Fabio Evangelista , Team Manager Evan Bros Bardahl Yamaha : “ I understand in the past few years the Italian rounds in Imola and Misano were growing up again for spectators . Imola is a very historical track and I remember , when I was about ten years old , going there with my father , to see Kenny Roberts in the 200 Miles . Imola is in a very strategic point , because people in my area , in Emilia Romagna , like this track and it is one of the most beautiful tracks in the world . We are people that love bikes . My land in Emilia Romagna , is called ‘ Terra del Mutor !’ Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rossi , but if you want to buy a Yamaha , you buy and R1 or an R6 . Italians probably identify more with a standard bike when they go to the dealer to buy a bike for ‘ Tanda Libres ’– free training – track days . I think it is quite normal everywhere , but I know the tracks in Italy now are full of ‘ amateurs ’ with standard bikes . People who come to our paddock like it more because it is open . You can speak with Locatelli , for example , as a friend .”
Manuel Puccetti , Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Team Principal : “ For me it is easy to say . Our team and me are born in Reggio-Emilia , and that place the people say it is like motor Valley , from Reggio-Emilia , Modena , Bologna … it is a place with a lot of passion for motorsport and sports bikes and cars . Where they were born , sports cars and motorbikes . Around 80 % of the industrial area in the 50km from our town to Bologna work for motorsports . Some build the cylinders , some make the pistons , chassis , carbon-fibre … for this reason people are involved for work – and
also for passion – around motorsports . Italy is still a big country for Superbike , sure . I think the Italians who go to see Superbike are really passionate about Motorsports and motorbikes , also Superbike . The general public follows MotoGP™ . The Italian people who come to Superbike , if you ask them who are the last four riders on the Superbike grid – they know .”
Fabrizio Porrozzi , Photographer and Co-Owner GP Agency : “ Motorsport has a big following , because there are many manufacturers , and many important manufacturers . Also the media has a good support for motorsport and we have some good riders . Not only Italians . Gilles Villeneuve , who lived in Italy , for 90 % of Italian people was like a son . Italians with motorsport is like Italians with spaghetti – it ’ s the same thing . It is inside the DNA of the people . Superbike is still popular in Italy because before Ducati went to MotoGP™ , they were only in Superbike . It is the only big European factory that raced in WorldSBK for 20 years , from 1988 . Especially for Ducati WorldSBK was the heart , the first brick in building the legend . The legend of Ducati , even in MotoGP™ , was a ‘ grazie ’ of WorldSBK . Even in America , in Laguna Seca , they created Ducati Island in the middle of the paddock and everybody was crazy for the red bikes . Ducati is like a distillation of the Italian character . When Ducati went away from Superbike arrived Aprilia , Max Biaggi and another group of fans were substituted . In Imola one year there was a protest banner against the Ducati chief when they decided to leave World Superbike .”
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