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Marco Melandri and Lorenzo Savadori: the two men who will wave the flag for Italy in the upcoming Superbike World Championship, kicking off in less than a week at Phillip Island. On the one side, the Ravenna rider, back on track after a year's break, and on the other the Cesena rider, keen to prove that he's more than a surprise. Ahead of the Australian round, the Italian MotoGP stars are ready to back Ducati and Aprilia. Valentino Rossi has no doubts: “We'll be cheering them on – he commented – Melandri is a big name for the SBK and it will be interesting, then there's Savadori who could be strong”.
In the Ducati camp, Andrea Dovizioso has clear ideas: “Davies is very competitive and I'm pleased the championship is about to begin - I'll be following it with great interest – highlighted the Forlì rider – I hope Chaz can fight for the title, he closed 2016 in a fantastic way, though Rea and the Kawasaki are very strong”. Melandri? “We'll see how his return pans out”.
The feeling is that the 2017 season is one of the most highly anticipated of recent years. Danilo Petrucci is also curious to watch the first round: “The championship is definitely picking up again – commented the Pramac rider - I'll be backing Ducati, I think both men can fight for the title. Perhaps in Australia they'll have some engine problems - he revealed - Chaz should follow Stoner's advice, or rather race with his head during the first part of the season, and then with his heart during the second half”.
The Terni rider is well aware of who is favourite: “The Kawasaki remains the bike to beat – he concludes - but there's also the Honda, with Hayden and Bradl, a team that can run at the front, without forgetting Savadori, already fast last year. Just like in MotoGP, it's getting hard to stay at the front in SBK”.
The Honda has a new look this year. The Fireblade SP2 features a Red Bull livery in fact. Livio Suppo promotes this latest evolution: “I wish Nicky and Stefan, and the whole team, loads of luck, it will be a tough championship – he commented - the Kawasaki is very strong, we need to understand how fast Chaz is, and also Melandri on his return”. With regard to the SP2: “Honda presents an updated bike - added Suppo – the evolution of the CBR. Despite it only having been on track for a short time, we hope it goes well, it also has a great livery”.
The Honda team principal has clear ideas about Melandri's return: “Marco has shown in testing that he is very competitive at certain tracks, like Jerez – he said - his talent is undeniable but sometimes his consistency and speed has been a weak point. I'm sure that, if he can be fast right from the start, finding the right confidence with the bike, he will be one of the protagonists”.
