Today's scheduled second WorldSBK race has been cancelled following a massive downpour at Imola.

As rider and teams formed on the grid, light rain turned very heavy and parts of the track - particularly Arrabiata and Acque Minerale - began to flood.

Reigning champion Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam, Tom Sykes, Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark, Chaz Davies and series leader Alvaro Bautista lapped in the safety cars and pitlane opened after a lengthy meeting with sporting director Gregorio Lavilla but after one or two sighting laps, the riders met again on the grid and it was called off.

The rain had been forecast from midnight last night but only a light shower happened under cover of darkness. The Superpole race got underway on a damp surface but the amount of water before race two was a whole different kettle of fish.