It should be a full-gone conclusion but in motorcycle racing, anything can happen. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) just needs to score two points from a possible 62 up for grabs across the entirety of the Prometeon Spanish Round at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and he’ll be the first back-to-back Ducati Champion since Carl Fogarty in 1998 and 1999. However, a Turn 6 crash in FP2 and with title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) leading the way perhaps suggests that the #1 may have to work for his keep.

Bautista didn’t venture out in a tricky FP1 but in FP2, was straight down to business and had the #54 of Razgatlioglu in his slipstream for a fair chunk of the session. Losing the front at Turn 6 all on his own, Bautista was able to dust himself down and return to the pits but it was an innocent fall the 38-year-old Spaniard could have done without. He managed to finish third overall and won’t be too concerned but it is a hiccup that shows a small chink in what has otherwise been solid armour.

Assessing his crash in the opening chapter to what could be another title-clinching weekend, Bautista said: “Today, we have to say half a day one! In the morning, the track was too wet and we didn’t want to take any risks so we decided not to exit. In the afternoon, the track was almost dry. Just a couple of water patches in some areas of the track. I tried to be very careful in those zones. I crashed at Turn 6 because I went over a wet patch that was not easy to see when you were riding. I didn’t expect it, honestly! It seemed like it was completely dry in that area of the track. Fortunately, I don’t have any physical problems.”

With two World Championship’s already under his belt – 2006 125cc World Championship and 2022 WorldSBK title – but both were achieved far away from home, in Australia and Indonesia respectively. However, this weekend could bring the opportunity for the Ducati star to take the title in his homeland, surrounded by friends, family and all those closest to him, professionally and personally. He’d also be the first Spanish rider to take the title in Spain, as Carlos Checa claimed his 2011 title at Magny-Cours in France.

With regards to Bautista’s match point on Saturday, the #1 said: “Every day that I enjoy the bike is a great day and today I enjoyed it! Tomorrow, the approach is to keep this feeling and to work well; I hope the track is in better condition. The track is so nice when the conditions are good. There is nothing that will change for tomorrow. Firstly, I try to be away from everyone saying, “you’ll win tomorrow! You’ll win tomorrow.” I’m the first person that knows I have the match point tomorrow but it’s better that I don’t think about it. I’ll try to be relaxed, concentrated and focused in the moment to ride the bike. I’ll relax with my friends and family as everyone is here. I’ll try and forget about bikes and we’ll talk about other things, have a joke and have fun, keep busy and that’s all.”

Find out what Bautista needs to do to take the title here and watch in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

After losing most of FP1 due to the damp and cold conditions, Free Practice 2 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto was much better and much needed. Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) didn’t venture out in FP1 and crashed at Turn 6 during FP2, not long after he was being followed on track by Championship rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK).

TUSSLE AT THE TOP: Razgatlioglu leads the way, Bautista P3 despite fall

In the blue corner and looking to sign off his Yamaha chapter on a high and delay Bautista’s seemingly inevitable title celebrations for as long as possible, Razgatlioglu was in good form from the start, chasing Bautista in the standings, timesheets and on track for a lot of it. The Turkish star was a double winner in 2021 at Jerez and he’ll need perfection this year – combined with a Bautista disaster – if he’s to fight for the title. He left it late to fly to the top of the standings, meaning business on the opening day. Teammate Andrea Locatelli was inside the top seven for most of the session, finishing in P9 at the end of the day.

Ducati’s day started pretty well as Alvaro Bautista got under the 1’41 mark almost instantly before a small crash at Turn 6 halted his progress with less than half an hour on the clock. However, after returning unharmed to the pits, he was back out with just over 20 minutes of the session still to go, eventually finishing third. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi has always been competitive at Jerez and was right in contention throughout the session and inside the top four, as he gears up for his final round in the factory Ducati team. Rinaldi took fourth as Friday action finished.

