MANFREDI SHINES IN HIS DEBUT ON THE RED

The weekend of April 25th and 26th marked the debut of the 2026 Italian Road Racing Championship at the Misano Adriatico circuit. The season kicks off under the banner of a true technical revolution for the premier class, Superbike, attracting new manufacturers and teams, bringing 37 riders to the grid, more than half of whom are internationally renowned.

Among the standouts is La Spezia native Kevin Manfredi, making his first official appearance on the Team Atomico Ducati. Despite only one pre-season test under his belt, Manfredi quickly adapted to the "red" bike, consistently placing himself in the top 10 right from free practice. In a fiercely contested qualifying session, with 17 riders within a second of each other, the number 34 rider pulverized his personal best on the circuit by almost a second, taking eleventh place on the grid.

Aware that Kevin's strength lies in race pace rather than single lap times, the rider and team worked in synergy with the Andreani Group to optimize the setup over the distance. The results were already visible in Race 1, where Manfredi mounted a decisive comeback that took him to the finish line in seventh place, with lap times comparable to those of the leaders.

The masterpiece arrived in Race 2. As the lights went out, Kevin made a determined attack, immediately closing in on Michele Pirro, nine-time Italian Superbike Champion and MotoGP test rider. Lap after lap, his consistent pace rewarded him with a solid sixth place, just shy of the podium.

Kevin: "This is a truly important start. This year, the level of the CIV Superbike is comparable to a World Championship; my race pace last year would have guaranteed me a podium finish in both races. I'm thrilled; no one expected such performances on my debut with a new bike and a new team. Finishing the two races as the third-best Ducati, right behind the official test riders, is an excellent starting point. We still have a lot of work to do, but we're already close to the top. I can't wait to get back on the bike at Mugello."

Kevin Manfredi confirms his position as one of the category's leading riders. The next round is scheduled for the weekend of May 9th and 10th at the historic Mugello International Circuit, where the Atomico Racing Team's No. 34 Ducati will aim to further close the gap to the podium.

Kevin thanks all the sponsors and technical partners for the 2026 season.