Luca Ottaviani joins Petronas Mie Racing for Donnington WorldSSP Round

PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda rider Toba to be joined by substitute rider Ottaviani at the historic English track. 

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The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team is set to tackle Round 7 of the 2025 FIM Supersport World Championship this weekend (July 11–13) at Donington Park in the United Kingdom, with Kaito Toba joined by Italian substitute rider Luca Ottaviani.

The team’s regular Malaysian rider, Syarifuddin Azman, will be absent from this round as he shifts focus to the ARRC (Asia Road Racing Championship) round at Motegi, Japan. Taking his place is 31-year-old Luca Ottaviani, who brings prior WorldSSP experience and will be riding the Honda CBR600RR for the first time. Despite the challenges ahead, Ottaviani is eager to adapt quickly and make the most of the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Japanese rider Kaito Toba is aiming to reset his campaign after a string of misfortunes. Although he scored points in earlier rounds at Phillip Island and Cremona, recent outings have proven difficult. However, a productive test at Hungary’s Balaton Park has equipped the team with fresh data and ideas to help turn the tide heading into the season’s second half.

Donington Park, a historic venue located in Leicestershire, has been a regular on the WorldSBK calendar since hosting the inaugural round of the championship in 1988. The 4.023 km circuit features twelve corners (seven right, five left) and is known for its flowing layout and iconic corners like Craner Curves and the Melbourne Hairpin.

Rider Quotes:

Kaito Toba: “We had a one-day test at Balaton Park before this round, which helped us find some direction to improve the bike’s performance. That data is valuable because it allows us to fine-tune the setup earlier in the race weekend. I’m motivated to get back on track and fight for points, hopefully, the weather stays on our side so we can make a real step forward.”

Luca Ottaviani: “Firstly, I want to thank Midori-san and the team for this opportunity. I’ve never raced at Donington Park before, but it looks amazing from what I’ve seen on TV. I’m excited to try the CBR600RR and give my best for the team. I hope to learn quickly and deliver a strong performance.”

The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team heads into the British round looking to regroup, score valuable points, and showcase their potential as the 2025 WorldSSP season continues.