Double EVO win for Badovini as Bimota stars
Alstare Bimota has begun establishing itself as the team to beat in the World Superbike EVO class after sweeping the board with Ayrton Badovini at Donington Park.
Fresh from its first class win last time out at Imola, Bimota came to the UK round looking to maintain that form, momentum that would see Badovini emerge as the top EVO rider in both wet qualifying - despite a crash - and during the dry races.
Though rules continue to dictate that Bimota is ineligible to score points in WSBK, Badovini's tenth and ninth place finishes across the line in both races are a firm sign that the BB3 is becoming the reckoned force in the EVO class.
"I am really happy with today - especially after yesterday's crash. It's always difficult after a crash and I didn't have a good feeling with the bike in this morning's warm-up - maybe because it was pretty wet and very slippery. So when the track dried and the sun started to come out and the prospects for two dry races looked good, I immediately felt a lot better about the situation.
"I knew that my BB3 worked well in the dry here and when I got off to good starts in both 23-lap races, I felt that this could be a good day. I felt comfortable on the bike and riding was easy - and for that I would like to say a big 'thank you' to the team for all the work they put in.
"I had no particular problems in either race, though we need to improve the feel of the front end a bit more. I would like to dedicate my two EVO wins today to Francis Batta and the team - both are very special to me."
Team-mate Christian Iddon, meanwhile, endured a mixed experience on home soil after crashing in race one, only to bounce back for a career-best 11th across the line - and second in class - in race two.
"I crashed after four laps in race one and it was my fault, because I was a bit too hasty. I had started well and got ahead of some of the good guys, but then lost some places in the chicane and hairpin. I tried to get back all the positions I had lost in one corner and that was my undoing because I was a bit too aggressive and lost the front. There was plenty of time left in the race, so I should have waited to make my move.
"Because of that, I was probably a bit too cautious at the start of race two on the first lap. I wanted to get settled before I started to push hard. My seat came loose after a couple of laps, but it was not a huge problem and after a while I got used to the feeling. A lap or so later, I had a feeling that the engine wasn't running right and I rode steadily, but a bit nervously, in case something happened. But the bike seemed to be working OK, so I just carried on.
"For us to finish first and second in the EVO class today is pretty amazing, especially when you consider that we beat a lot of really good guys on the way."
