The seventh round of the FIM Supersport World Championship will be held at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola this weekend. It is the first time since 2019 that the championship returns to the historic Italian circuit and for Ten Kate Racing it will be the first time since 2018.

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola is a circuit that is an important part of the World Superbike Championship’s history, from 2001 to 2019 the 4.93-kilometre circuit was on the calendar every year with the exception of two seasons. Ten Kate Racing has also managed to win multiple races in Imola during that period, in both the World Superbike and World Supersport classes.

Stefano Manzi will race on home soil for the second time this season but the circuit near Bologna is virtually new to the Italian as he has only raced there once before. For Jorge Navarro, Imola is completely new so it will be a challenging weekend for the Spaniard. According to weather forecasts, temperatures will climb towards 40°C next weekend which will demand a lot not only from the riders but also from the team and the bikes.

Stefano Manzi: “We’re back racing again this weekend, luckily we have three rounds this month so we don’t have to wait too long between races. It will be another home race for me but it will be a very challenging one because I have only ridden here once ten years ago, so I don’t know it very well. However, it is going to be interesting to see how we can go on this track and it will be a difficult challenge for many riders. It’s going to be a very tough weekend for us with very high temperatures but we will do our best like always. I cannot wait to start working with the team again and get back on track.”

Jorge Navarro: “I am looking forward to start a new race weekend again. Imola will be a new circuit for me, but based on the things I have seen and the preparation I have done, I think it is a very nice track. The conditions will be tough as it looks to be very hot this weekend, but I am ready and cannot wait to start working again.”

Kervin Bos – Ten Kate Racing team manager: “We will experience tropical heat in Imola this weekend. It has been a while for Ten Kate Racing since we have ridden here, the last time was 2018. We are very much looking forward to it, Stefano is currently in excellent form and being Italian it will be a special weekend for him with many guests. For Jorge it is a new circuit so for him it will be hard work and a lot of learning.

We want to continue the trend of the past race weekends with both riders and use the same working method. The aim is to finish a stable Friday and then grow during the weekend. This weekend will be a challenge for man and machine with temperatures around 40°C. We are in a busy period of the season with Donington Park, Imola and Most in the space of a month but, as always, we are looking forward to it.”

The race weekend at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola begins on Friday with two free practice sessions, followed by the Superpole session on Saturday morning at 10:25am. Race 1 will start at 15:15 on Saturday afternoon, with the start of Race 2 Sunday afternoon at 12:30.