finished and tomorrow is a new day. We will work a lot tonight on the set-up options and I hope we can find something different. For sure my team will find a good set-up and we will start again.”

Yari Montella

“The race was a bit of a struggle. I started well, but then was unable to get into the kind of rhythm that would allow me to stick with the frontrunners. Both the team and I are really working hard, but we need to understand what we’re still lacking in order to be able to fight for the podium. We need to take another step forward and I’m sure we’ll manage it.”

Sunday

Constant progress for Rabat in the day’s racing at WorldSBK Misano

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has now concluded round four of the Superbike World Championship at the Misano World Circuit. Lucas Mahias, who sustained injury during the Superpole Race at Estoril, has been replaced here by Tito Rabat, who already knew the ZX-10RR and the Italian team, having already stood in for the Frenchman during the last three rounds of 2021.

Yesterday saw Rabat take part in the Superpole, a session he finished in nineteenth place, and the first of the weekend’s race, in which he crossed the line sixteenth, just outside the points zone.
This morning, in hot and sunny conditions, Tito was back out for the ten-lap Superpole Race. After making a good start, the Spaniard made up several positions and scored a fifteenth-place finish. Unfortunately, he was then demoted by one position after having exceeded the track limits on the final lap.

Race 2 took place in the afternoon, in hotter conditions than the previous races. Rabat didn’t make the best start and was lying twentieth through the early stages. The Spaniard then upped his pace lap after lap and climbed up the field to finish seventeenth.

The next round of the Superbike World Championship will take place on 15-17 July at the Donington Park circuit in England.

Misano World Circuit – Italy – Superbike World Championship
Superpole Race: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Vierge (Honda) – 5) Lecuona (Honda) – 6) Locatelli (Yamaha) ……. 16) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Race 2: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 4) Rea (Kawasaki) – 5) Lecuona (Honda) – 6) Locatelli (Yamaha) ……….. 17) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Tito Rabat

“Today’s races were not at all easy, also because it was a lot hotter than the previous days. Although I had little time to adapt to the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing bike, I think I’ve done a good job and I want to thank the team for all their help. The results we’ve achieved don’t reflect my true potential, nor that of the team, but in such a short time I think it would have been hard to do better. Thanks to Manuel Puccetti for putting his faith in me; I wish the whole team loads of luck!”

Can Oncu is fifth and Yari Montella seventh in WorldSSP race two

The fourth Supersport World Championship round has concluded today at the Misano World Circuit. It was a home round for Manuel Puccetti’s team, an excellent opportunity for them to meet with sponsors and supporters and race in front of their fans.

Yesterday saw Can Oncu and Yari Montella compete in the Superpole and the first of the weekend’s races. In Superpole, the Italian scored fifth place, while the young Turk finished seventh. In the race, Oncu crossed the line fourth, followed by Montella in sixth.

In the late morning, in hot and sunny conditions, the two riders were back out on the Italian track for the second and final race of the weekend. Like yesterday, Montella lined up on the second row of the grid and Oncu from the third.

Montella made a very fast start and was straight up into second position, with Oncu fifth. At around the mid-race point, the Italian and Turk were still part of the leading group, lying fourth and fifth respectively. Over the subsequent laps, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders lost contact with the leaders and battled it out between themselves for fifth place. Oncu won the ‘derby’, crossing the line fifth with Montella finishing in seventh place.

In the championship standings, Oncu lies fourth with 80 points, while Montella follows him, sixth with 62 points.

The next Supersport World Championship will take place at Donington Park in the UK, over the weekend of 15-17 July.

Misano World Circuit – Italy – Supersport World Championship
Race 2: 1) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 2) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 3) Bulega (Ducati) – 4) Manzi (Triumph) – 5) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 6) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 7) Montella (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu

“Nothing is ever easy of course, and we really did our best today. We are strong and our team never gives up, I never give up, so I am happy about that. We will get better and better at every race. I have never ridden at Donington before, and I think that might actually be a positive. We have one month off now, but I’m not happy about that because it means we have to wait a month before I can be back on the podium.”

Yari Montella

“Although we’re not happy with the race result, today was a positive day. It was a difficult race, but we definitely took a step forward compared to yesterday. We started strong and were part of the leading group for a good while, and only a drop in front tyre performance prevented me from fighting for the podium all the way to the end. We’re improving, but we need to continue to work and focus, and I’m sure that the team and I will do just that.”