2022 World Superbike Misano: Everything you need to know

Round four of the 2022 World Superbike Championship gets underway on Friday at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
Alvaro Bautista, Ducati WorldSBK Estoril
Alvaro Bautista, Ducati WorldSBK Estoril

With four wins out of nine races, pace and consistency has been the biggest reason why Alvaro Bautista heads the World Superbike standings. 

The Ducati rider has not been off the podium in any race so far this season, something even Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu have failed to achieve. 

On his last visit to Misano with Ducati (2019), Bautista took one victory, while team-mate Michael Rinaldi won two races at the Emilia-Romagna round in 2021. 

Remote video URL

A happy hunting ground for Ducati, Misano has also been a favourite venue for Rea who has won seven of the last 13 races held at Misano. 

The Kawasaki rider, although second in the championship, has the most wins of any rider so far in 2022 (5), while reigning world champion Razgatlioglu is still searching for win #1. 

Should Kawasaki achieve three podiums this weekend, then it will become the second manufacturer behind Ducati to break the 500 barrier. The Italian marque holds the record with a staggering 993. 

The Turkish rider could and perhaps should have won twice in Estoril - lost the lead on the final lap on two occasions - but Misano should present another opportunity to do so as it’s the circuit where he took the first of his 13 wins last season. 

Toprak Razgatlioglu, Estoril WorldSBK race 1, 21 May
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Estoril WorldSBK race 1, 21 May

Where to watch World Superbike Misano in the UK

For those who are subscribed to the WorldSBK videopass, every session will be available live and uninterrupted. Eurosport will also be showing qualifying and all three races live.  

Full schedule (UK times)

Friday 

09:30-10:15 Free Practice 1 

14:00-14:45 Free Practice 2 

Saturday 

08:00-08:30 Free Practice 3 

10:10-10;25 Superpole 

13:00 Race 1 

Sunday 

08:00-08:15 Warm-up

10:00 Superpole Race

14:15 Race 2 

After missing all three Estoril races due to crashes in free practice, both Garrett Gerloff and Philipp Oettl have been passed fit for this weekend.

Garrett Gerloff, Estoril WorldSBK, 20 May
Garrett Gerloff, Estoril WorldSBK, 20 May

That’s not the case for Lucas Mahias who will be replaced by Tito Rabat at Puccetti Kawasaki. 

Another rider making his return to the series is Alessandro Delbianco, with the Italian replacing Leon Haslam who was scheduled to compete in his second round of the season with Pedercini Kawasaki. 

But with Haslam taking part in preparations for the Suzuka 8 hours event which takes place in August, it means Pedericini Kawasaki has its fourth different rider in as many rounds.

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