Edoardo Colombi, SportBike class Vice-Champion, 2024 British Superbike National Championship.
15 October 2024 - The Italian duo, made by the Aprilia RS 660 and Edoardo Colombi, has lost the title in the SportBike class of the British Superbike by only 1.5 points, at the end of an exciting weekend at Brands Hatch (English circuit in the county of Kent).
Colombi went into the final round of the season leading the championship by 21.5 points. The weekend got off to the best possible start, with Colombi dominating qualifying to take his fifth pole position of the season and almost breaking the track record he had previously set. However, the path to the title became more complicated in Race 1 due to the choice of wet tires on a drying track, a strategy that relegated Colombi to 14th place. As a result, Edoardo dropped to second in the standings, 9.5 points behind the leader.
In Race 2, Colombi made a spectacular comeback from 14th on the grid to take victory. However, the victory was not enough to secure the title, which he lost by just 1.5 points. Despite the result, Colombi's season remains remarkable, with eight wins and four other podium finishes in 15 races in his debut year in the championship.
Aprilia and Colombi made a lasting impression on the championship, and although the title eluded them, the British fans recognized the exceptional, if not superior, performance of both rider and the Italian bike. The Aprilia RS 660 has reaffirmed itself as the benchmark in its category, demonstrating its reliability and competitiveness in one of the most prestigious international championships. This historic achievement highlights not only the value of the Aprilia RS 660 but also Aprilia Racing's ability to develop top-level bikes and talent, reinforcing the importance of the Aprilia Trophies as a vital steppingstone for young riders on their way to higher categories.
EDOARDO COLOMBI, #13: "We had an excellent qualifying session, showing great speed from the start. In Race 1, the track was dry, but during the warm-up lap, it started to rain, and the race was declared wet. So, we decided to switch to wet tyres, but unfortunately the track was completely dry by the time we started. I still managed to finish 14th and score some important points. In Race 2, I set an incredible pace and went from 14th to 1st in just a few laps.
It's a bit disappointing because we missed the title by a whisker, but it was an amazing experience. There were so many people cheering for me and that really means a lot. I would like to thank Aprilia Racing and Gradara Corse for their support throughout the season.”
MASSIMO RIVOLA, Aprilia Racing CEO: “Edoardo displayed his potential as a rookie in an exceptional season. He showed remarkable speed and is the moral winner of the championship with his Aprilia RS 660. Congratulations to Cooper, his direct rival, who fought until the last race. We will certainly be hearing more from Edoardo and the Aprilia RS 660 as they put on a show throughout the year.”
APRILIA:
https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN
SOCIAL CORNER – GRADARA CORSE RACING TEAM:
“It was an incredible season with six pole positions and eight victories! We are National Sportbike Vice-Champions with Edoardo Colombi. We thank all our staff, Edo, those who support us, our technical partners, Aprilia Racing and above all our sponsors.”
https://www.facebook.com/gradaracorse/?locale=it_IT
BRITISH SUPERBIKE:
https://www.britishsuperbike.com/
