By First opened fifteen years ago in 2011, the Italian ‘Cremona Circuit – Angelo Bergamonti’ (around three and a half hours drive from Saline-Volterra, 2026 Italian road race hill-climb CIVS finale host), welcomed in late September, World Superbikes, World Supersport, World Sportbike and Yamaha R3 Blu Cru World Cup competitors.
This was the third visit of WSB, support Championships since 2024, to the 2.342 miles (3768 metres) long racetrack named after 1967-1969 TT Races participant Angelo Bergamonti (passed away fifty-five years ago following an incident at former street-circuit in Riccione).
Nicolo Bulega became this year’s World SBK Champion, set a new official lap-record (1.27.783) for the current Cremona circuit layout. Aruba Racing Ducati team-mate Iker Lecuona (three-times across the weekend – race victor) set within qualifying an unofficial all-time lap record (1.27.253). Our prime, focus of this article though is of course roads scene themed.
2017 World Supersport Champion, Frenchman Lucas Mahias (DNF/P10 in WSS races at Cremona) debuted last August astride 1000cc apparatus at ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’.
WSS race action additionally included Czech rider Oliver Konig, who previously back in May sampled the 300 Curves of Gustav Havel-Horice Lap of Honour (aside Moto2 exponent Filip Salac) wearing a nice tribute helmet to much-missed, Czech road racing legend Kamil Holan.
Rapid, young Belgian talent, previously a double Belgian Twin Trophy races winner at Frohburger Dreieck, Ferre Fleerackers (step-brother of 2024 IRRC Supersport Schleiz and Frohburg race victor, Jef Van Calster), placed seventh, third in Cremona Sportbike encounters.
The World Sportbike class, premiering this year in WSB events, also contained UK duo, Harrison Dessoy and Fenton Seabright, racing for PHR Performance Triumph team, owned by outright TT lap-record holder and this season’s best newcomer at Oliver’s Mount, Billown and Circuit de Chimay, Peter Hickman.
Season concluding WSB/Support series rounds, commence over back-to-back upcoming weekends in Estoril, Portugal (9th-11th October, coincides with San Pedro Martir Hill Climb in Mexico, Superbiker Mettet, Supermoto event) and ‘Circuito Permanente de Jerez – Angel Nieto’ in Spain (16th-18th October, at the same time as BSB Showdown finale at Brands Hatch and Cessnock, Australia street circuit located Postie Bike Grand Prix).
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
