Misano: Series pre-race note

Misano sees intense PR build-up for WSBK riders

With just a day to go before the eighth round of this year's HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship, a series of collateral activities involving riders, teams and public have been confirmed in the build-up to this weekend's San Marino event.

PR activities for the protagonists of the WSB championship get underway on the morning of Thursday 18 June with the traditional pre-event press conference organized in the historic centre of San Marino, where riders representing the seven manufacturer supported teams (Max Biaggi, Aprilia; Ruben Xaus, BMW; Noriyuki Haga, Ducati; Carlos Checa, Honda; Broc Parkes, Kawasaki; Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki; Ben Spies, Yamaha) will be introduced to the San Marino authorities and meet the national and international press. The 7 riders will subsequently try their hand at a crossbow mini-tournament and inaugurate the exhibition "San Marino Superbike Expo". The appointment is scheduled for 11.15 in the office of the Secretary of State for Tourism and Sport of the Republic of San Marino.

Later in the afternoon the Open Paddock in the Misano World Circuit will give fans an opportunity to get close up with their Superbike and Supersport heroes, as the riders take part in the traditional autograph session in the SBK Paddock Show. Entry is free of charge and the autograph session lasts from 2pm until 5.30pm.

The intense pre-Misano media day comes to an enjoyable end in the evening at Bagno Romina 8&9 (Pierfrancesco Chili's lido at Misano Adriatico) with a Beach Tennis Challenge involving top riders (Michel Fabrizio, Ben Spies, Tom Sykes, Ruben Xaus, Leon Haslam, Karl Muggeridge, Jonathan Rea and Jakub Smrz) who will each be teamed up with a professional beach tennis player. The tennis action gets underway at 6pm, and it will be followed by a canoeing challenge between WSBK riders, beach tennis players, media and an Infront/sponsors team.

DediKated to SuperBike

And again at Pierfrancesco Chili's bathing establishment, an initiative called "DediKated to SuperBike" has been organized by the Italian rider for media and friends. DediKated to Superbike is in memory of the late Japanese rider Daijiro Kato, who lost his life in 2003 and who spent much of his free time in and around Misano.

-credit: wsbk