WSBK Portimao Test

After a rain-affected WorldSBK test at Jerez, WorldSBK now heads west to Portimao for testing today and tomorrow, 26th and 27th January.

The second test in January will be the final time we get to see most of the bikes on-track at once before the Phillip Island test the week before the first round, meaning that there will be plenty to keep our eyes on as the new season gets nearer.

After more wet than dry at Jerez teams will be hoping that the sun shines in Portugal over the next two days

Portimao came onto the calendar in 2008 and has been a favourite for the riders ever since, with its dramatic undulations, fast straights, sweeping bends and technical sectors. The factors combined make for the perfect testing circuit and with KRT absent, the ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati squad will be keen to get some running in.

Scott Redding and team-mate Chaz Davies had contrasting Jerez tests; Redding was quick and constantly in the top three, whilst Davies crashed twice within in the morning of day one. With dry running expected, the next two days will be critical for a valid insight into the 2020 season.

Scott Redding

Since their comeback to WorldSBK as a factory manufacturer in 2016, Yamaha haven’t enjoyed such a strong pre-season. The Pata Yamaha World SBK Team have been a constant threat to Kawasaki and Ducati and have packed out the leading positions across numerous tests.

Michael van der Mark and Toprak Razgatlioglu looked to be the riders to beat at Jerez at various points and will now get to bring their 2020 engine and 2020 Yamahas to Portimao, a track both riders took podiums at in 2019.

Toprak Razgatlioglu

In what has so far been a quiet pre-season, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will also be present at Portimao and look to really shine through with the sun expected. Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty have both enjoyed strong results at the track before and with plenty to test, both are anticipated more positives across Sunday and Monday. Having stated back at the Jerez test that focus needs to go on the engine, Eugene Laverty will be looking for more power in Portugal, whilst both he and Tom Sykes will continue working through their schedule regarding which chassis to use.

Tom Sykes

They topped day one at Jerez and had an equally positive second day, but the HRC Team will now take to the Portimao circuit and continue their 2020 pre-season testing programme. Whilst exactly what they are testing has been kept under wraps, the bike has already come out of the box in a competitive nature. Leon Haslam was a regular fixture inside the top three over the Jerez test, whilst Alvaro Bautista enjoyed top ten pace despite a small crash. Will Honda make steps forward in Portugal?

Leon Haslam was quickest on day one at Valencia

With no KRT squad, attention turns to the Independent riders; an impressive Jerez test for the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team gives them plenty to shout about going to Portugal. Federico Caricasulo won in WorldSSP at the track last season and despite suffering a tricky last day of testing at Jerez, he will be eager to get some dry running in warmer conditions under his belt. For Garrett Gerloff, the American will simply be looking to get good track running in dry conditions ahead of the first action at Phillip Island. Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha) will also be determined to continue his great start to 2020, making incremental steps with the 2020 Yamaha YZF R1.

Loris Baz

In terms of the Independent Kawasaki teams, there’s plenty to watch out for as Orelac Racing Verdnatura and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing take to the circuit. For the Valencian-based Orelac squad, Chilean rookie Maximilian Scheib will look to carry on bedding in to the WorldSBK paddock. He will be the first rider from Chile to start a full season of WorldSBK, with the adaptation to the ZX-10RR still ongoing.

For Puccetti, Xavi Fores will be on Kawasaki machinery for the first time in 2020, having not taking part in the Jerez test. It will be the first time he will have raced a four-cylinder WorldSBK machine in 9 years and will aim to get crucial dry weather running under his belt before Phillip Island.

There are four Independent Ducati teams taking to the Portimao circuit across the two days, starting with the Barni Racing Team heading into the test off the back of little track action at Jerez. The Italian squad are keen to shine in Portugal with Sandro Cortese heading out to ride for the team, whilst Leon Camier will be in attendance and if fit enough, out on the Ducati Panigale V4 R. For Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing), he will aim to continue acclimatising to his Ducati Panigale V4 R and achieve his bid of top ten success in 2020. On the fringes of the top ten at Jerez, the former STK1000 Champion is shooting high in the Algarve.

The other two Ducati teams include Team GoEleven and Brixx Performance. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GoEleven) suffered a crash at the Jerez test on day one, hindering his progress. At Portimao, the team will work together to try and understand Rinaldi’s riding style, so they can make changes accordingly.

Frenchman Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance) is relishing the opportunity of being back on the world stage and with a good team behind him, Barrier is far from feeling the pressure. He will continue the shakedown of his Ducati Panigale V4 R in order to be in the mix for positive performances come the start of the season.

Four World Supersport teams will also be in action across the two days in order to improve their packages ahead of the 2020 WorldSSP season.

Starting with the Champions, the Bardhal Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team and their sole entrant for 2020 Andrea Locatelli will hope to be in action. The team were scheduled to ride at the Jerez test, but inclement weather meant they packed up earlier and headed to Almeria. Locatelli needs crucial miles and with the new regulations stipulating that slick tyres will be used for the first time in WorldSSP, there’s more than just new parts to try out. The former Moto3 podium finisher has been one of the biggest profiles to come into World Supersport and will look to give the Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team a second teams’ title in as many seasons.