INDEPENDENT STRENGTH: five stars in five-star Friday

There was a raft of Independent stars up inside the leading positions, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) riding well in P2, putting together one of the longest runs of the day on his first exit. Behind him, teammate Dominique Aegerter was P5 and made a great save in the closing minutes of the session at Turn 6, whilst a job-hunting Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) took sixth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was seventh despite a hefty crash at Turn 8 on his outlap of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) started Jerez inside the top ten with eighth.

BMW AND HONDA: factory riders fighting for the top ten placings

In tenth place, Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was the fastest of the factory BMWs as he looks to finish his tenure with Shaun Muir’s outfit on a high. He won at the track in 2020, claiming his first wins of his WorldSBK career. On the other side of the box, teammate Michael van der Mark was one of just four riders to go out in FP1, finishing second in the end but P12 overall.

The next-best factory team were Team HRC, who with their rider line-up completed for 2024 and 2025 with no changes, took to the track which should play into their hands after plenty of testing over the last seasons. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and teammate Xavi Vierge likewise have plenty of experience at Jerez and Lecuona was 11th, although Vierge struggled and was down in P18.

STRUGGLING: Rea 13^th as Kawasaki chapter nears closure, 2024 Yamaha crew chief confirmed

It was a day of struggles for Kawasaki, with Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) swansong round for the team now upon him. The three-time Jerez race winner languished outside of the top ten on day one, finishing in 13^th, one place ahead of his 2024 replacement Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing). Things didn’t go much better on the other side of the box either, with Alex Lowes crashing at Turn 1 and finishing the session in 16th. With regards to 2024, Rea will test for Yamaha in the post-round test and will have Andrew Pitt has his teammate, confirmed via a pitlane interview with the World Feed broadcast by team principal Paul Denning. In KRT, Pere Riba confirmed he’ll stay with the green team, although was coy on what exactly his role will be and with which rider.

REST OF THE FIELD: perhaps a surprise to come?

15th place went the way of Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) despite a tumble at Turn 6, whilst Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was 17th and with his future seemingly still in doubt. Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was 19th ahead of Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), with Manuel Puccetti’s outfit with a factory ZX-10RR at their disposal this weekend. 2023 IDM Superbike champion Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) was 21st as a wildcard, ahead of Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing); the Italian had a huge highside at Turn 13 which brought out a brief red flag. Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) is substituting for Eric Granado this weekend and grabbed the headlines in FP1 by leading the way but was 23^rd in the dry FP2, whilst Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) completed the order in 24^th place, suffering a crash at Turn 6.

Top six after Friday in WorldSBK, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 1’40.312s

2. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.244s

3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.320s

4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.398s

5. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.511s

6. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) +0.546s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

While the big focus has been on the rider line-up on the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid, all of these changes have led to a shake-up of crew chiefs too. As a fundamental part of each rider’s team, it’s important to have the right crew chief and there will be changes within the Pata Yamaha box in terms of both riders and crew chiefs as they shuffle people around following Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) arrival.

The move is made by possible by Phil Marron following Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for 2024 when the Turk switches manufacturers, with their relationship going back to 2019. This created an empty crew chief chair at the factory Yamaha team, and this paved the way for the next move which will re-unite six-time Champion Rea and Andrew Pitt, with the partnership starting work on Tuesday at the post-season test at Jerez.

Rea’s current crew chief, Pere Riba, confirmed in FP1 that he is staying with the KRT outfit despite the Ulsterman’s departure, and Yamaha have opted to move Pitt across the box for Rea. The two were teammates at Hanspree Ten Kate Honda back in 2008 in WorldSSP when they finished 1-2 in the Championship, with the Australian claiming his second title. It means that Rea’s future teammate, Andrea Locatelli, will be without a crew chief for now.

During Free Practice 2 at Jerez, Team Principal Paul Denning confirmed Pitt’s move to Rea’s side of the garage, while also addressing how the opening created by this move on Locatelli’s side would be filled. Although he didn’t reveal the name of the #55’s crew chief for next season, he explained they would be joining the team later in the year.

Discussing the crew chief allocation for 2024, Denning said: “I can confirm that Andrew will come across to work with Jonathan. They’ve got a very close relationship that goes back many, many years. They’ve been teammates before but when Andrew was a rider, not a crew chief. On top of that, we’ve got a very, very exciting crew chief coming to join the team to strengthen the whole project, who will work with ‘Loka’. That’ll be announced towards the end of November.”

