Barni Ducati played poker and took his first Superbike/World Superbike Championship win

Barni Racing already had many strong riders under contract in the World Superbike Championship. For example, Xavi Fores, Michael Rinaldi, Leon Camier or, from 2023, Danilo Petrucci. However, no regular driver has won so far and the reserved podium places were important factors. What Nicholas Spinelli achieved in the first race in Assen last weekend was even more amazing.

The Italian won Barni Racing’s 2022 Supersport series and is contesting the MotoE and Tech3 championships this year. The 22-year-old has never ridden a bigger bike. However, team boss Marco Barnabo signed Spinelli as a replacement for Petrucci, who was seriously injured during motocross practice. “After Danilo was injured, we had to decide whether to miss Assen or replace him,” said Barnabo. “We decided on Spinelli, who won the Italian Supersport Championship with us. For various reasons we could not continue with him in the World Supersport Championship, so we gave him this chance.”

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Welcome to the Assen race

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Start of the race

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Razgatlioglu, Bautista, Gardner

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Remy Gardner

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Andrea Locatelli

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Rea, Lowes, Gardner

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Alvaro Bautista

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Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Bautista and Bulega

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Bautista and Razgatlioglu

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Gardner and Lowes

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Razgatlioglu and Gardner

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Bautista vor Locatelli

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Toprak Razgatlioglu wins the race

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Sieger Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Bautista, Razgatlioglu, Gardner

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Sieger Toprak Razgatlioglu

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In wet conditions, Barni-Ducati was the only motorcycle with medium tires at the front and rear of the starting grid. Spinelli used his advantage in the first few laps and at times led the second place by more than 25 seconds. On a track that was dry with every lap, the more maneuverable riders later gained the advantage, but the sprinter saved a lead of three seconds until the end and won his first race in the World Superbike Championship. “The choice of tires was important. We decided on the arbitrators because we knew that everyone would start with a trick,” the team boss smiled. He never drove when the track was still wet, as it was at the beginning of the race. But Nicholas was unique because, without any experience with this bike and these tires, he pushed hard in the first few laps and managed to gain the advantage that was necessary for victory. To win the race with him, who has never ridden a Superbike before and came here in such difficult conditions, was very, very good. It was amazing!”

OK: Spinelli came 18th in the Superpole race and 16th in the second race – but that didn’t matter to Barnabo.

Barnabo is convinced: Petrucci could also fight for victory in a treacherous environment. “We would like to be here with Danilo, because under these circumstances we would be the main characters with him. We are sure that he will recover soon and be ready for the test in Misano,” Barnabo lamented. “In any case, we are happy because it is our first victory in the World Superbike Championship.”