The reigning champion’s only previous experience 𒁏of the track came during h𒁃is rookie 2019 WorldSBK season, when he finished second and third before the cancellation of the final race due to extreme weather.

Speaking after extending his 2023 title lead to 93 points, the 🌺reigning world champion admitted he has serious safety concerns about returning to the historic Italian venue, branding it ‘too dang♌erous’.

“I’ve raced once at Imola, wel🐷l ‘half’ because we didn't make all the weekend in 2019,” Bautista said.

“It's not an easy track, but especialꦫly for me it's not the safest track in the calendar. Because the wall is around all the trackꦛ, we have not much space for run-off and for me it’s too dangerous.

“But at the end we will be there, try to not make mistakes bec🅷ause in that track a mistake will be very dangerous. So we’ll just take it ꦏeasy and do our best without any expectation.

"Just go there, work and have fun.”

The Imola weeke🌼nd, from July 14-16, will open the second half of the 12-round WorldSBK season.