One of the most successful teams in WorldSSP are PTR Honda, rebranded this season as Dynavolt Honda; Simon Buckmaster’s squad picking up new sponsorship for their 2020 World Supersport campaign. With 18 race wins to the team’s name, Hikari Okubo and Patrick Hobelsberger will be in action at Portimao and eager to get to grips with the CBR600RR. The team were consistent top ten runners in 2019 and will hope to move up and challenge for the top six as 2020 unfolds, especially given Okubo’s podium-threatening pace last year.

GMT94 Yamaha had an incredibly strong end to 2019, with Jules Cluzel winning at San Juan and securing a strong podium finish at Losail. Three wins for the 31-year-old three-time WorldSSP runner-up still wasn’t enough to give him the title in 2019 and he will be hoping that the turn of the decade brings luck his way. His teammate for a second season is the flamboyant Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha), who took his first pole in Argentina. He ended 2019 strongly and with the right amount of testing, he could be a real threat to the title.

The final team that will be testing from the WorldSSP field is the WRP Wepol Racing squad, a new addition to the grid this season. Featuring the only British rider in the field – Danny Webb – the team is managed by double World Superbike Champion, James Toseland. Toseland is back in the paddock at Portimao, a track he raced at only once in 2010. For rider Danny Webb, it is a big opportunity back on the world stage, with him clinching the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) in 2018.

Source: MCNews.com.au

2020 WorldSBK Testing
Day Two – Jerez

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The final day of Jerez testing saw a few hours sunshine before the rain returned to dampen proceedings in Spain. While Haslam and Honda topped the wet day one, it was Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki who were on top after completing only 19 laps across the two days.

Behind Rea, 2019 rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) and Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), made it three manufacturers inside the top three.

There was very little track action across both days for the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK outfit, as they kept their reigning WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea in the box for the entirety of day one, before he ventured out to stamp his dominance on day two.

Jonathan Rea

“The weather was not playing ball really. We sat out yesterday because the conditions were quite wet and changeable. One minute it was monsoon weather and then a drying track. Today were found a track that, although it wasn’t perfect and had a few damp patches that compromised the racing line, was consistent enough to try some items on the bike. We tried to focus on getting the bike to turn a little bit easier and I think we made a step forward in that direction. We need to confirm that in our test at Montmelo on Monday before we get to go Australia. We also managed to get a few laps in on Tuesday, where we basically confirmed all the items that we had in November. The positives were that we got to try a different balance of the bike.”

Jonathan Rea

Pere Riba – Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea

“Yesterday it was raining all day but the day before we got some track time in during the afternoon. We could make some small tests that were in the plan. We did that because the weather forecast said we would have two days of rain afterwards. For us there was no point to ride in the rain on Wednesday. On the final day today we had maybe three hours on slick tyres but some corners were still damp and the lap times were maybe 1.5 seconds from where they should be. We did 19 laps today with standard tyres. Now we go to Montmelo on Monday, which is new track for Johnny and us. I am excited to go there because we have never been there with the Superbike.”

New team-mate Alex Lowes had more work to do in order to familiarise himself with the KRT ZX-10RR and experimented with launch control settings and wasn’t worried about the lack of dry time, as he was fast in testing in years gone by but then got to the first round and it had been a different story. Heading to Portugal, Rea is on top and Lowes is fourth.

Alex Lowes

“It was a real good test and I am happy I got to ride the bike in mixed conditions. I was fast in the wet and the drying conditions and I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable on the bike. I really enjoyed it and I feel like we are making some steps in the right direction before Phillip Island. I feel I have a good riding position now; one that I can keep. We did not get that much dry track time but I certainly do feel more comfortable than when I got here, so that is positive. Any time you get to ride a new track is great and Montmelo is a new addition to the calendar. It will be important to get in as many laps as we can and a good a understanding of the bike. Any track time is important to let me keep building on my confidence for the first race.”

Alex Lowes

Two-time race winner Toprak Razgatlioglu was in fine form across the test and despite suffering a turn 1 crash on Wednesday, he bounced back to lead the way for the majority of the second day. However, once Jonathan Rea had gone out, Razgatlioglu was pushed back to second, although just over two tenths behind the Ulsterman. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) joined his team-mate at the sharp end and completed the top five, 1.7s behind Rea.

Toprak Razgatlioglu

Making it three manufacturers inside the top three, Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) took his Ducati Panigale V4 R around the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto track. Having raced at the track more than most of his competitors from his MotoGP paddock days, the 27-year-old British ace had a good run at a circuit he knows well in order to learn the WorldSBK-spec of the V4 R’s intricacies.

Scott Redding

“My first goal is to get to know the bike well, to get to know the team, to understand the tyre behaviour in the best possible way, to work to create a solid base. If I have to be honest, I am very satisfied with what we have done so far. I have had a good feeling during these two days even if, obviously, the weather has not helped us. I still feel comfortable in both wet and dry conditions. There are some areas where we need to improve but the balance of these days is very positive”.

Scott Redding

Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) had a tough test and was 15th at the end of it all, crashing twice on the first day and completing less than 30 laps on day two.

Chaz Davies

“We worked on the bike and that didn’t allow me to focus on performance. I can’t hide the fact that we have encountered some issues in these tests but I am sure we can be much more competitive in the next two days at Portimao. The base to work on, obviously, is very good but we need to put together many laps. That is why I hope to have four days in dry conditions between the tests in Portugal and Australia. This would allow us to arrive in the best conditions in the first race of the season”.

