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Sparks are set to fly this weekend at Imola's Enzo & Dino Ferrari Circuit, where the final round of the 2002 World Superbike Championship takes place. After Troy Bayliss's (Ducati Infostrada) unexpected crash during the Dutch round at Assen three weeks ago, which saw the Australian overhauled by Honda rival Colin Edwards, the one point gap between Troy and the Texan (502 to 501) means that everything goes right down to the wire this Sunday at the Santerno track.

The reigning world champion has put the Assen incident out of his mind and comes to Imola determined to reaffirm the supremacy shown during the first part of the championship, in which he picked up 14 wins in 18 races. A positive test session at Mugello last week, in which several improvements were made to his Ducati 998 F02 in view of the Imola round, has left Troy in the best possible condition for the final races of the season.

"I've been struggling a little bit with the feeling on my bike since Laguna and the last few rounds haven't been like they were at the start of the year" said Troy, "but after the Mugello test, I've got the same feeling I had at the start of the year again and I'm really looking forward to Imola. I like the track, I was having a good time here until I broke my collarbone! There are a lot of chicanes, you just have to get your bike working well there, it's an undulating and bumpy circuit so a good all-round package is going to be ideal. I'd say I've got a good chance, but my chances are as good as Colin's. Whoever has the best weekend, will win."

Unlike Troy, team-mate Ruben Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) has positive memories of the Imola track. Last year he picked up a win and a second place, and even though the situation is different this year, the Spanish rider will do everything possible to help the Australian in the battle for the title.

"In Assen I was really fast and it was just that we were a bit unlucky technically, but I hope this weekend nothing will happen and I will just try and do what I did last year, finish both races at the top. Colin and Troy are battling for the championship but I want to be there with them and be the same as last year, be the same Ruben Xaus as before and win races. I'm hungry for a win and hopefully I'll have a bit of luck this weekend."

After a difficult season in which he only stepped up onto the podium once, Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) will be aiming to displace Aprilia's Noriyuki Haga from fourth place in the standings at one of his favorite tracks.

"Although it's the last race of the season, I have a lot of motivation and I'm really excited now I've got everything sorted out for next year," declared Ben. "I'm planning to get fourth place in the championship, even though it's not exactly what I expected at the start of the year. Imola always produces good races, the track is awesome, the people are great and I went pretty well here last year."

POINTS (after 12 of 13 rounds): Riders - 1. Edwards (Honda) 502; 2. Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) 501; 3. Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) 302; 4. Haga (Aprilia) 254; 5. Bostrom (Ducati L&M) 248; 6. Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) 217; etc. Constructors - 1. Ducati 535 ; 2. Honda 507; 3. Aprilia 254; 4. Kawasaki 197; 5. Suzuki 130; 6. Benelli 23; 7. Yamaha 16.

THE IMOLA CIRCUIT

The history of the 'Enzo & Dino Ferrari' at Imola dates back to 1950 with the inauguration of a circuit obtained from roads destined for normal traffic. The most famous motorcycle event to be held here was the Imola 200 Miles in 1972, organised by Francesco Costa and won by Paul Smart on a Ducati, while changes were made to the circuit in the 1970s so that it could become a permanent venue for Formula One races from 1979 onwards. This will be the second time World Superbikes has been to Imola after the Santerno circuit hosted the final round of the championship in 2001.

CIRCUIT RECORDS

Fastest Lap: Corser (Aprilia) 1'49.398 (2001); Qualifying: Xaus (Ducati) 1'48.462 (2001); Superpole: Corser (Aprilia) 1'48.694 (2001). RACE DISTANCE: 2 x 21 laps (2 x 103.593 km)

2001 RESULTS

Race One: 1. Xaus (Ducati); 2. Corser (Aprilia); 3. Edwards (Honda).
Race Two: 1. Laconi (Aprilia); 2. Xaus (Ducati); 3. Okada (Honda).