WorldSBK Misano: WorldSSP race preview

Reigning champion Dominique Aegerter leads the way in worldSSP but will he be reeled in by some home heroes going for glory at Misano?

The 2022 FIM Supersport World Championship strolls into Italy for the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round from the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, where everyone will be eager to chase down Ten Kate’s Aegerter at the front. The Swiss rider has won the last five races and achieved a double at Misano in 2021, so is a clear favourite, although the Championship leader will have stiff opposition as his rivals hope to get closer – including the home heroes.

Getting his title defence off to a flying start, Aegerter is clear at the front of the World Supersport Championship tree by some 44 points, and he will hope that the gap is extended to beyond a magic 50 come the close of the Misano weekend. Aegerter, who as well as leading the WorldSSP standings is also the leader in the MotoE World Cup, aims to make it another double and therefore make it an out-and-out record for the longest winning streak for Ten Kate Racing by a single rider. However, he’s going to have to fend off Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri, with the Italian second in the standings as he and his team go into their home race. ‘Iron Balda’ won at Misano in the 2016 Moto2 Grand Prix, whilst third in the championship is Aruba.it Ducati star Nicolo Bulega. He, like Baldassarri, is going for home glory, but can he give Ducati a first win in WorldSSP since their return on home soil?

Fourth place in the championship belongs to EAB Racing’s Glenn van Straalen, with the Dutchman being a real revelation so far in 2022. Misano has never been a happy hunting ground for him but he’s a different rider now, so expect a first top ten at