News 14 May 2019

Davies optimistic as Ducati Panigale V4 R feeling improves

British contender secures runner-up honours in Imola Superpole race.

Image: Supplied.

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Chaz Davies states he’s starting to see the light as his feeling improves with the all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R.

The British ace featured on the podium during Sunday’s Superpole race at Imola’s fifth round of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), finishing runner-up to four-time defending champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) before race two was cancelled due poor weather conditions.

Davies has taken time to adapt to the new Italian machine, while his rookie teammate Alvaro Bautista has seemingly gelled with the bike immediately, going undefeated prior to weekend’s round of racing.

“It’s a bit of a shame we never got the chance to do race two here at Imola, but unfortunately in the wet this track has quite a few limits,” said Davies. “Imola is not a normal circuit, and with these ups and downs you get a lot of standing water especially in the corners and these conditions meant that they had to cancel today’s race.

“It was the right decision, but I’m sorry for all the fans who stayed here in the rain all afternoon just to see us race. The positive thing is that we managed to do the sprint race, and judging by the result, it was a pity not to have been able to do the full-length second race.

“After a tough start to the season, I’m starting to see the light and my feeling with the Panigale V4 R is improving all the time. I go home from Imola knowing that I’ve made a lot of progress in view of the next races.”

Davies currently sits sixth in the championship standings with 85 points to his name.

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