It was a strong day for the team on Friday with 2021 Champion Razgatlioglu topping the times. The majority of the field opted to stay in the box in FP1 due to wet conditions on track, but everyone ventured out in FP2. The #54’s best time was a 1’40.312s, around two seconds clear of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in second, while Locatelli took ninth and was around nine tenths down on his teammate.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) took full advantage of improved conditions at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as he topped both Free Practice 2 and the combined classification as he went more than six tenths clear of his FIM Supersport World Championship rivals. With conditions vastly improved, all riders were able to go faster in the afternoon at the Prometeon Spanish Round, as a trio of Italian riders rounded out the top three.

STORY OF FP2: dry track creates busy session….

With the track now considerably drier compared to this morning’s FP1 session, where only six riders posted a time, the laps were much faster and immediately into the 1’50s barrier, with Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) lapping in the 1’48s straight away. The Spaniard improved his time to a 1’46.351s but his lead at the top ended when 2023 Champion Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) posted a 1’40.070s to briefly claim top spot with just under 30 minutes remaining in FP2.

The pair were swiftly joined by Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) as the quickest riders, with the #62 moving to P1 with a 1’45.736s at around the halfway mark of the session, before Bulega usurped him by just 0.006s as the times edged closer to the 1’44s bracket; the #11’s time with 20 minutes remaining was 1’45.183s. On his next lap, the Champion went even faster to lap in the 1’44s for the first time with a 1’44.953s, extending his lead over Manzi to 0.236s. As the time ticked down, a flurry of red sectors were posted across the board with track conditions getting ever better.

CHAMPION ON TOP: Bulega leads Italian 1-2-3

The majority of the quickest times came in the final 10 minutes with Bulega eventually claiming first place with a 1’43.171s. He was one of only two riders to lap in the 1’43s bracket as he finished six tenths clear of Montella. The #55 was the only other rider to be in the 1’43s, with Manzi in third a further two tenths back from his compatriot, with the top three separated by just over eight tenths at the end of Friday’s action.

ONCU BACK ON FORM? Turkish star into the top six

Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) left it late to move into the top four, but he was able to claim fourth with a 1’44.110s to ensure three manufacturers were inside the first four positions. Like the German, Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) improved his time to a 1’44.123s in the final few moments to take fifth, finishing ahead of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The Turkish star is still working his way back to full fitness from injury but was able to secure a top six position on Friday.

WILDCARD IMPRESSES: Dutch rookie immediately in the top ten

The one-time race winner was ahead of Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) in seventh, with the #64 having a massive moment at the final corner in the first part of FP2. Dutch rider Melvin van der Voort (Team SWPN) was an impressive eighth on his WorldSSP debut, lapping two tenths slower than ‘Carica’ ahead. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was ninth ahead of home hero Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) with the Spaniard rounding out the top ten on Friday.

HOUSEKEEPING: to note from Friday’s running

Despite topping the wet FP1, Miquel Pons (Zeus Motorsport) finished 26^th in the dry FP2. Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) was one rider who opted not to go out in FP1 and his track time in FP2 was curtailed when he crashed at Turn 1 in the first few minutes, at the start of his first flying lap. The Czech star did not set a lap time.

The top six from WorldSSP Friday running, full results here:

1 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’43.171s

2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.628s

3. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.841s

4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.939s

5. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.952s

6. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +1.061s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It was cold, damp and cloudy – not your average British summer weather but instead the conditions that greeted the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship on Friday morning at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. With over 300 days of sun each year in the southern Andalusia region, the end of October perhaps isn’t one of them. With only four riders setting lap times, it’s fair to say FP1 isn’t going to be a reliable session to lead into.

Leaving it late to head out onto the circuit, Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (PETRONIAS MIE Racing Honda Team) is replacing the injured Eric Granado for this weekend and was back with his old team and straight to the top of the times after a handful of laps in unfavourable conditions. He pipped Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who was P2, ahead of 2023 IDM Superbike champion wildcard Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) who was the first on track in P3. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) was fourth. All other riders, including Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) remained in the pits.

