Category: World Superbikes

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Leon Camier: “I’ll be able to get more out of our package”

This time last year, following the opening pre-season test, Red Bull-Honda knew they were in a world of trouble. The new Fireblade CBR1000RR had caught everyone, including its makers, by surprise and alarm. The bike was slow and unresponsive. Tune the engine, change the suspension dampers, short swing-arm, long swing-arm, alter the rake – they tried every trick in the book, but the bike would not yield. Perplexing both engineers, mechanics and riders, the season was a long and painful affair. The end of season could not arrive quick enough.

Fast forward to the Circuito de Jerez this week. The demons appear to have been banished.

Spearheading this resurgence is one of the most experienced men in the competition, Leon Camier. The 31 year-old British rider has moved across from MV Agusta, and has immediately made his presence felt. He was obviously in good spirits following a very promising 3rd place finish in the opening pre-season test this week.

LC: I’m really happy with how this test went, we’ve made some good progress and I’m learning the bike more and more. There’s still a lot I’d like to work on at the next test in Portimao and I think as I ride this bike on different tracks I’ll be able to get even more out of our package.

A veiled warning to the likes of Pata-Yamaha and Aruba.it Ducati? Yes. It is true that a rider takes time to adapt when joining a new team, riding styles must alter to get the most out of a different bike. This is no different to someone of Camier’s experience with 185 race starts to his name. Nevertheless the early indications are that he has already got himself ‘dialled in’ as they say. Having spent the previous two seasons wringing the neck of an out of date MV, Camier has the hunger to prove himself in a larger, factory supported team. Additionally, his riding style has already been honed to handle a more volatile machine – which this Honda still is.

The majority of the team’s efforts in Jerez were focused on reliability and race-pace. With multiple long stints with a high level of fuel on board, a spectacular showing was not expected. True to the illogical nature of racing, a spectacular showing was what we got. Rarely outside of the top ten throughout the entirety of the test and reaching lap time parity with the likes of the Yamaha and Ducati outfits, it was a much needed return to form for the whole team.

There can be no doubt that the seemingly wholesale turnaround in the team’s fortunes is a truly collective effort from everybody involved. From the riders and the mechanics, to all those personnel who work back at HRC, it is clear that everyone involved has risen to the challenge. This was a fact not lost by team manager, Kevin Bos.

KB: The Jerez test was a success from a team point of view as we managed to test a lot of new components and made some solid improvement with the CBR1000RR SP2. Leon made some big steps with the bike compared to the test here in November and we were able to find a really good balance with the Fireblade which not only helped improve performance but also gave some benefit in terms of tyre durability. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going at Portimao in a few days time

Of course, we will not know fully how close the team are to competing at the front of the field until the opening race of the season at Phillip Island, next month. However one thing is certain, the Red Bull-Honda outfit are already in a much better place than at any point last season.

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WSBK Jerez Test Report: Advantage Kawasaki

The long winter break at last ended this week at the Circuito de Jerez, as the World Superbike competitors took part in the first pre-season test. Despite the weather conditions being closer to British standards than Iberian, with a steady band of fog hovering over the circuit on both mornings, the teams and riders were eager to make the most of the time available to them.

Kawasaki Racing Team appear to have picked up in 2018, where they left 2017: out in front of the pack. This should not be surprising, the Japanese factory team dominated the championship last year with both riders, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, taking the Lion’s share of the spoils. The latter took the honour of being the fastest of all across the test setting a time of 1:38.889, half a second quicker than Rea and then the rest of the field. KRT have spent the majority of the meeting focusing on race pace, with both riders completing multiple long runs across the two days. Ominously for their opposition, neither of the two ever found themselves lower than fifth place at any time. Sykes’ final lap time underlining the sheer gulf in performance (0.719 seconds) of the factory Kawasaki bikes to the rest of the competition.

