In seriously hot ambient temperatures of 36°C the 30 WorldSSP competitors faced the challenge of track temperatures that reached 56°C. At the end of another dramatic contest peppered by technical issues and crashes, only 17 riders finished.
The highly experienced Mahias started and finished the race in ninth position, riding to maximise his pace in the hot conditions while trying to reduce excessive tyre consumption on the hot and ‘greasy’ asphalt.
After four rounds riding as a replacement for injured Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team regular Can Öncü, Lucas Mahias is 16th overall in the championship. Can, who has only competed in three rounds so far, is 14th.
Young Spanish rider Huertas was in his characteristically determined form in Race Two, but lost an early place, dropping to sixth overall. He battled back to fourth position, after an eventually lonely ride behind the podium trio but clearly ahead of a squabbling pack of four riders. Adrian equalled his best ever WorldSSP result in the second race and sits 11th in the points table.
After Imola, the Autodrom Most WorldSSP round will be held between 28 to 30 July.
Lucas Mahias, stated: “Even though I got the same result as yesterday, today's race was more satisfying. I was able to keep a good pace and the bike worked at its best. Due to the hot conditions I paid attention to tyre wear during the race so as not to lose ground in the final stages - and I think I succeeded. Ninth place is not yet the result that the team or I deserve, but I consider it a step forward to greater competitiveness.”
John McPhee (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) was 14th in the second race, scoring more championship points.
Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing Kawasaki) was one of several retirees in the punishing Imola conditions, and he sits 15th overall in the general classification. He still leads the WorldSSP Challenge points table, reserved for riders who only race at the European rounds.
Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing Kawasaki) was 15th in Race Two, scoring his first championship point. Yuta Okaya’s replacement, Stefano Valtulini (Prodina Kawasaki Racing) crashed out at Turn Nine.
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