The grid positions for tomorrow’s five races, that make up the second round of the 2012 Campionato Italiano Velocità, were set today at the “Enzo e Dino Ferrari” circuit of Imola. Tomorrow, on Easter Sunday, over 130 riders will be out racing across the seven classes of the Italian championship; today’s second qualifying session saw some extremely impressive lap times, with a surprise in the Stock 1000 category.

TOMORROW’S GRIDS – the protagonist of the Stock 600 qualifying session was Nicola J. Morrentino. The Team Elle 2 Ciatti rider secured pole position on board his Yamaha thanks to a best time of 1’53”397, improving by almost two seconds on his best time set yesterday, and by over a second on the pole set in last week’s European Stock 600 race. Young rider Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha – RCGM Faber Team) finished behind him, having registered a fast time in the final stages, one tenth of a second better than that set by current championship leader Riccardo Russo (Yamaha – Team Italia FMI). The second row will comprise Luca Vitali, Stefano Casalotti and one of the day’s surprises, Filippo Benini.

Another surprise in the Stock 1000, in which Ivan Goi took pole position on board the new Ducati 1199 Panigale (Team Barni): Goi recorded an impressive 1’50”883 which would have placed him fifth in last week’s European Cup race, and assured him of first place in tomorrow’s race. “I have grown since Mugello, also thanks to the feeling of calm in our garage and the good advice provided by my technicians”, said Ivan. “Today’s pole gives me confidence for the race. In the dry we have a strong pace, although having said that the forecast is not looking good for tomorrow.” His team-mate Simone Saltarelli closed in second place with the ‘old’ 1198; although he tried his best to snatch pole from the former Italian champion, he had to be satisfied today with second. Fabrizio Perotti (BMW – Play Racing) finished third, followed by current championship leader Corradi and Alessio Velini.

A great four-way fight for pole in the Superbike class, at the end of which it was Fabrizio Lai who took pole. The Ducati rider, riding with team Althea Racing by Echo recorded a 1’49”097 which assured him of first place. Current leader Matteo Baiocco (Ducati – Team Barni) closed just over a tenth of a second behind him, followed by the other 1198 run by team Barni, ridden by Luca Conforti. Tuscan rider Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati – Grandi Corse) closed fourth, ahead of Davide Caselli who took a surprising fifth place finish.

The star of the Moto3 class was Kevin Calia. The local rider, from Imola itself, stopped the clock on 2’03”814 on board the Honda prepared by Team Elle2 Ciatti, securing pole position. Young Andrea Locatelli secured second place, just seven hundredths of a second behind the polesitter, followed by the Oral M3 prepared by Team Italia Gabrielli and entrusted to Manuel Pagliani. The second row is made up Mugello’s race winner, Matteo Ferrari, the other rider to be supported by the FMI, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, and Michael Coletti.

The youngster made their mark in the 125 Gp. 17-year old Andrea Mantovani (Aprilia) just snatched pole from current championship leader Riccardo Moretti (on the Indian Mahindra) thanks to a more than respectable time of 2’02”309. Mantovani finished six tenths of a second ahead of the former Italian champion. Third place was taken by Lorenzo Dalla Porta (who unfortuantely crashed in the final stages) on board the Aprilia of team O.R. by 2B Corse Zack M. while fourth and fifth place went Simone Mazzola and Cristiano Carpi, also on board Aprilia machines.

Russian rider Vladimir Leonov improved on his best time set yesterday by seven tenths, taking pole in the Supersport class with a time of 1’52”236, which would have seen him on the second row of last week’s world championship grid at the same track. In the second qualifying session, the Yamaha rider, racing with Team Yakhnich MS, closed ahead of Roberto Tamburini (Honda) by just two tenths. Wild-card Massimo Roccoli, riding a Yamaha for Team Bike Service – WTR Ten 10 recorded the same time to take third place. Stefano Cruciani (Kawasaki) and Giuliano Gregorini (Yamaha) were also strong, closing fourth and fifth respectively. Ferruccio Lamborghini took pole in the Moto2: the Team Quarantaquattro Racing rider put in an impressive 1’53”429 to close ahead of Danish rider Robin Harms (Bimota – Edo Racing) and the current champion Alessandro Andreozzi (Andreozzi Reparto Corse).

TV COVERAGE: LIVE ALSO ON THE INTERNET – live coverage will begin tomorrow at 11.35am on Nuvolari (ch. 144 Sky and Digital Terrestrial) with the Stock 600 and Stock 1000 races while on Sportitalia 2 (ch. 226 Sky and Digital Terrestrial) the Superbike, 125 Gp/Moto3 and Supersport/Moto2 races will kick off from 1.50pm. The Imola will also have good coverage abroad thanks to Motors TV (coverage of the event across Europe) and with TenSports, Indian television that will broadcast the 125/Moto3 category. The racing is also broadcast on the Internet, in live streaming, on the CIV website (www.civ.tv) in collaboration with Sportube.tv.

TICKETS AND PRICES – Racing will get underway tomorrow morning, with the Stock 600 race at 11.45, followed by the other categories. Tickets valid for both the grandstand and paddock cost 15 euros (10 euros for FMI card-holders).