At face value, the Abruba.it Ducati team would appear to also have continued in the same vein as last year: second best, but with the potential to fight for race wins at tracks which suit the strength of their bikes. Once again, the Bologna based factory team have Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri piloting the Panigale R machines. Not wanting to reveal too much to their chief rivals, the team focused purely on setup work and long data gathering runs. This was reflected in Davies’ finishing place of P11, 1.83 seconds adrift of Sykes’ fastest time. Although Melandri (1:39.754) did take a headline grabbing P3 at the end of the final day, he was still almost a full second away from the top spot. It is worth remembering that Davies is still recovering from injuries sustained at this circuit at the end of last season. The team are confident he’ll be fully fit come the opening round in Australia next month.

It would however be wrong to assume at this early stage that the championship is a foregone conclusion. The chief opposition to the men in green looks like it might come in the shape of a resurgent Red-Bull Honda team. Whilst we must always take results from testing with a pinch of salt, it does look like Honda will be firmly putting a dreadful 2017 campaign into the box labelled “Dark and Distant Memory”. It is all change with the riders for the new year. Jake Gagne, the 25 year-old Californian, has made the full time switch from the MotoAmerica championship, following an impressive debut at Laguna Seca last season. The team have been quick to emphasise that he will take time to adjust to the bike and as such should not be judged quickly. As such, the American’s side of the garage purely focused on his general bike setup this week. To compliment the signing of the rookie, Honda have acquired the services of one of the most experienced riders in the sport, Leon Camier. The British rider, moving from MV Agusta, took next to no time to adapt to the Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 and was a constant presence at the sharp end of the time sheets, securing an impressive P3 in the dying minutes of the final day with a time of 1:39.608. Of course the season is still yet to begin but compared to where the team was this time last year, it was about as perfect a start as the team could have wished for.

Pata-Yamaha will also be quietly satisfied with the work completed over the past two days. The early signs are that the factory supported outfit appear to have caught up with rivals Ducati. Alex Lowes (1:40.398) was a permanent fixture inside the top five for the majority of the test, leading the team’s charge ahead of teammate Michael van der Mark (1:40.532). Despite their final standings being dropped down to P7 and P8 respectively, this was simply due to the team not electing to do a low-fuel ‘qualifying style’ run at the end of Wednesday’s session. Additionally, the team had test rider, Niccolo Canepa, on hand to help with the setup work. Together, the three riders completed an impressive 411 laps across the two days. Canepa did however set a hot lap of 1:39.524 at the end of the test to confirm the apparently strong position the team find themselves in.

Elsewhere there was close competition for the privateer teams who make up the rest of the competition. Fresh from the MotoGP paddock Loris Baz (Althea-BMW) marked his arrival to Superbikes with a very promising P10 finish, and within 2 seconds of the full factory supported teams. He headed a group of more experienced competitors in the category including Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee-Aprilia) and Ondrej Jezek (Guandalini Racing Yamaha). The former struggled at Jerez, reportedly unhappy with the balance of his machine, and could only finish 15th with a best time of 1:41.411. The team did at least have a more encouraging test with their second rider, Eugene Laverty (1.39.876), who secured a top 5 placing and ensured the team move forward in the pre-season with a degree of optimism and confidence.

Top 10 Result:

1: Tom Sykes (KRT) – 1:38.889

2: Jonathan Rea (KRT) + 0.581

3: Leon Camier (Red Bull-Honda) +0.719

4: Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Ducati) +0.865

5: Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee-Aprilia) +0.987

6: Jordi Torres (MV Agusta) +1.266

7: Alex Lowes (Pata-Yamaha) +1.509

8: Michael van der Mark (Pata-Yamaha) +1.643

9: Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing Kawasaki) +1.750

10: Loris Baz (Althea-BMW) +1.818

The 2018 FIM World Superbike Championship begins at the Phillip Island Circuit, Australia. Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th February.

 

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Laverty: We made some big steps

Image by Milwaukee Aprilia

Eugene Laverty has completed a highly productive Jerez test, declaring that he and the Milwaukee Aprilia team ‘made some big steps’ as they worked through their testing schedule.