Top four (only four who set lap times) during WorldSBK FP1 at Jerez, full PDF here:

1. Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) 2’01.309s

2. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +1.405s

3. Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) +1.508s

4. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) +3.194s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Free Practice 1 for the final FIM Supersport World Championship round of the season was a rather muted affair at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as only six riders set a lap time. Damp conditions greeted the field to kick off the Prometeon Spanish Round and riders opted to stay in their box for the most part, with wildcard Miquel Pons (Zeus Motorsport) the fastest of the six to set a time, beating Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) by around two tenths.

When the green flag fell to start the session, the usual rush to start the track action wasn’t there with the track wet from previous rainfall. The first rider head out was 2023 WorldSSP300 runner-up Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez for the D34G Racing squad, making his first appearance in WorldSSP as a one event rider on home soil. However, he completed only an outlap before returning to his box, while Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was second out but, like Perez Gonzalez initially, only did an outlap. The first lap time of the session came from wildcard Pons who set a 2’07.962s, set with just over 10 minutes gone of the 45-minute FP1, although he did improve by four seconds on his next lap.

With 21 minutes remaining in the session, Italian Leonardo Taccini (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing) became the fourth rider to venture out on the damp Jerez circuit, and the first lap he set was a 2’10.567s, more than 6.5 seconds down on Pons’ time. Although he improved on his second timed lap, he was still slower than the #75 Yamaha of Pons, who was the first rider to head out on track for a second time. The Spaniard was able to improve his best time to a 2’01.624s before going even faster next time around, with a 2’01.424s.

As the final 10 minutes came around, a few more riders ventured out onto track including the returning Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) although his first timed lap was 14 seconds off the pace. He was overhauled by debutant Perez Gonzalez and MotoE™ race winner Nicholas Spinelli (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha). The Italian’s first lap moved him into second, four seconds behind Pons, before French rider Debise used all his experience to move into second, 0.129s slower than Pons, on his first flying lap.

In the final few minutes, Debise dipped into the 2’00s bracket with a 2’00.656s to take top spot away from the wildcard for the first time this session, despite the Spaniard improving his time a 2’00.892s. On his penultimate flying lap, the #75 responded with a 2’00.450s to take top spot back from the Frenchman to end his first session in WorldSSP since 2020 on top, with Debise two tenths back in second. As track conditions improved slightly, Spinelli claimed third with a 2’02.001s, while Perez Gonzalez was fourth on his WorldSSP debut. Taccini and Bayliss rounded out the top six.

The top six from WorldSSP Free Practice 1, full results here:

1. Miquel Pons (Zeus Motorsport) 2’00.293

2. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.363s

3. Nicholas Spinelli (VFT Racing) +1.708s

4. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (D34G Racing) +2.538s

5. Leonardo Taccini Vince64 by Puccetti Racing) +4.727s

6. Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) +6.828s

Watch more WorldSSP action from Jerez at 13:00 Local Time (GMT+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – for only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

This is it then; the final round of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has arrived and there’s plenty to be decided. However, whilst the title is mathematically still on, there’s a whole host of chapters about to be closed across the various teams, plus other breaking news. So, for the last time in 2023: the hot topics from Thursday’s interviews are below!

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “It feels like the perfect book-end”

The last weekend in green for Jonathan Rea, a close to an incredible stint: “It feels really different, the whole approach to the weekend. We know it’s the final page of our huge chapter in my career and it feels like the perfect book-end here at Jerez, to finish the journey that started here in 2015 when I won my first World Championship. I’m excited to get stuck in to the weekend and try to build on the past weekends. We’ve been podium contenders from mid-season onwards. Podiums are the target but we’ll start tomorrow with Free Practice. I’m full of ambition to make myself and my team really proud. Ideally, it’d be that we go out on a huge high with a euphoric feeling. On my 2024 crew, I have total faith with those who I’ll work with and I’m quitter excited too; it’s not very long to wait now. With regulations, you have to take time to understand but what’s nice is that the Championship is working hard to make it sustainably competitive for everyone.”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I think the new regulations are necessary”

