World SuperSport 2003 - Round 10 - Imola

Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) enters the Imola WSS race in need of only eight points to make certain of his first and Honda’s second World Supersport Championship Riders’ title. His form this year has often been nothing short of outstanding, and he has secured four wins in nine attempts, scored only one DNF and has taken two additional podium slots along the way.

He was forced into giving best at the previous round at Assen to his team-mate Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), after a convincing ride from both Ten Kate pilots, but with the championship tantalisingly close Vermeulen will be hoping to score an entire fistful of wins before the season finishes at Magny Cours in France on 19 September. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Honda enjoys a 34-point lead over the next closest constructor, with two rounds to go.

The evocative Imola venue, which welcomes the World Supersport circus this weekend with open arms, is the third Italian track of the year, the previous Monza and Misano weekends providing excellent sport and a great contrast to Imola.

The Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in the city centre is no stranger to motorsports of all kinds but is a very different design to most others in Italy. It’s undulating straights, fast corners and elevations are reigned in somewhat by a proliferation of slower chicanes, providing some contrast to Monza’s level parkland speedbowl, Misano’s schizophrenic fast and slow flatness and Mugello’s wide corners and flowing chicanes, running either side of a Tuscan valley. Imola is thus a broad and textured canvas for the WSS artisans to produce their best work on, and the WSS weekend is a popular event in its own right, as last year’s claimed 97,000 spectators will attest to.

Last year Vermeulen scored a podium at Imola and this year he wants to improve on his third position if possible. Prudence dictates that he must adopt a flexible strategy, however, as he is so close to the championship win itself.

“I enjoyed the place last year and I finished third,” reminisced Vermeulen after his arrival in Italy, “and it might have been even better but for some technical problems. It was only my second podium ever. I really like the track and if there is the chance to win then I’ll try my best to take it. In a way I also have to be a little cautious, as it is possible to win the championship this weekend. I do not want to win the title by finishing eighth, however, so I will attack it like any other race.”

For Muggeridge, Imola could not come at a better time, after his win at Assen.

“Imola should be OK for us even if we had a problem in the race last year,” said Muggeridge, shortly before heading off to Italy. “The new bike is really good this year. And after the Assen win I will be trying to ride the wave and see where I can go from now on. I just want to get out there in all the sessions and give it all I’ve got.”

Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) will find Imola a novel experience, but if his recent performances are anything to go by, he will have no problems finding the fast lines right away.

“Imola will be the first time for me because last year I had a fracture after the Bol d’Or but I like the look of it. It appears to be a special track – up-down, chicanes, and faster corners. I am confident and relaxed, have a good team and a good bike behind me. It is necessary to get good points so I can improve my championship position in readiness for next season.”

Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) makes the long journey from his native Scotland to the middle of Italy once more this year, with high hopes but a relaxed attitude for the penultimate race.

“I quite like the circuit,” said Macpherson, “and I’m hopeful of getting a good result. I’m just going to ride as smooth and fast as I can and see how it’s going to go. I have no expectations about places I’ll finish in, I’ll just go and do my very best.”

Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) has not that long a journey to reach Imola from Austria and experience prevents him from making any pre-race prophecies.

“I think Imola is a nice track but I don’t have any predictions for the race,” said Ulm. “I think the Honda is good everywhere and the best bike of this season so I am certainly ready for Imola.”

Werner Daemen, Macpherson’s teamster in the Van Zon effort is another who will be making the most of his last two chances to shine in the 2003 season – and may well now have the means to extend his results into new territories.

“We got some new parts for the Assen race and they made a big difference,” said Daemen. “The bike is really good, fast and suits me well so I am hoping for a good result at Imola. The track is good there, a nice mix of corners and hills.”

The final race, at the re-visited SBK venue of Magny Cours, takes place on October 19.