“The test first of all was about exploring the new rev limits. We had to understand how to use the gearbox differently, which is going to make the rider busier as we need to shift more. I can’t say much more about the lower revs but we will just have to live with it, as every manufacturer will,” said a slightly sceptical Irishman.

“Today we’ve also focused on the issue I had for a lot of 2017 which was getting the bike to push on the rear tyre more so we can stop, turn and accelerate better. We made some big steps on Tuesday, and I was surprised how extreme we had to go. We made progress though and suddenly I had rear grip, which gives me confidence because it confirms what we thought about the bike and the direction we need to follow,” he continued.

Laverty has won at Jerez twice, both coming on the Aprilia in 2013. When he returned to the championship this season, he finished 8th in race one before retiring in race two. Whilst his testing lap time was slower than his qualifying time in 2017, the gains made will enable the Irishman to push on and have better race pace.

“I wish we had a third day as always so we could keep progressing, but it’s been a very useful two days. We still have to chase down those guys at the front, and Aprilia understand what’s needed on the engine and chassis side of things. We understand the direction needed, it will be the second year with the team and the same bike and we can only get stronger.”

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The End of an Era

Image Courtesy of BT Sport MotoGP Launch

It is the end of an era. There is nothing better than turning on your TV and being welcomed by the same voice or face, or switching over to your favourite sport and being introduced by a regular, passionate, informative presenter. In commentary, it is the same, especially when you’ve listened to the same voice for the best part of 25 years, across numerous formats. You get a sense of more than familiarity but a sense of trust, like you are one of the family. As if they are in the same living room as yourself.

There is one partnership who seemingly go above and beyond that of just being regulars. Keith Huewen and Julian Ryder were reunited in 2014, when BT Sport took over the British rights to broadcast MotoGP. Whilst some may complain at their ‘bickering’ or as I’d rather put it, ‘debating’, I believe they are synonymous with MotoGP and indeed motorcycle racing in general. For years, the partnership has brought British viewers an in-depth, passionate and entertaining outlook on motorcycle racing, which has gained both of them incredible popularity, respect and appreciation. However, this weekend will be the last time that we hear the dulcet tones of Julian, who steps away from the MotoGP paddock at the end of the season.

Whilst he commentated on the early 90s Grand Prix era, where himself and Keith first found each other in the same box, at Eurosport, it wasn’t until the two went to Sky Sports that they found big fame in the UK. Not only did they commentate on the best Superbike racing in the series’ history, on household names such as Carl Fogarty, Frankie Chili, Aaron Slight and Troy Corser etc, but they became household names themselves. They were the two most entertaining, yet informative, motorcycle racing broadcasters that we in Blighty had been blessed with.

It is sad that Julian is going but the day was always going to come in some way, shape or form. No commentator lasts forever; no iconic public figure lasts forever. However, we talk as if he is leaving the sport, sitting at home and reading The Guardian for the rest of his days. Julian is far from retiring, he’s leaving because of the amount of travel which is required to do his job. He will be heard in some form I’m sure.

A personal thank you from me too. As an aspiring commentator, it was ‘Keith and Jules’ who gave me that desire in the first place. I wanted to be able to talk about something that I enjoy watching and have a bit of a laugh whilst doing it – like them – and thankfully, that is beginning to happen – so thanks for that desire. Julian, thanks for the mentions on the TV and thanks for the wonderful insight into many things that only someone of your experience and passion could pass on.

I only met Mr. Ryder a couple of times but those couple of times were enough to confirm my thoughts that he is one of the most enthusiastic and knowledgable characters within our sport.

So, in the words of Frank Sinatra, ‘the end is near’. But only in MotoGP – the paddock may lose Jules’ services but he will be around – he really IS NOT retiring.

BT will keep Keith Huewen and the rest of the team for next season. Although, like I said at the start of this tribute, it is the end of an era. There will be no more ‘Keith and Jules’. That partnership will be done and dusted after Sunday. Just let it sink in for a moment. The irreplaceable chemistry and incomparable irrepressibility from commentary’s most dynamic duo will be in the history books. It’s a bit like a collocation – you can’t have one without the other; it just doesn’t sound right.