Day one saw the highly awaited first public appearance of the all-new Honda CBR1000RR-R and it ended the day on top of the WorldSBK pile in the hands of Leon Haslam (HRC Team). On Thursday, the bike couldn’t quite replicate the position, but it was a good indicator of what the bike was capable of in drying conditions. Haslam finished in sixth come the end of play and hailed the support of HRC, giving him the confidence to achieve great things.

Leon Haslam

“Tricky weather conditions of course but every time we made an exit, we were testing something different, getting through the list of things we wanted to try. Our priority is to get through the many items we need to test, so we need dry conditions for a lot of that, but it didn’t hurt to complete some laps in the wet on Wednesday. Today the track was never fully dry, but all in all we did what we needed to do. We put together something we wanted to try at the end of the day but then it started to rain again so we’ll keep working on that in Portimão. Hopefully we will have some better weather conditions there. It’s exciting to have a competitive team-mate like Alvaro, it looks like we both have a similar understanding of the bike. Having the backing of Honda and HRC is so important; it’s a new bike and so a lot of development goes into that. The team also really wants to succeed, and that confidence really inspires me to do my best.”

For Bautista, the objective is still to find a good base setting and to learn the technicalities of an in-line four-cylinder motorcycle, something he has never ridden before. Bautista ended day two in eighth.

Alvaro Bautista

“Wet, mixed testing days like this are never easy, especially for us with a brand-new bike as we have development to do. We need more mileage in the dry obviously, but we have been able to collect some useful data at least. We start with no references so time will tell where exactly we need to focus our efforts on the bike. I am working to adapt my riding style, having ridden different machines in the recent past. Today the conditions were a bit better than yesterday, albeit not completely dry, and we had the chance to use the slick tyres. My impressions were good, I think we have a lot of potential and that we need to work to fine tune everything. Basically, the initial goal in this early phase of the project is to push hard with the set-up so that we can perform at the top level as soon as possible.”

Alvaro Bautista

In seventh place was the first of the independent riders and Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). The 26-year-old WorldSBK race winner was right in the mix across the two days of testing, testing with the new 2020 Yamaha YZF R1. The wet weather running was confirmation that the team have improved the set-up of the bike in general, whilst they also practiced race starts and refined their electronics. Along with Baz in the top ten were other Independent riders were Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GoEleven) and Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team), the latter of which suffered two crashes.

Outside the top ten was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in eleventh, as the BMW squad didn’t try too much during the second day. Combined with team-mate Eugene Laverty, the two did 65 laps in total across the second day with a primary focus on Laverty, who hailed the chassis but has engine desires in order to move forward. With two chassis to test, the Shaun Muir Racing team will be busy with more development at Portimao.

Tom Sykes

“Despite how bad the weather conditions have been we have actually been able to do some good fundamental work on the electronics and some small changes on the chassis. In an ideal world we would test all our parts at racing speed however having said that we have been very productive in the small time we have had. In conditions like this I’ve not been looking at the time sheets, the track changes every 20 mins and there is nothing I would achieve by risking everything, we’ve used the track time to understand some electronic parameters and now we can take this understanding forward and pencil it into our testing plan over in Portimao this weekend.”

Tom Sykes

Eugene Laverty

“We are in a much better position than where we were from the last test, however the lap times may not reflect that as I’ve taken a role of test rider over the last two days. We have made good progress with the electronics and other small parameters on the bike so heading into Portimao with some good weather hopefully we can kick on a little and start improving our lap times.”

Eugene Laverty

Shaun Muir – BMW Team Principal

“We’ve had a big list of parts to run through this test, the wet conditions did change the sequence of what we were going to be testing but this allowed us to give extra emphasis on our electronic updates. Both Tom an Eugene worked through our list which was definitely a benefit, unfortunately we didn’t get to work on the chassis and swing-arm during this test but heading over to Portimao in a couple of days this will allow us to gain a clear direction to work in. In summary of the two-day test and the constant changing conditions we have not been looking at the lap times, in any respect that’s not what we are here to do and our focus has solely been on development and overall I feel it’s been a valuable and constructive test.”

WorldSBK rookie Maximilian Scheib familiarises himself with the ZX-10RR, whilst placing fourth out of the Independent riders.

Third on day one, it was 13th for Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) on the dry day two, whilst Sandro Cortese (Barni Racing Team) was 14th on his deputising duty. The German rider, who liked the feeling from his Ducati Panigale V4 R, is still without a ride on the 2020 grid.

Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance) was 16th on his Ducati, ahead of Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing).

