After another Supersport race full of incident James Whitham, still suffering from his Brands Hatch race injuries, initially overcame a lowly qualifying position of 14th to take fourth place in the 21-lap Imola World Supersport race, before an unfortunate technicality ruled him out of the race. His machine's starter failed to work in the parc fermé, causing his immediate exclusion from the results.

The Englishman was understandably disappointed because he was in typically charging mood in the early laps, and worked his way to a clear fifth. Allowed to pass by new World Champion Fabien Foret (Honda), Whitham was originally the top Yamaha finisher in fourth. A battling fifth, and eventual status as top Yamaha finisher was the reward for Jörg Teuchert's race long efforts, with the Yamaha Motor Germany rider overhauling Whitham at one stage before dropping back two places in the final stages.

Further misfortune prevented Paolo Casoli (Yamaha Belgarda) from making any impact on proceedings, a jammed throttle on his R6 an unforeseen obstacle to his progress at his home race. Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany) failed to make the start after his Assen injuries proved to be too painful to allow him to continue.

In the overall championship battle itself, Foret won by a margin of five points, 186 to 181 from Imola race winner Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki). Stephane Chambon took overall third on 162, and despite his last race DNF, Paolo Casoli ended his season fourth, on 128. With Kellner sixth, Teuchert eighth and Whitham tenth in the final standings, all four factory supported Yamaha riders scored firm top ten placings.

The 2003 season commences one week earlier than planned, on March 2 at Valencia in Spain, with Yamaha's successful rider line-up reconfirmed for the new season, on the all new 2003 YZF-R6, which held centre stage in the SBK paddock show all weekend.

James Whitham - Yamaha Belgarda - Disqualified
"I had a misfire from the go and rear tyre slides from the third lap on. As a result I just could not get out of the slow corners like I knew I could. When I got on the back of Foret and Chambon I could do nothing to get past and make it stick. I had a second sense we might have an electrical problem when we got back to the bike check and sure enough it wouldn't start. I can't believe this has happened, it's such a disappointment after a long, hard race."

Jörg Teuchert - Yamaha Motor Germany - 5th
"A good race for me I think. The first corner, with the oil on, allowed only one or two bikes to get through, and I made the most of that. I was behind Bussei for three laps and could not get past on the brakes, and it was almost the same with Bontempi. He was late on the brakes and slow in the turns. I had a coming together with Bontempi and that's how Whitham got past us both. I was catching people but every time I did I there was some incident. I am happy enough with the race and I cannot wait to get some testing done on the new bike, ready for next season."

Paolo Casoli - Yamaha Belgarda - DNF
"The problem was that my throttle jammed wide open. No matter what I did I could not get it to come back to normal so I had to stop. I am very disappointed, especially after being so fast in morning warm-up."

Christian Kellner - Yamaha Motor Germany - Did Not Start Despite putting in a gritty performance in qualifying, Christian Kellner elected not to race at Imola, such are the lingering effects of his Assen shoulder injury. "I have tried to ride but it was clear in practice that I was not going to be strong enough to race. There is also a great deal of pain and the team and I agreed that it is better for me not to race. I look to next season now."