From the 90s to now, thanks for the amazing commentary and your excellent end of season books, Julian. It has been a pleasure to endure both. MotoGP really won’t be the same without you and I speak on behalf of hundreds and thousands of people on the UK on that.

Cheers mate.

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WSBK Qatar Preview: The Final Outing

One last time in 2017, WSBK take to the Losail circuit to finish the season.

The final round of the 2017 World Superbike championship comes from Losail, in the Qatari desert. Like the MotoGP event, the races will be held under floodlights, although one takes place on Friday evening and the other on the Saturday. This is to respect what is traditionally known as the Qatari weekend. MotoGP previously adopted this format, between 2004 and 2007. Jonathan Rea has never won a World Superbike race in Qatar and will be hoping that he can end that run. The battle for 2nd in the championship is also raging between Welshman, Chaz Davies and Huddersfield’s Tom Sykes. Will we see team order tactics from Kawasaki like last season, to deny Chaz Davies a chance of the silver medallist position?

2nd and 3rd last season are Jonny Rea’s best results in Qatar. The Kawasaki rider has already took wins at 9 out of 12 rounds this season and he will be hoping to make it 10 from 13. Rea has won the last two races and if he was to win the final two races of the season, it’d be the first time ever that Kawasaki have ended the season with four consecutive race victories. It would also be the first time since 1996 that a Kawasaki had done the double in the final round of the season, with Anthony Gobert being the last rider to achieve that. Rea will be hoping to pass Troy Bayliss’ tally of wins, a number at which he is currently level on with the Australian.

Chaz Davies is 2nd in the championship, on 363 points. This is the same number of points as Tom Sykes but Davies is ahead of him on the virtue of race wins countback. The Ducati ace has had a mixed season, blighted by errors which has subsequently led to his demise as a championship challenger once again. Chaz Davies did the double in Qatar last season and was 4th and 2nd in 2015. Back in 2012, Davies’ 363 points would’ve given him the championship, so he is by no means slow or slacking, it is just the inconsistency that has hindered him this year. Chaz Davies last had a pole position at Imola, at which he achieved a double win that weekend too. Can he repeat that achievement?

Tom Sykes is dead level with Davies in the points so that really could be the big focus this weekend. Sykes has had just two wins this season, his worst tally since his sole victory back in 2011, the year he started winning. Kawasaki as a manufacturer haven’t had a 1-2 since race two at Laguna Seca and will be desperate to sign off on a high. Sykes’ last win came in race one at Misano and his last fastest lap was at the Lausitzring, race one. Sykes, like his teammate, has never won at Losail before and had a best result of 2nd at the circuit in race two last season. The last time he won the last race of the season was in 2012 at Magny Cours – the same statistic applies for Kawasaki; the last time they won the final race of the year was the same year.

Marco Melandri has hit something of a run of form towards the back end of 2017. Leading the first Jerez race until a mechanical breakdown four laps from the end wasn’t ideal, however, the Italian fought back in race two and finished 2nd. It was his 12th podium of the season, which stands him in good stead for 2018. Melandri has great form at Losail too, battling with Valentino Rossi in the 2005 Qatari Grand Prix until just a few corners from home. He was only 8th and 4th in 2014 on the Aprilia but on a bike that he is starting to like, he could be a surprise. He qualified on pole for Jerez and if he does the same again at Losail, it will be the first time ever that Melandri has achieved back-to-back poles. Will he continue to set records?

Alex Lowes sits in 5th place on his Pata Yamaha. The British rider comes to Qatar 16 points ahead of his teammate, Michael van der Mark. Lowes hasn’t finished outside of the top 5 in the last four races and will be hoping to extend that run to 5 – something he hasn’t done before. The Yamaha R1 achieved a podium at Losail last season, with Sylvain Guintoli and they will be looking to repeat that achievement this weekend. Lowes’ best result in Qatar is 7th, from race one last year. Although he can’t reach 4th in the championship, the ex BSB champion will be wanting to come away from Qatar with nothing less than at least one podium. This would be the ideal platform for him to start next season from.