He can become a double Champion this weekend and take the crown on home soil but Alvaro Bautista is staying grounded for now: “It’s always really nice to race in Spain, especially here at Jerez. The Championship is not over because mathematically it’s open. I remember in 2006 when I won the title in 125cc, I won it in Australia, so it was far from home. Last year, I won it in Indonesia which is still so far; a bit closer but still far from home! This season, if we’re able to get the title here, it’ll be amazing because I can share it with my friends and family. I think the new regulations are necessary because you have to adapt to the new times. I will try the bike with the new regulations and let’s see. Maybe not the complete bike with the new regulations but parts of them we will try on Tuesday.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “Phil is always coming with me… I’ll never forget this; we are Champions together”

“Firstly, I say I’m very excited for my last race with Yamaha after four years and also the Championship, we are still fighting but he needs just two points. I’m not thinking about this, I’m just focused race-by-race. I’m fighting for the win. I know Alvaro’s very strong, and Jonny is, but I’ll try to do my best again. The Teams’ Championship is very good for Yamaha and the team, but I’m always focused on the Riders’ Championship. I hope we do a very good job this weekend. I’m very happy. When I go to different brands, Phil is always coming with me because we are a good package. In 2019, he believed in me and started to work with me at Puccetti Kawasaki. Now, I’m going to different brand with him, not alone and I’ll never forget this. We are Champions together and we lose together. Next year, I will have more power and I don’t know what’s changing for me. I don’t know these two new tracks; I always like new tracks because I’m really fast to adapt.”

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing): “I want to give a gift to Motocorsa”

With a final weekend awaiting Axel Bassani at Motocorsa Racing, emotions – and of course, a party – are guaranteed: “It’s a special one. We had a long story with three years together. I started in WorldSBK with Motocorsa so it’s like a family for me. I’ll try to give 100% on the track to end the season with a really good result, try to enjoy it with my team and after, on Sunday night, we’ll have a party! I want to give a gift to Motocorsa to try to win the best Independent Riders’ title and end the season in a good way. I want to jump on the new bike to try to understand what I expect for me next season. It’s totally different to go from Ducati to Kawasaki. There are a lot of changes, I hope these changes help to be nearer to Ducati for the Japanese bikes. Andrea Iannone is a big name for WorldSBK and bringing a lot of light to the Championship. I’m happy about Andrea’s arrival, I hope to battle with him on track and we will see if we can beat him or not!”

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “With the new team, we decided not to say anything”

His future may be unconfirmed right now but Michael Ruben Rinaldi says that 2024’s plans will be announced on Monday after Jerez: “What I want to do is end the season in the best way I can, giving my team a great result and sharing the last great moment together. Firstly, I hope the weather will help us with the son but my approach will be working for the race from Friday morning. I’ll try to be fast and fight for victory. The situation is clear but with the new team, we decided not to say anything until the end of the race on Sunday. We’ll make an announcement on Monday; I’ll enjoy the last races in these colours and then think about 2024.”

Andrea Dosoli (Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager): “There’s a clear agreement”

Talking about why Toprak won’t be able to test for BMW until December, Andrea continued: “As you know, it was our intention to go ahead with Toprak in the next years but he’s chosen something different and we fully respect that; Toprak is most probably the rider with the most brilliant future, considering his age and performance. There is a clear agreement in place until the end of November that I believe was clear to both of us to respect it.”

Shaun Muir (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “We asked for Toprak to test, but…”

Discussing Toprak’s arrival to BMW in December, Shaun Muir confirmed that they had tried to get the Turk aboard their bike sooner: “We asked for Toprak to test, but we must respect the contract that was signed back in the day and equally we’d probably ask to do the same. It’s just a shame that we couldn’t get him released to join that test like most of them are going to be here next Tuesday. That’s an opportunity missed; it’s a long four or five weeks where we don’t get any track action for Toprak, but it doesn’t mean nothing is happening behind the scenes for us to get the bike ready for him. We look forward to that first test in December. We’ve got December 4th at Portimao followed by another two days at Jerez.”