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Jerez Test Day Two Times
WorldSBK/WorldSSP

1. Rea 1m40.983s
2. Razgatlioglu 1m41.214s
3. Redding 1m41.407s
4. Lowes 1m41.642s
5. Van der Mark 1m42.707s
6. Haslam 1m42.797s
7. Baz 1m43.384s
8. Bautista 1m43.579s
9. Rinaldi 1m43.789s
10. Caricasulo 1m43.811s
11. Sykes 1m44.014s
12. Scheib 1m44.153s
13. Gerloff 1m44.214s
14. Cortese 1m44.258s
15. Davies 1m44.276s
16. Barrier 1m44.322s
17. Mercado 1m44.451
18. Krummenacher 1m44.535s
19. Laverty 1m44.543s
20. Fuligni 1m45.643s (SS)
21. Cluzel 1m46.345s (SS)
22. Odendaal 1m46.437s
23. Perolari 1m47.040s (SS)
24. Ponsson 1m47.058s
25. Van Sikkelerus 1m47.711s (SS)

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The 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship launches their season in Australia at the thrilling Phillip Island, with the Yamaha Finance round from February 28-March 1. Tickets available at Ticketek. For info www.worldsbk.com.au

Source: MCNews.com.au

2020 WorldSBK Testing
Day One – Jerez

Jerez hosted day one of WorldSBK testing overnight and witnessed four different manufacturers topping the timesheets. With four red flags, numerous crashes and rain falling harder, Honda’s Haslam fended off Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) and American sensation Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) as day one concluded.

Leon Haslam quickest on day one at Valencia

Back in action as a full factory effort, Team HRC did just about everything on their first public appearance. Leon Haslam topped the time-sheets at various points throughout the day, whilst Alvaro Bautista crashed at turn six earlier in the morning.

Leon Haslam

In his second season back in WorldSBK, Haslam pulled off a memorable story from day one at Jerez, placing Honda on top of the time-sheets in the wet conditions. The HRC Team sport a slender 0.031s advantage over Yamaha going into day two but it is an advantage nonetheless.

Alvaro Bautista

For Haslam’s teammate Alvaro Bautista, he was back out on track in the afternoon after a lengthy time in the garage following his small morning crash, coming up to ninth on the timesheets before finishing the afternoon in tenth.

Alvaro Bautista

The Yamaha contingency was looking strong at Jerez, a circuit they enjoyed wins and podiums at in 2019. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) was top at lunch but crashed not long after; the Dutchman being one of many riders to crash at turn 1 through the course of the day.

Michael van der Mark

Toprak Razgatliolgu bounced back from his morning crash and was hovering in the top ten before finishing eighth, continuing his adaptation to the YZF R1 and the new engine.

Garrett Gerloff

Leading the charge from the Independent teams was Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team),with the American impressing on his second visit to Jerez and finishing third after putting in 35 laps.

Garrett Gerloff

Teammate Federico Caricasulo joined Gerloff inside the top ten and was ninth, his best showing in WorldSBK to-date. The Italian made the most the wet track time and just under two tenths behind Razgatlioglu.

Scott Redding

ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati showed strong pace throughout the opening day of the test, as Scott Redding was a firm fixture inside of the top four, hitting top spot early in the day before settling down and dialling in a good number of laps. Racking up more than 45 in total, Redding was utilising the test well, with new chassis and engine parts seeing him placed nicely in fourth. After two crashes for Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), the Welshman had an afternoon to get back on track – both literally and metaphorically. However, with the rain coming down harder than ever, he was left languising 15th in the class.

Loris Baz

Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was enjoying his time on track at the Jerez test and was making sure that the YZF R1 Yamaha was working well around the famous Spanish venue. Having been first across various parts of the day, the Frenchman was pushed back to fifth come the end of the day. Other Independent riders who were also having strong showings included Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) in 11th and Chilean rookie Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) in 12th.

Tom Sykes

A quiet morning for BMW turned into a busier afternoon, with 2013 WorldSBK Champion Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) hitting the top six as the rain eased off. Parts they wanted to test in dry conditions consisted of chassis updates, swingarm configurations and rear shocks. However, with the wet circuit, there was very little they could try. On the other side of the garage, Eugene Laverty beavered away and improved throughout the day; Sykes and Laverty finished sixth and 13th respectively as the rain came back with a vengeance.

Alex Lowes

With Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) opting not to go out at all on day one, Alex Lowes was flying the Kawasaki flag at Jerez. The British rider will switch to the Japanese manufacturer in 2020 and is looking to use the Jerez test to his advantage, with this being their last track action until Phillip Island’s test in February. Utilising wet weather track time to the best he could, Lowes wasted no time in going top just after 1400, before eventually finishing in seventh.

Alex Lowes

Double STK1000 Champion Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance) took his Ducati Panigale V4 R to 14th at the end of day one, whilst Sandro Cortese (Barni Racing Team) deputises for Leon Camier and finished 16th in the WorldSBK class. One place behind him was Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GoEleven), who suffered a turn 7 crash which brought out the fourth red flag of the day.

As the top six are covered by just under a second and the top three all covered by less than a tenth, day two of testing at Jerez promises to be an exciting one. Haslam and Honda going into Thursday on top, and with more rain due, more unpredictability awaits.