Michael van der Mark returns from his MotoGP commitments in Malaysia and will be doing everything possible to try and catch his teammate for a top 5 slot in the championship. The Dutchman had a 5th and 4th at Losail in 2015 but only a 9th and 11th last season – both occasions, for Ten Kate Honda. The 25-year-old did however win a World Supersport race at the circuit in 2014, so he has winning pedigree. ‘Magic Michael’ has been in the top 10 since leaving Germany and will hope to put together a strong end to his season. Will he shine brightly under the floodlights in Qatar?

It is the final round of the championship and although it has already been decided, you’d be wrong to think that there is nothing to look out for. As said above, the battle for 2nd in the series is well and truly alive and kicking. MV Agusta’s Leon Camier is also in a tight fight for 8th in the championship with Althea BMW’s Jordi Torres and Milwaukee Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty, with just 19 points covering them all. With Leandro Mercado not riding due to his Ioda Racing team pulling out, Lorenzo Savadori needs just three points to overhaul the Argentine rider.

Image by Ducati

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WSBK Calendar Released – Brno Returns, Jerez Out and Another Lengthy Summer Break

The 2018 World Superbike calendar has been released and it sees some small changes in comparison to this season’s.

The first round will be in Australia at Phillip Island, the typical starting point for the season. We then have to wait 1 month before the next round of the championship, in Thailand, at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram.

The first European round of the year is in Spain, at Aragon before Assen one week later. We then wait 3 weeks until Imola and then two weeks until Donington Park. Two weeks later sees a return to the Czech Republic and Brno – the first time since 2012 that the circuit has featured on the calendar.

Two weeks after the Czech round, WSBK goes State-side and heads to Laguna Seca before Misano – again, two weeks later. This is the last round before yet another, lengthy summer break. There will be no racing in August and the gap itself is 10 weeks long.

After the 10-week hiatus, WSBK heads to Portugal and the Portimao circuit – more of a success in 2017 than in many years before. The series stays in Europe for the French round of the championship at Magny Cours two weeks later.

The final two rounds of the season are both fly-away races. Argentina has been pencilled in for mid-October – two weeks after Magny Cours – and will come from the new Vilicum circuit, although that remains subject to homologation. The final round of the championship will take place in the Middle East in Qatar, at the Losail International Circuit, under floodlights on the 25th – 27th October.

Image by Yamaha WSBK

 

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Quick 10 With……James Whitham

His Twitter bio reads “Ex bike racer . . have been skilfully avoiding a proper job for 30 years .. stunt dad”

Prior to gracing our screens, he has won the 80cc British Championship, the 1300cc Production British Championship and the TT Superbike Challenge.

He is a British Superbike Champion having won the title in 1993, was BSB runner-up in 1996 and raced in World Superbikes from 1994 to 1998, a team mate of Carl Fogarty. He competed in World Supersport from 2000-2002 and held the track record at Donington Park until 2007.

He runs trackdays with Paul Drinkwater Sports Motorcycling and his famous “6T9” logo can be seen on the leathers of big names in bike racing and around the circuits all over the UK.

British and World Superbike viewers will recognise him from Eurosport as a TV commentator and pundit. His quick wit, humour and amazing technological insight into bikes is without doubt the best you will find on television. His commentary partnership with Jack Burnicle for British Superbikes is quite possibly the most entertaining TV motorsport duet on air.

He is a true legend, a fantastic bike rider, a respected man on and off the circuit and a genuinely top bloke. His biography ‘What A Good Do!’ is a brilliant read (I highly recommend it).

These are his Quick 10 questions and he is……James Whitham.

What is your favourite racing circuit?

You tend to favour the tracks you go well at, regardless of whether they’re interesting to ride . . my fave UK circuit is Cadwell Park and worldwide is Monza

Who was your racing idol?

Mike Hailwood

Who would you regard as your toughest opponent?