He also spoke about Phil Marron’s return to SMR and how important it is to keep Toprak and Phil together: “It was a logical step. I’ve had Phil Marron working for me in previous years, I know the quality he brings. The combination goes deep and far. He’s worked with Toprak through the most successful part of his career, so it was a logical choice for all parties. We’re glad he’s coming along and we’re glad he’s going to continue that progress with Toprak. Nobody knows him better than Phil and, for us, that’s a great DNA to have there. We look forward to working together again.”

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “The factory decided my spot and they put me in WorldSBK”

Remaining in WorldSBK and with Honda, Iker Lecuona’s future is now secured: “About my future, I’ll continue in Honda and I signed the contract for two years with the factory as a factory rider. I am happy about this and then the factory decided my spot and they put me in WorldSBK. We’re improving and if you look at the lap times from last year and the race pace and the gap to the winner, we’re better. However, the other factories improved more than us so we’re further away in terms of position. Jerez is a track where we struggle more but let’s see what happens in the race. The conditions will be tricky and it’s a bit cold but the cold takes some advantage for Honda, so let’s see if we can fight for the top positions.”

Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven): “There’s no concrete plans”

Philipp Oettl’s future seems far from clear, as he explains: “At the moment, there’s no concrete plans. There was a lot of talk over the last few months, and, in the end, all the options went away. Now, I don’t have any real plans. Of course, I wanted to arrive with a contract in hand to be sure for next year but now the situation is a little bit different. I’ve considered moving to WorldSSP because you have to be open for everything. There were some options but, in the end, but I have to consider that I’m 27 and I’m doing a good job, but I don’t want to go into a test team. It was an option and still is. Endurance is a thing and so’s the USA. I’m open for everything but I know it’s quite late, but it has to be a good option. I have my personal goals and I still want to achieve them.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The sun might be setting on the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship but there’s still lots to be decided with just one round left. The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto hosts the season finale and there are plenty of titles to decide at the Prometeon Spanish Round. From the Riders’ Championship, the Independent battle for both riders and teams and much more, have a look here at what’s still being fought over and how it can be won.

RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Bautista looking to make it two on the bounce

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) heads into his home round knowing he’s the strong favourite to clinch the title, but Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) will be doing everything he can to win his second Championship. The reigning Champion leads the Yamaha star by 60 points with 62 available, meaning Bautista will win it as long as he scores two points across the weekend or if Razgatlioglu doesn’t win Race 1.

THE BATTLE FOR BRONZE: Rea vs Locatelli for third

While not a title, both riders will want to finish the season in the top three. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) – teammates next year at Yamaha – are separated by 50 points heading into the Spanish Round, with the six-time Champion leading. The easiest way for the Northern Irishman to secure third is to make sure he’s ahead of ‘Loka’ or loses 49 points or fewer to him.

NOTHING IN IT: Pata Yamaha vs Aruba Ducati for Teams’ Championship

Only seven points separate the top two in the Teams’ Championship heading into Jerez. Pata Yamaha lead Aruba Ducati and the earliest they can win the title is in the Tissot Superpole Race, if they outscore Aruba Ducati by 39 points in Race 1 and the 10-lap race. However, given the gap is so small, it’s likely it will go to Race 2 and the Yamaha team will wrap it up if they lose six points or fewer to their rivals across the full weekend.

TOP INDEPENDENT RIDER: two Italians duelling it out

Another title that’s up for grabs is the Independent Riders’ title, with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in contention. Bassani leads the way on 244 points compared to Petrucci’s 205, with 39 points the difference. The #47 will want to secure this title before he replaces Rea at KRT and will do so in Race 1 as long as he loses one point or fewer to ‘Petrux’. However, if it’s not in Race 1, Bassani can win it in the Superpole Race if he loses 13 points or fewer between Race 1 and the 10-lap battle.

