WorldSBK Misano: ‘We are finally on the way’ - Rinaldi

It is unfair to even think that any rider who can get a podium in the WorldSBK series in 2022 is somehow undeserving of it. But in reality unless Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu had not broken down on Saturday at Misano Michael Rinaldi would have finished in a position other than third.

A true feather in has cap then for taking a clear third place, entirely of his and his crew’s own doing, in the second long race on Sunday afternoon at home.

He beat Jonathan Rea fair and square, which really had a cut-through to Rinaldi’s mood in the post-race press conference.

“For sure, I’m really, really happy,” he grinned. “I was really upset this morning because my pace in the warmup with a used tyre was good, then I went in the Superpole race and something was wrong with the bike. I rode one second slower than what I did in the warm-up on used tyre.

“But we knew that we were strong, so we decided to make a strategy. Push at the beginning like hell in Race Two, and we will see what happens. But when it was the fifth or seventh lap, I was finished. I had no more energy. But, I said, I need to focus and to relax and to do my pace, and I did that. Unbelievable. I am really, really happy.

“We have made a good improvement since the first rounds. Alvaro is doing another job at the moment. He’s so, so fast. But, if I look at myself and my side, I can be proud and happy. I think we need a few more races to maybe be there always. I want to dedicate this to all the fans, to my team, the Italian crowd, my family. It’s something special. I also feel that I have to give them something so I threw the helmet to the public!”

Yes, Rinaldi really did throw his own crash helmet into the crowd in celebration, making one local fan among the 65,000 plus who