Carl Fogarty

Considering racers of all time, you are a team principal and money is no object. Which two racers would you have in your team?

Mike Hailwood and Jarno Saarinen

If you could invite four famous people to dinner (past and present), who would you invite?

Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Nando Parrado and Muhammad Ali

Your personal racing number? What was it and the reason behind it?

69 – reads the same either way up !

What is the best race you have been involved in?

’01 World Supersport race Monza . . . 6 of us glued together for the whole race

Is there a race or series you have not competed in that you would like to or had wanted to?

I would’ve loved a season on a 250cc (2 stroke) GP bike

How did you get interested in motor racing? What ignited that spark?

My dad was a motorcyclist and took me to spectate at some race meetings as a kid . . . I was doomed from there really !

What is the best advice in racing you have been given?

Mick Grant always said that I should leave a team or sponsor on the best of terms . . . Don’t burn your bridges I suppose . . . good advice.

 

I have said this before, but when you get to interview somebody who you are a fan of and have great respect for then as a writer it is a dream come true.

In this instance I am truly thankful for James taking the time out from his busy schedule to answer the Quick 10 and can’t wait to see him and hear his funny, intelligent and interesting insight on BSB next season. I want to wish James all the best of health and thank him and Paul Drinkwater for this opportunity.

For more information on James and the track days on offer please visit http://www.jameswhitham.com/ and you can follow him on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/Jimwhit69

Neil Simmons

Twitter: @world_racing

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WSBK Jerez Review: Rea Equals More Records with Jerez Domination

The Spanish WSBK round saw triple World Champion Jonathan Rea take victory in race 2 on Sunday to complete a fine weekend at the Jerez circuit, achieving a double overall. A commanding performance in a restarted World Superbike race at the resurfaced venue gave Rea maximum points – as he was joined on the podium by Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies.

A red flag had been brought out after first lap incidents in the first part of the race. This saw Chaz Davies and Eugene Laverty both crash at turn two and then wildcard Dominic Schmitter requiring medical treatment at trackside after crashing heavily on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.

On the restart, Northern Irishman Rea notched up his 13th double win since joining Kawasaki at a venue where he had not previously won at before. He also levelled with fellow three-time champion, Troy Bayliss, in terms of number of wins in his career.

The Kawasaki rider was riding in a cool and confident style, having sealed the deal on an unprecedented third successive title two weeks previous in France. Rea stormed through from ninth on the grid to first place by the end of the first lap, overtaking Michael van der Mark cleanly at the second attempt to remain at the front from early in lap two.

Rea crossed the line 2.7s seconds ahead of Melandri at the chequered flag, who got the better of his teammate Davies in the latter stages of the second outing. The result meant that Kawasaki as a manufacturer were the constructors champions once more.

There were other battles throughout the pack with Alex Lowes finishing fourth and Tom Sykes fifth This was Sykes’ first 5th at Jerez since race two in 2015. van der Mark finished sixth having lead on the opening circulation, also having had an incident with veteran Melandri early in the race.

Home hero Xavi Fores was seventh and top Spaniard, after a good battle with returning 2014 World Superbike Champion, Sylvain Guintoli. Frenchman Guintoli, who has won a race in British Superbikes for Suzuki this season, will also ride for Puccetti Racing at the final round of the season in Qatar next month. It is expected that he will ride full-time for the team next season. Leandro Mercado and Jordi Torres rounded out the top ten.

Davide Giugliano was handed a ride through penalty for speeding in pit lane, having been forced to return to his garage due to a technical issue. He eventually finished 17th, after suffering a DNF on Saturday in race one. Race one was the first time that no Honda had finished in the points since Donington Park, race one, this season. Lorenzo Savadori was 18th after he crashed out on the first lap of the restarted race, compounding a disastrous weekend for Shaun Muir’s Milwaukee Aprilia outfit.
Image by: worldSBK.com

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WSBK Preview: Fiesta Time at Jerez

The World Superbike circus arrives at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in the south of Spain this weekend, for the final European round of the season.

