WorldSSP – Next up Imola for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team

The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and riders Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin are on site at the iconic Imola circuit in Italy for round seven of the Supersport World Championship.

Round six concluded at Donington Park just under two weeks ago. Competing at his home track, Mackenzie was left wanting more from his races after qualifying a strong fifteenth. Norrodin, who was racing at the British track for the first time, found the layout a difficult one to interpret but nevertheless benefitted from the learning experience the weekend provided. The ongoing aim for both riders is to consistently build on previous results in what is the squad’s first outing in WorldSSP.

Attention now turns to round seven, to be staged at another track the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda are yet to discover. But considering that Imola has not featured on the calendar since 2019, none of the field has any recent experience, which may come as a slight advantage for Mackenzie and Norrodin.

An historic stage for WorldSBK, the Imola circuit has hosted many editions over the years, up until 2019 in fact. The July date should bring high temperatures and, with any luck, an enthusiastic crowd, the Italian audience known for their passionate support. The weekend’s action will get underway as always on Friday, with the first free practice scheduled to start at 11.25 am local time. The Supersport races will run on Saturday at 3.15pm and on Sunday at 12.30pm.

Tarran Mackenzie

“It’ll be my first visit to Imola but it looks like an exciting track. From what we’ve learned this weekend, I’m confident my technicians can make some improvements to the bike so that we’re better placed to do a good job. The weather should be better than it was at Donington too, so hopefully we’ll be able to work well right from FP1.”

Adam Norrodin

“Imola will be another new track for us, so it will be important to get into a rhythm already on Friday so as not to fall too far behind the competition. Dry weather would be helpful too, as we were left a little on the backfoot at Donington after that wet Friday made things more challenging and limited our track time. I’ve been to Imola once before, but never to ride so I’m looking forward to it!”

Track information:

Country: Italy
Name: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola
Length: 4.936 km

Corners: 13 left-hand, 9 right-hand

SSP RECORDS: Best lap – Cluzel (MV Agusta) 1’51.101 (2015). Superpole – Krummenacher (Yamaha) 1’50.239

2019 SSP RESULTS:

Race 1 – 1. Krummenacher (Yamaha); 2. Caricasulo (Yamaha); 3. De Rosa (MV Agusta)