Jerez Test Day One Times
WorldSBK/WorldSSP

1. Haslam 1m52.149s
2. Van der Mark 1m52.180s
3. Gerloff 1m52.213s
4. Redding 1m52.508s
5. Baz 1m52.660s
6. Sykes 1m53.097s
7. Lowes 1m53.246
8. Razgatlioglu 1m53.494
9. Caricasulo 1m53.676s
10. Bautista 1m54.824s
11. Mercado 1m55.361s
12. Scheib 1m55.884s
13. Laverty 1m56.015s
14. Barrier 1m56.105s
15. Ponsson 1m56.542s
16. Fuligni 1m57.347s
17. Odendaal 1m57.669s
18. Krummenacher 1m57.816s
19. Cluzel 1m57.959s
20. Perolari 1m58.154s
21. Davies 1m58.684s
22. Cortese 1m59.030s
23. Rinaldi 2m04.148s

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The 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship launches their season in Australia at the thrilling Phillip Island, with the Yamaha Finance round from February 28-March 1. Tickets available at Ticketek. For info www.worldsbk.com.au

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Images by GeeBee

Source: MCNews.com.au

First official WSBK Test of 2020 at Jerez this week

With seasoned riders moving teams, temporary replacements and the much anticipated first public test of the HRC Honda team, there’s plenty to keep an eye on across the two days.

The Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK field both Jonathan Rea and new team-mate Alex Lowes at the Spanish circuit. The pair were first and fourth respectively the last time they visited Jerez, with Rea finishing with nearly a full second advantage over nearest rival.

Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager

“This is an important test to prepare for the opening Australian round. We have all technical jobs done so we have to check a few details at this time; then give the riders the opportunity to make some more kilometers with their bikes on track. More important now is for them to start set their rhythm. I know Johnny and Alex are working even more than ever, so in this area I’m quite calm. I’m totally convinced we have them ready and very well trained. The motivation from Jonathan to continue winning is amazing. How Alex took the chance to improve on his third position from 2019 – to try and surprise everybody in Australia – is incredible. I know very well that we will start racing in Australia, were unfortunately they have suffered many bush fires in the last weeks. We hope we can bring a nice show to provide good entertainment to all the Australian fans and give some positive moments to help a little with all the difficult times they have passed through.”

Rea showed them a clean pair of heels at the Jerez test in November

The Ulsterman comes into the test with positive feelings, have been crowned Irish Motorcyclist of the Year on Friday 17th January.

Jonathan Rea

“It is super-nice to start the year with a test at Jerez. We will try to continue on from where we left off last year, when were both fast and consistent. The nicest thing is catching up with the team again and putting all our ideas together. It is important to continue improving the base set-up of our Ninja ZX-10RR. We just need to confirm some different directions we took in November and then get ready for Australia. This Jerez test is more about understanding where we left off last year and confirming some things. We just need to keep an eye on the weather forecast, as it is always a gamble in January. We are as far south in Europe as we can be to guarantee consistent weather, but you never really know. Hopefully we can get some good work done. I will enjoy riding my bike again to set us up for going down under in a few weeks’ time.”

Jonathan Rea

For Alex Lowes, he will be eager to carry on dialling in his feelings and developing the ZX-10RR to his liking. Lowes will be eager to crack the top three this time around.

Alex Lowes

“I am looking forward to the tests after the winter break and it is going to be nice to get back out riding. With only these two days scheduled before we get out to Australia for the opening round I am hoping for some decent weather to get back up to speed and blow the winter cobwebs off. We will start getting focused and dialled in for the first race. We had a good first test back in November and since then there have been a few little things that we highlighted I wanted to improve. Even still a few little things with riding position, things like that, so we will focus on them and get as comfy as possible on the bike. That is actually the only target I have got; make sure the bike feels like my own before we get over to Australia and get the year started.”

Alex Lowes

A prominent force back in November and with a new rider in their set-up, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team are eager to narrow the gap to Rea at the top of the timesheets.

Five officially supported YZF-R1M machines will be on the WorldSBK grid in 2020

Andrea Dosoli – Yamaha Road Racing Manager

“2020 marks the fifth season since Yamaha’s return to WorldSBK competition in 2016 with the YZF-R1 and now we also have the new 2020 YZF-R1 to help us challenge for victories. Alongside this, Yamaha’s Official Team has one of the most exciting rider line-ups ever seen in WorldSBK, as Toprak Razgatlıoğlu joins Michael van der Mark to create a talented, young, aggressive team that we hope will allow us to challenge for the World Championship title, our ultimate goal.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu joins Michael van der Mark in the Pata Yamaha squad

“The GRT squad embarks upon its second year of WorldSBK competition with a strengthened team structure and, more importantly, a full season of experience to draw from. Supported as our Junior Team for 2020 onwards, the GRT Yamaha platform is an important addition to the bLU cRU rider development program, allowing talented younger Yamaha riders to progress to the very top of the production racing pyramid. Having shown winning ability and fighting spirit in 2019’s MotoAmerica series on his Yamaha USA YZF-R1, we are delighted to welcome Garrett Gerloff to WorldSBK, who joins 23-year-old Italian Federico Caricasulo, last year’s World Supersport runner-up on his R6, in the GRT squad. Both these riders are very ambitious, and we look forward to seeing them progressing as the season develops and challenging the fastest riders in the Championship.

GRT Yamaha will field Garrett Gerloff and Italian Federico Caricasulo

“Our fifth Yamaha R1 rider in the 2020 series, Loris Baz, continues his partnership with the Ten Kate Racing team further to very encouraging performances since re-joining the Championship in the sixth round of 2019. The Ten Kate Yamaha team has a proven pedigree and, combined with Loris’ talents and Yamaha’s support, has shown that the R1 machine can be immediately competitive as a customer package. Going into 2020, we expect some exciting results from Loris, a rider who always gives 100%!”