There is somewhat of a party atmosphere running through the paddock as the championship has been decided. Gone are the long nights for team bosses working out title permutations, and sleepless nights for the contending riders.

Instead, the racing can return to its purest origins – every man for himself.

For Jonathan Rea, this weekend is about celebration. He arrives at the Spanish round as a triple world champion – and the first to win his three titles in consecutive seasons. Its fair to say that the champagne will be flowing all weekend for he and the Kawasaki Racing Team. Metaphorically speaking as there are, of course, two races to win. Jerez is one of the few circuits on the calendar where Rea has never secured victory at. That is something he’ll be wanting to have changed by Sunday night.

In contrast, the circuit has been a very successful hunting ground for Tom Sykes (KRT). The Yorkshireman has been a regular podium finisher in recent years, including victory in 2015’s opening race. In a season which has been utterly dominated by his teammate, this weekend presents a timely opportunity for Sykes to remind the world of his prowess, as well as lay down a marker for next season’s campaign.

One man who will be relishing this weekend will be Aruba.it Ducati’s Chaz Davies. There is something about circuits on the Iberian peninsular for the Welshman, who has made habit in recent seasons of making his own. Whilst Motorland Aragon is undoubtedly Davies’ de facto track, the Circuito de Jerez is certainly another haven for him, with three wins in the last two years. This weekend and the series finale in Qatar will be targeted by the Italian team – not just to end the year on a high, but to give their Panigale-R machine a fitting send off, before it is replaced for next season with their new V4 contender.

The Pata-Yamaha team arrive at the Spanish circuit full of confidence. Their double podium finish last time out at Magny-Cours was a major breakthrough for the team – and perhaps the sport too. World Superbikes desperately needs more teams to be finishing at the front, rather than just Kawasaki and Ducati, and a resurgent Yamaha outfit is just what the doctor ordered. Both riders, Alex Lowes and Micheal van der Mark, are locked in a fierce duel for fourth place in the championship standings – Lowes leading his teammate by only 11 points. With the bike constantly improving, and both riders pushing to the limit in every session, they are bound to break onto the winners’ step in the near future.

Elsewhere battles will be raging amongst the privateer teams. Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta) will once again be pushing hard to get amongst the front runners. The duo have provided some of the highest quality on-track duels this season, and are within touching distance of the Yamaha riders in the standings.

Finally, WSBK welcomes back Sylvan Guintoli this weekend. The Frenchman has spent the season competing for Bennetts-Suzuki in the British Superbike Championship, and now joins the Pucetti-Kawasaki team until the end of the season. Its remarkable to think that his entry means that Guintoli is the first Frenchman to participate in this year’s championship. He has a good machine under him, and will be looking to make a solid impact over the final two rounds of the campaign.

 

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Giugliano: The Bike is Improving a Lot

Davide Giugliano was left without a ride in WSBK last year but he showed he is still capable, finishing 8th and 11th at Magny Cours for the 11th round of the 2017 World Superbike championship.

“It’s was an unlucky race two because I feel I had the pace to be fighting for a top-6 finish. The realistic goal before the start was to finish between 8th and 11th but we turned out to be quicker than we expected”, said a joyous Giugliano.

“It was hard to push when I found myself at the back of the field, because even though I knew I had to make up ground, I was riding on my own so I didn’t know how wet it was on different parts of the circuit and how conditions were evolving throughout the lap. We put together a good comeback, we made some passes and we showed a good pace, so I think there’s a good synergy developing between the bike and myself now”, he continued. Giugliano looks certain to remain with the Red Bull Honda squad for the remainder of the season.

The Italian also hailed the development of the new Honda Fireblade SP2. He gave the team their first start from a top six position since Nicky Hayden at Losail in 2016. The team’s best race result is 6th, from Stefan Bradl in race one at Assen.

“The guys have done an amazing job: I feel that the bike is improving a lot and that was the reason I was chosen in the first place so I’m happy. The top speed was also excellent today. Obviously there is still a lot to improve but things are going in the right direction”.

Image by: worldSBK.com

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