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There are very few tracks as famous as Imola; the historic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is named after the father and son of one of the world’s most famous car marques and on two and four wheels, it has hosted some of the most memorable races in history. After four years off the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship schedule, we’ll be back in action this week. The action on track will be interesting but it’s the off-track action that will be setting tongues wagging in the build-up. Most of it will be centred around the red bikes and what Ducati do for next year. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is confirmed for 2024 and it is confirmed that there will be another independent Ducati on the grid in the form of Sam Lowes on a Marc VDS machine, but what about the other seats?

PROGRESS FOR PETRUCCI: is he in the shop window?

Misano and Donington Park showed progress for Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and he was rewarded with his first WorldSBK podium last time out. The 32-year-old is a MotoGP™ race winner and factory rider, so his talent is beyond doubt. Whether he’s earnt the factory Aruba.it seat is a bigger question mark. Two rounds of progress will give encouragement to Ducati but will it be enough to warrant a change of rider?

RINALDI’S FUTURE: bad form at the worst possible moment

The rider in question for the factory seat is Michael Ruben Rinaldi. The 27-year-old has won four races for the Italian manufacturer and has had 17 podiums in the Superbike class but is that enough to hold on to his ride? On pure results it isn’t. But racing is about more than just the box scores. Rinaldi knows his place within the Ducati garage. That place is to be a rear gunner for Bautista and not cause any waves. He does this job better than anyone else Ducati can hire. This could be his saving grace.

On these pages I’ve defended Rinaldi in the past. The decision to drop Chaz Davies or Scott Redding was taken with the knowledge that Rinaldi would be a capable rider on the second seat. His job isn’t to win races and titles, it’s to ensure that Ducati win races and titles. Ducati has been able to meet their goals this year because Bautista has been sensational but what about moving forward?

POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS FOR RINALDI: Bassani or Bulega?

In the past, it was Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) that Rinaldi had to look over his shoulder towards. That rumour has gone cold in the paddock now and Bassani looks set to stay at Motocorsa. For Rinaldi, the disaster of Donington Park will be fresh in the team's mind when we arrive at Imola. So too is Rinaldi’s mistake at Misano when chasing Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) for P2. Indonesia and Assen were disappointing weekends. They’re clocking up for Rinaldi at a time when Ducati is seeing Nicolo Bulega win regularly in the Supersport class. 

Bulega, like so many others, has turned a nondescript Grand Prix career where he was a Moto2™ points scorer into an opportunity at a factory seat in WorldSBK. His journey is on a par with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and his WorldSSP career has shown enough progress to give Ducati hope that he’s the best option as a Bautista back-up.

There’s little doubt that Bulega will be on a Ducati Superbike next year, the only question is the team. His WorldSSP form will give him a chance to be the factory rider. Ducati has already put resources into him to give him the best chance possible. Four days testing with the factory has yielded impressive results where his times have been very competitive. WorldSBK is about more than single lap times but for Ducati having a young, hungry Italian on the bike is key. Rinaldi fitted that mould in the past but now they have a better option in Bulega.

A MANIAC PLOT-TWIST: one name who COULD change it all

After talking about a possible expansion of the team in the WorldSBK paddock at Donington Park, Marco Barnabo – team principal of the Barni Spark outfit – said that they could expand to a two-bike team for 2024, even if they’re still to define their project. The name being linked with the second seat is none other than Andrea Iannone. WIth the Italian's four-year ban coming to an end, Barni could potentially field two ex-Ducati factory MotoGP™ race-winning riders next year. Iannone is keen to come to the paddock regardless, so just where he ends up could be one of the most intriguing.

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