Loris Baz will be on the Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R1M

Michael van der Mark was right on the pace at Jerez in November, frequenting top position half-way throughout the second day before finishing third overall with 177 laps complete.

New team-mate Toprak Razgatlioglu also shone brightly on the opening day last time before finishing seventh at the close of the test. The Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team are getting ready for the 2020 season in style, with the next batch of testing looking positive.

Toprak Razgatlioglu

MotorLand Aragon testing was certainly a positive experience for the ARUBA.IT – Racing Ducati team, but they didn’t top any day of the test at Jerez. Rookie Scott Redding was the best rider from the Italian manufacturer in fifth, whilst Chaz Davies managed ninth, both riders working through a variety of set-ups towards finding a suitable balance for the V4 R. Both riders will seek to be within a second of the top time and make steady improvements across the two days, with Redding yearning more track time.

Scott Redding

Both BMW riders were inside the top ten at the close of testing at Jerez last time out, with Tom Sykes flying high in sixth and Eugene Laverty in tenth. 2013 Champion Sykes wrapped up his first title at Jerez and heads to the Spanish venue with positivity and happy memories. Team-mate and 2013 title rival Eugene Laverty has been training intensely throughout the off-season and comes into the Jerez test revitalised and rejuvenated. This will be Laverty’s second test on the S 1000 RR and hopes to refine his feelings aboard the bike with more experience.

Eugene Laverty

The fifth factory team and one of the most anticipated is the HRC Team of Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam. This will be the first public test for the bike, as Honda have been testing and developing behind closed doors, meaning that this Jerez test will be the first glimpse of the all-new CBR1000RR-R in WorldSBK trim.

Leon Haslam with the new Fireblade

Bautista completed a successful test with his Ducati at Jerez in 2019 and will look to repeat that achievement over at Honda this season as they shake down the all-new Fireblade SP. Team-mate Haslam will be keen to develop the Honda into a contender; both riders having experience and good versatility.

Headlining the charge of the Independent’s brigade are the Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha team, featuring Loris Baz. The Frenchman was a stand-out performer at Jerez last time out, finishing second on day two and being inside the top five for most of the test. With 181 laps done, Baz is a man to watch out for across the two days.

Loris Baz will be on the Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R1M

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team bring their line-up of Federico Caricasulo and Garrett Gerloff to the famed Jerez track too. Caricasulo is another rookie on the 2020 grid, whilst American teammate Garrett Gerloff has been quietly going about his business and has impressed many so far.

Other Independent teams in attendance include the Barni Racing Team, who will not be with Leon Camier as the British rider recovers from injury. Sandro Cortese replaces him for the two days, with the German racking up miles aboard the Ducati and yet to be confirmed on the 2020 grid. Team GoEleven bring Michael Ruben Rinaldi to Jerez, with this being his first test with the team ahead of 2020.

The Motocorsa Racing team will also be there with their Ducati and Leandro Mercado, who returns to the manufacturer in 2020. The Brixx Performance set-up are also at Jerez, testing with their rider Sylvain Barrier. One more rider to keep a close eye on will be Chile’s Maximilien Scheib, who teams up with the Orelac Racing VerdNaturasquad and readies for his first test of his full-time debut in the 2020 season.

From the WorldSSP class, Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) will return to Jerez, when he was top of the WorldSSP class in November.

2019 WorldSSP Champion Randy Krummenacher (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse) will look to be back on top, with his team-mate Federico Fuligni joining him. They will be on track with Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha), Jaimie van Sikkelerus (MPM Routz Racing Team), Loris Cresson (OXXO Yamaha Team Toth), GMT94 YAMAHAduo Jules Cluzel and Corentin Perolari and also WorldSSP rookie, Manuel Gonzalez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team).

Source: MCNews.com.au

2020 WorldSBK Entry List

Rider	Bike	Team
Jonathan Rea	Kawasaki ZX-10RR	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
Alex Lowes	Kawasaki ZX-10RR	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
Chaz Davies	Ducati Panigale V4 R	ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati
Scott Redding	Ducati Panigale V4 R	ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati
Toprak Razgatlioglu	Yamaha YZF R1	PATA YAMAHA WORLDSBK
Michael van der Mark	Yamaha YZF R1	PATA YAMAHA WORLDSBK
Eugene Laverty	BMW S1000 RR	BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Tom Sykes	BMW S1000 RR	BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Xavi Fores	Kawasaki ZX-10RR	Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
Garrett Gerloff	Yamaha YZF R1	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team
Federico Caricasulo	Yamaha YZF R1	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team
Loris Baz	Yamaha YZF R1	Ten Kate Racing Yamaha
TBA	Kawasaki ZX-10RR	Team Pedercini Racing
Leon Camier	Ducati Panigale V4 R	Barni Racing Team
Michael Ruben Rinaldi	Ducati Panigale V4 R	Team GOELEVEN
Maximilian Scheib	Kawasaki ZX-10RR	ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA
Takumi Takahashi	Honda CBR1000RR	MIE Racing
TBA	Honda CBR1000RR	MIE Racing
Alvaro Bautista	Honda CBR1000RR	Team HRC
Leon Haslam	Honda CBR1000RR	Team HRC
Leandro Mercado	Ducati Panigale V4 R	Motocorsa Racing
Sylvain Barrier	Ducati Panigale V4 R	Brixx Performance

The provisional permanent entry lists for the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World
Championship have been revealed with an expanded grid of 22 riders, as anticipation grows for the start of the new season at Australia’s Phillip Island on February 28.