INDEPENDENT TEAMS’ TITLE: three-way scrap in Spain

Three teams are in contention for the Independent Teams’ title, with GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, Motocorsa Racing and Bonovo Action BMW all in the hunt. The Yamaha-powered squad lead the way on 277 points with Motocorsa Racing 33 points back. Although in fourth place, Bonovo BMW can win it while Barni Spark Racing Team in third can’t (Petrucci is 72 points back and he can only score 62 points, while Bonovo BMW have two riders). GRT Yamaha win it in Race 1 if they outscore Motocorsa Racing by five points and lose less than 18 to the BMW team. If not, it can be decided in the Superpole Race by GRT Yamaha losing seven points or fewer to Motocorsa Racing and 39 points or fewer to Bonovo Action BMW across the first two races of the weekend, or 32 and 84 points respectively across the full weekend to win it in Race 2.

TISSOT AWARD UP FOR GRABS: Razgatlioglu vs Bautista… again

While the pair are fighting for the Riders’ Championship, the Tissot Award is available for both Razgatlioglu and Bautista to win this weekend. The gap at the moment is three points in the Turkish star’s favour, and he will win it as long as loses two or three points fewer to the #1 over the course of the Tissot Superpole session and Superpole Race; with the amount he’s able to lose dependant on countback and tiebreakers.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

All five factory teams in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship have new confirmed their line-up for 2024. The last to do was Team HRC but the Honda factory squad have announced that Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge will renew with the team for the next two seasons. After a rollercoaster 2023 for the pair, they will be aiming to finish the year off on a high at their home Prometeon Spanish Round before building into 2024 and beyond to become regular podium contenders.

STAYING PUT: bringing their total to four seasons

Both Lecuona and Vierge were signed for Team HRC for the 2022 season, replacing Ducati-bound Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Leon Haslam. The #7 claimed a maiden pole position at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya that year, while his first podium came at the TT Circuit Assen; taking advantage of clashes ahead of him to secure his only rostrum to date in WorldSBK. For the Valencian, 2023 started off strongly in Australia with two top-six finishes, before a difficult Indonesian Round.

Assen this year was another tricky round, with two retirements, but he was back on form in Barcelona when he took fourth in the Tissot Superpole Race. He was a top ten contender at Misano before Donington Park left him down the order and it wouldn’t be until MotorLand Aragon that he returned to the top ten on a consistent basis. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old sits 12^th in the Riders’ Championship and only four points behind his teammate in eighth. With their two-year deals announced, it will bring their total stint at Honda to four seasons.

LECUONA’S THOUGHTS: “I want to fight at the front and succeed!”

Declaring his intentions during his time at Honda, Lecuona said: “It’s good to have everything clear on the contract side because we must focus on the job ahead. I want to fight at the front and succeed, something HRC has always strived for in the racing field, but we must work hard to reach that level, so soon after the last round of the 2023 Championship we will turn our full attention to testing as we start to prepare for the new season, aiming to take a consistent step forward in terms of performance and results.”

REMAINING IN RED: Vierge’s form keeps him at Honda

The #97 claimed Honda’s only podium of the year so far when he was third in Race 2 at Mandalika, while he has featured in the top six on a few more occasions this year. At the start of the season, Lecuona and Vierge’s form was reversed: Lecuona was ahead in Australia, but 26-year-old Vierge stormed clear in Indonesia. From there, the pair have been relatively evenly matched as shown by their gap in the Championship. When WorldSBK returned to Europe, Vierge took a best of ninth at Assen before following that up with sixth in Barcelona.

At Misano, he was in the top five but, like Lecuona, results tailed away as WorldSBK ventured to more ‘quirky’ tracks such as Donington, Imola and Most. In these three rounds, his best result was ninth in Race 2 in the Czech Republic. Magny-Cours saw an improvement as he fought for the top ten in all three races, taking two P9s, before Aragon and Portimao propelled Honda into the top ten consistently once again.

