The newest category in the paddock arrives at the Cremona Circuit for the EICMA Italian Round, and every single title—Riders’, Teams’, and Manufacturers’—could be settled right here. David Salvador of Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI leads the charge into the first two of the final four races this year, already catching the eye of a team in the WorldSSP category. Salvador sits comfortably atop the standings with a 30-point advantage, even after being kept off the top step at Magny-Cours following back-to-back wins at Misano and Aragon. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) is the man chasing him in P2, having found some serious momentum with two wins and a P2 over the last six races. Since Cremona Circuit acts as a relative wildcard where many riders haven't competed before, expect Salvador to lean on his standout one-lap pace—he has dominated Fridays all season with four consecutive pole positions. Artigas won't give an inch, and if he can keep the #38 from outscoring him by 20 or 21 points depending on results, he will successfully push the fight to the finale at Jerez.
Further down the order, the battle for the remaining podium spots is fierce. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) held P2 after Race 1 at Magny-Cours, but an unfortunate Race 2 crash dropped him 51 points back from his teammate, leaving him with a mathematical mountain to climb. Meanwhile, Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) is the final rider with a theoretical shot at the crown, needing to take more than 24 points off the Spaniard across both races to keep his dreams alive at Jerez. The Australian Yamaha rider has been scorching hot lately with four podiums over the last three rounds. Aprilia’s Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) suffered DNF woes at Aragon and Misano after his emphatic win at Most, but aims to close out strong. Just six points behind him, Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) missed Magny-Cours with a shoulder injury from a summer wildcard appearance at Assen, pending a crucial medical check on Thursday to pilot his Suzuki GSX-8R.
The top ten features razor-thin margins that could make or break the weekend. Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) sits seventh on a hellacious run of form, converting four podiums and a Magny-Cours win over the last three rounds. Just two points behind Buis, he poses a real threat to Vannucci in P5. Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) is only seven points behind the Brit, returning to the top six in Race 1 last round for the first time since his Assen victory. He must fend off Bruno Ieraci (CM Triumph Factory Racing), who sits eight points back after a disastrous Magny-Cours weekend yielding P14 and P20 finishes, completely disrupting his home-round win form from Misano. Tenth-placed Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) looks to capitalize on slim margins after impressive showings including a Superpole P2 and solid finishes on Saturday and Sunday.
Elsewhere on the grid, returnees and injury updates will shake up the pit lane. Phillip Tonn (Kove Racing Team 109) has missed most of the season due to a hand injury and subsequent infection, but the German faces a fitness review ahead of the Italian round. If cleared, he will join Spanish teammate Benat Fernandez—fresh off being crowned Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion on Sunday at Austria’s Red Bull Ring—on pit lane. Arai Agaska (ProGP NitiRacing) is also hoping for a medical green light to return after missing the Acerbis French Round. Rounding out the field, Italian rider Manuel Rocca (Team Rosso e Nero Moto Club) steps in as the weekend's sole wildcard aboard a Triumph Daytona 660.