Leading the charge will once again be the five-time and reigning WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea, who finds himself with a third teamate in as many seasons inside the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK: Alex Lowes, who finished a career best of third in the 2019 standings.

2019’s runner-up Álvaro Bautista will debut a new machine for the second season in a row, as he leads Team HRC’s return to WorldSBK. Sitting on the new CBR1000RR alongside him will be Leon Haslam, the most experienced pair of hands on the 2020 grid.

Leon Haslam with the new Fireblade on stage at EICMA

Chaz Davies will complete his seventh season with the ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati team in
2020. He will be partnered this time by reigning British Superbike champion and former
MotoGP star Scott Redding, a WorldSBK debutant.

Two of 2019’s five race winners will represent the Pata Yamaha in 2020: Michael van der Mark and Toprak Razgatlioglu. The pair will also enjoy a new model of the YZF R1 this season.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu joins Michael van der Mark in the Pata Yamaha squad

Closing off this quintet of factory teams is the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Tom Sykes will lead the project once again after a promising first year together. His new partner will be the man he battled so fiercely against for the 2013 WorldSBK title: Eugene Laverty.

Moving over to the independent teams and riders, 2020 will see Leon Camier joining the Barni Racing Team on the Ducati V4 R. He replaces Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who switches teams (but not machinery) to Team GoEleven.

There will be another two Ducati V4 Rs on the 2020 grid, bringing the total up to six: Leandro Mercado, who joins the debuting Motocorsa Racing, and two-time STK1000 winner Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance).

2019 independent winners Kawasaki Puccetti Racing replace the departing Razgatlioglu with 2018 independent winner Xavi Fores, while Orelac Racing Verdnatura have brought in the current Spanish Superbike champion, Maximilian Scheib. Team Pedercini Racing,
meanwhile, will finally field one rider, still to be confirmed.

The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team will feature two exciting rookies in 2020: World
Supersport runner-up Federico Caricasulo and American sensation Garrett Gerloff. The final YZF R1 on the grid is that of Ten Kate Racing, who have once again trusted Loris Baz after several promising results last year.

GRT Yamaha will field Garrett Gerloff and Italian Federico Caricasulo

Closing out the grid will be the two members of the MIE Racing team: 30-year-old Takumi Takahashi, a former WorldSBK and MotoGP point-scorer who will be participating in his first full season on the world stage, and a second rider to be announced at a later date.

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2020 WorldSSP Entry List

Rider	Bike	Team
Andrea Locatelli	Yamaha YZF R6	BARDAHL Evan Bros.Team
Jules Cluzel	Yamaha YZF R6	GMT94 Yamaha
Corentin Perolari	Yamaha YZF R6	GMT94 Yamaha
Philipp Oettl	Kawasaki ZX-6R	Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
Lucas Mahias	Kawasaki ZX-6R	Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
Isaac Viñales	Yamaha YZF R6	Kallio Racing
Hannes Soomer	Yamaha YZF R6	Kallio Racing
Randy Krummenacher	MV Agusta F3 675	MV Agusta Reparto Corse
Raffaele De Rosa	MV Agusta F3 675	MV Agusta Reparto Corse
Federico Fuligni	MV Agusta F3 675	MV Agusta Reparto Corse
Patrick Hobelsberger	Honda CBR600RR	Dynavolt Honda
Hikari Okubo	Honda CBR600RR	Dynavolt Honda
Peter Sebestyen	Yamaha YZF R6	OXXO Yamaha Team Toth
Loris Cresson	Yamaha YZF R6	OXXO Yamaha Team Toth
Steven Odendaal	Yamaha YZF R6	EAB Ten Kate Racing
Galang Hendra Pratama	Yamaha YZF R6	bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS
Andy Verdoïa	Yamaha YZF R6	bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS
Xavier Navand	Yamaha YZF R6	Altogoo Racing Team
Tom Toparis	Yamaha YZF R6	Benro Racing
TBA	Yamaha YZF R6	Benro Racing
Alejandro Ruiz Carranza	Yamaha YZF R6	EMPERADOR Racing Team
Manuel Gonzalez	Kawasaki ZX-6R	Kawasaki ParkinGO Team
Lukas Tulovic	Yamaha YZF R6	Kiefer Racing
Thomas Gradinger	Yamaha YZF R6	Kiefer Racing
Jaimie van Sikkelerus	Yamaha YZF R6	MPM Routz Racing Team
Axel Bassani	Yamaha YZF R6	Soradis Yamaha Motoxracing
Can Alexander Öncü	Kawasaki ZX-6R	Turkish Racing Team
Christoffer Bergman	Yamaha YZF R6	Wójcik Racing Team
Danny Webb	Yamaha YZF R6	WRP Wepol Racing

The 29 riders that will compete in the FIM Supersport World Championship have
been confirmed today with the release of the provisional permanent entry list for the
2020 season.

