Simoncelli to make World Superbike debut

From worldsbk.com

Aprilia Racing has announced that it will come to the Imola WSB round with reigning 250cc World Champion and Metis Gilera Team rider Marco Simoncelli lining up alongside Max Biaggi on the RSV4 usually ridden by Shinya Nakano.

The Japanese rider is still out of action with the neck muscle problems that prevented him from taking part in race 2 in Germany.

Simoncelli prepared for his Imola WSB debut with two days of testing at Mugello Wednesday and Thursday, where he lapped with a best time of 1 minute 53.55 seconds, completing 91 laps.

"I am very satisfied with this test," he said. "I was quite quick and together with the bike managed to improve a lot. We worked to find the right base setting for Imola, where it will be important to find a good set-up as quick as possible, which will make things much easier.

"I'd like to thank Aprilia for this great opportunity, I will be making my debut in a category and on a track that are completely unknown to me, the level of our rivals is very high and it won't be at all easy to obtain a good result."