VIERGE SAYS: “Together we can accomplish our goal, which is try to fight for the Championship as soon as possible”

Like his teammate, Vierge outlined lofty ambitions as his future with Team HRC was announced. He said: “I’m happy to have renewed my contract with Team HRC for another two years. It’s every rider’s dream to be part of a HRC factory team and my feelings have only grown since my early days with the squad. It is a source of motivation to continue together, as I believe in the project, in myself, and in my team. Together we can accomplish our goal, which is to try to fight for the Championship as soon as possible. And so, we will continue to work as hard as we can in order to get there.”

HONDA’S VIEW: “We are pleased to announce that both will remain HRC factory riders for the next two years”

Giving the team’s view, Tetsuhiro Kuwata, Honda Racing Corporation – General Manager in the Race Operations Management Division, added: “In nearly two years of working together, we have come to appreciate Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge in every respect, and we are therefore happy and pleased to announce that both will remain HRC factory riders for the next two years. Xavi and Iker are two young, fast, and competitive riders, always ready to face every challenge with positivity, dedication and team spirit. These are values that we fully share because they are the ones that allow us to strive and progress in the competitive world of racing. Good work to both our riders and our technicians for both the 2023 season finale and the years to come.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s provisional calendar has been released, with plenty to look forward to as the fastest production-based motorcycle racing Championship in the world readies for another action-packed year. Two new venues, a slightly different order and all the usual classics, 2024 is going to be another season to remember for countless reasons. We check out the 12-round calendar in closer details.

It’s our traditional starting point that ignites a new chapter in WorldSBK history in 2024; the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit will raise the curtain once again for the Australian Round from the 23^rd – 25^th February with WorldSSP in attendance, with the Official Test taking place in the week leading up the event on the 19^th and 20^th. One month later from the 22^nd – 24^th March, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya finds a new slot on the calendar with our European season well underway in north-eastern Spain; there’ll be a Supported Test on the 14^th and 15^th a week before the round. The round itself will also see WorldSSP300 action return. Completing the opening quarter of the season from the 19^th – 21^st of April, the historic TT Circuit Assen will see big crowds and epic action again in the Netherlands.

WorldSBK will head for holidays in spring with May free of action; the fourth round of the season takes place on the 14^th – 16^th of June for the first of two visits to Italy at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, whilst the UK Round is next up at Donington Park a month later from the 12^th – 14^th July, maintaining its usual summer slot. This is part of the first back-to-back rounds, with the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic welcomed back for a fourth consecutive season a week later on the 19^th – 21^st of July.

The second half of the year fires up in August as after two weekends off, racing action returns with the Portuguese Round at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve from the 9^th – 11^th of August. Two weeks later and the first of two new venues; for the first time since 1990, Hungary is on the WorldSBK calendar with the all-new Balaton Park Circuit, just an hour south west of the majestic Hungarian capital of Budapest and on the shores of Lake Balaton, the largest in central Europe. Two weeks later and the Championship hits the three-quarter mark with the historic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours from the 6^th – 8^th September.

The final three rounds of the season features our second new circuit; the Cremona Circuit in northern Italy on the 20^th – 22^nd September. Our second visit to the country takes place just half an hour from the medieval centre of Cremona itself. A week later and it’s back to Spain for the penultimate round of the year from the picturesque and unique MotorLand Aragon, whilst two weeks later, the final round awaits further south. Expect a showdown at the Circuit de Jerez – Angel Nieto from the 11^th – 13^th October.

With both being new circuits on the WorldSBK calendar, Balaton Park and Cremona are both subject to homologation. For full details of all classes and their respective calendars, click here.

23^rd – 25^th February: Phillip Island, Australia

22^nd – 24^th March: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain

19^th – 21^st April: TT Circuit Assen, the Netherlands

14^th – 16^th June: Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, Italy

12^th – 14^th July: Donington Park, United Kingdom

19^th – 21^st July: Autodrom Most, Czech Republic

9^th – 11st August: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal

23rd – 25th August: Balaton Park Circuit, Hungary*

6^th – 8^th September: Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France

20^th – 22^nd September: Cremona Circuit, Italy*

27^th – 29^th September: MotorLand Aragon, Spain

11^th – 13^th October: Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

*subject to homologation

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Source: WorldSBK.com