Reigning Champion Randy Krummenacher remains in the series and will defend his crown throughout the 2020 season. He does however change manufacturers, from Yamaha to MV Agusta, in a bold attempt to become the first rider to take back- to-back titles on different bikes. His will be the third F3 675 on the grid, as Raffaele De Rosaand Federico
Fuligni remain with the MV Agusta Reparto Corse squad. The team will be the only
one with three full-time competitors in 2020.

Jules Cluzel will stay inside the GMT94 Yamaha structure for another year, after missing out on last year’s title by only 13 points. His teammate will once again be Corentin Perolari, forming an all-French challenge for the championship.

The rider who picked up the most points in the second half of last year also remains in place. Lucas Mahias will aim for his second WorldSSP crown alongside Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, with series newcomer Philip Oettl by his side.

Last season’s runaway Teams Champions, Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team, have also brought in a former Moto2 competitor in Andrea Locatelli, who will be aiming to pick up where the departing Krummenacher and WorldSBK-bound Federico Caricasulo left off last year.

Randy Krummenacher

Kallio Racing will place two bikes on the grid this season, with Hannes Soomer joining Isaac Viñales at the Finnish-based squad. So too will Kiefer Racing, who have recruited Thomas Gradinger and Lukas Tulovic for their debut in the WorldSBK paddock. Completing this trio of Yamaha teams is OXXO Yamaha Team Toth, represented in 2020 by Loris Cresson and Peter Sebestyen.

There’s also a return to the series for multiple WorldSSP Champions Ten Kate Racing, who have partnered with EAB to bring Steven Odendaal into the series.

Another team who will be working alongside the Dutch team is the MPM Routz Racing Team, led on track by Jaimie van Sikkelerus.

Several former WorldSSP300 frontrunners have graduated to the middleweight class this year, starting with 2019 WorldSSP300 Champion Manuel González (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team). He is joined by Andy Verdoïa and Galang Hendra Pratama, who will both compete as part of the bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS team.

Kawasaki will feature one more rider on the grid: 16-year-old rookie and Moto3 race winner Can Öncu (Turkish Racing Team).

The rebranded Dynavolt Honda team, meanwhile, will feature Hikari Okubo (fifth in
last season’s standings) alongside series newcomer Patrick Hobelsberger.

2020 will also see the return of former WorldSSP competitors Danny Webb (WRP Wepol
Racing) and Christoffer Bergman(Wójcik Racing Team).

Four riders have also signed up for the European Supersport Cup, which will be up for grabs in the ten European races. These riders are: Xavier Navand (Altogoo Racing Team), Australian Tom Toparis (Benro Racing), Alejandro Ruiz Carranza (Emperador Racing Team) and Axel Bassani(Team Yamaha Motoxracing). A fifth contender, as team-mate for Toparis at Benro Racing, is yet to be announced.

Tom Toparis will race a Benro Yamaha in the European rounds of the World Supersport Championship

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2020 WorldSSP 300 Entry List

Rider	Rider	Team
Filippo Rovelli	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Kawasaki ParkinGO Team
Tom Edwards	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Kawasaki ParkinGO Team
Jan-Ole Jahnig	KTM RC 390 R	Freudenberg KTM Junior Team
Oliver König	KTM RC 390 R	Freudenberg KTM Junior Team
Unai Orradre	Yamaha YZF-R3	Yamaha MS Racing
Sylvain Markarian	Yamaha YZF-R3	Yamaha MS Racing
Alan Kroh	Yamaha YZF-R3	Yamaha MS Racing
Ton Kawakami	Yamaha YZF-R3	Yamaha MS Racing
Ana Carrasco	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300
Hugo De Cancellis	Yamaha YZF-R3	Team TRASIMENO
Dino Iozzo	Kawasaki Ninja 400	RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki
Nick Kalinin	Kawasaki Ninja 400	RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki
Dorren Loureiro	Kawasaki Ninja 400	RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki
Alfonso Coppola	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Kawasaki GP Project
Kevin Sabatucci	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Kawasaki GP Project
Bruno Ieraci	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Kawasaki GP Project
Jeffrey Buis	Kawasaki Ninja 400	MTM Racing Team
Koen Meuffels	Kawasaki Ninja 400	MTM Racing Team
Yuta Okaya	Kawasaki Ninja 400	MTM Racing Team
Scott Deroue	Kawasaki Ninja 400	MTM Racing Team
Christian Stange	KTM RC 390 R	Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team
Maximilian Kappler	KTM RC 390 R	Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team
Mika Perez	Kawasaki Ninja 400	PRODINA IRCOS Team
Thomas Brianti	Kawasaki Ninja 400	PRODINA IRCOS Team
Samuel Di Sora	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Leader Team Flembbo
Indy Offer	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Scuderia Maranga Racing
Borja Sanchez	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Scuderia Maranga Racing
Jarno Ioverno	Kawasaki Ninja 400	Scuderia Maranga Racing
Livio Loi	Kawasaki Ninja 400	2R Racing
Alessandro Zanca	Kawasaki Ninja 400	2R Racing
Miloslav Hrava	Kawasaki Ninja 400	ACCR Czech Talent Team – Willi Race

Source: MCNews.com.au