The Autodrom Most welcomes the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock and it was a momentous Friday for the Acerbis Czech Round. After a wet FP1, all eyes were on FP2 with a fully dry session in prospect. Making hay whilst the sun shone, albeit behind a lot of cloud, was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK). However, with 15 riders covered by less than a second, it could all change at a moment’s notice.

MOMENTUM CONTINUES: Razgatlioglu stars on Friday

With just over eight minutes left to go, Toprak Razgatlioglu went top and took half a second out of the best time of the day at that point, showcasing his pace at a track where he is the most successful rider at. Two flying laps later and he went half a tenth quicker, whilst Italian teammate Andrea Locatelli elevated himself from outside the top ten into P2 momentarily but finished up in P7. Razgatlioglu however was on top come the end of Friday, as the momentum continues to be in his corner.

INDEPENDENT STRENGTH: Gardner, Petrucci and Bassani fly high in top five

The Independent riders were in mighty form at Most on Friday, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) only 0.012s adrift of Razgatlioglu’s top time. The Australian’s first weekend at Most seems to be off to a good start, with the #87 looking competitive in the dry FP2 and in the wetter FP1. Behind him, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) is another rookie tackling the Czech track for the first time, and he was P3 and just over a tenth away from Toprak on top. He was also top Ducati, something he’ll be keen to hold onto through the weekend. Then, in P5, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) is straight from his Imola success and on the pace at round eight. In P8 despite a crash, Gardner’s teammate Dominique Aegerter was looking strong, making it four Independent stars inside the top eight and in the thick of the action.

BAUTISTA ONLY SIXTH: plenty of places between the #1 and his title rival

12 months ago, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took victory at Most and in doing so, delivered Ducati’s 1000^th podium and this weekend, he’s on the edge of an 18^th win of the season, which will be a new record. However, he struggled on day one at Most; he sat out the dry end to the session and was left in 17^th, whilst in FP2, he was sixth and the fourth Ducati. It seemed like the #1 had a technical issue, missing the first part of the session. His teammate, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, knows how important this weekend is in terms of his future, with a good result needed before the summer break. Rinaldi took the flag in fourth as he chases a return to the podium.

BMW’S FRIDAY: strong in the wet, van der Mark returns with crash in FP2

Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) may have topped a far from ideal FP1 but found himself down in P9 after the fully dry FP2, with the BMW riders reportedly struggling with the new hard rubber this weekend. However, his afternoon was better than teammate Michael van der Mark’s, as the #60 was last after suffering a dramatic crash at Turn 10. Unfortunately, his bike wasn’t able to be get back to pitlane as it ended up on the outside of the circuit and not on the side of pitlane, meaning the Dutchman lost 40 minutes of desperately-needed track time. It’s going to be a big Saturday back in action.

KAWASAKI IN TROUBLE? Rea the best in P10

With 12 minutes left on the clock, it was a Kawasaki 1-2 as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) led teammate Alex Lowes at the Autodrom Most, with the dry session seeing times right on the pace. Kawasaki have never won at Most before and Rea hasn’t won in 2023, but despite the strong times, it didn’t seem that a time attack was put to the test at the end of the session. For teammate Lowes, he suffered a crash at Turn 2 but was all OK, got the bike back to the pits and got back out within five minutes. When he got back out, he crashed again, this time at Turn 10, so another slow-speed spill but untimely with three minutes to go. At the end of the session and thus on the combined times, Rea was in 10th and Lowes took 11th.
 

HONDA DOWN FIELD AGAIN: Lecuona and Vierge 13^th and 16^th respectively

Once again, Honda struggled on Friday as Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) only managed to finish in 13^th, whilst teammate Xavi Vierge took 16^th at the end of the session. Honda were probably the one team that could’ve done with fully dry running all day as they fight to get back into contention after what has been a torrid few rounds; Lecuona’s 13^th-best lap time was however less than three quarters of a second away from Razgatlioglu’s top time. There’s work to do for Honda at Most.

FURTHER DOWN: Gerloff and Baz outside the top ten

Just ahead of Lecuona was Garrett Gerloff in 12^th, at Most with BMW for the first time; he suffered a run-off in sector three at the start of FP2 but was OK. Teammate Loris Baz took 14^th and was upside inside the top five at one point as his future hangs in the balance. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was 15^th, whilst Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) took 17^th. Home-hero Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) was 18^th and up in ninth place after FP1, whilst Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Isaac Vinales (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) completed the top 20.

THE REST OF THE ORDER: Soomer ahead of Tamburini

‘Baltic Bullet’ Hannes Soomer (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was back in action in the WorldSBK paddock and despite a big highside in FP1 at the final corner, he got back out and was a respectable 2.6s off the pace of Toprak at the head of the field. Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) suffered a technical issue in pitlane, meaning his handful of laps left him in 22^nd, whilst Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) crashed at Turn 17 and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up, where he was declared fit.

Top six after WorldSBK’s opening day at Most, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 1’32.367s

2. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.012s

3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.104s

4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.193s

5. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +0.244s

6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.287s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Home hero Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) topped the Friday times in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship as dry conditions greeted the riders in the afternoon. After a wet track in Free Practice 1, Svoboda took full advantage of the dry circuit in Free Practice 2 to top the times at the Autodrom Most for the Acerbis Czech Round as he looks to get his Championship challenge back on track at his home circuit.

CZECH REPUBLIC ON TOP: can Svoboda restart his title challenge?

With the track dry in FP2, every rider improved their time compared to FP1. Svoboda set a 1’46.492s in the closing stages of the 30-minute practice session to strike first at his home round, with Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) in second and 0.252s slower than his rival. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) bounced back from an FP1 crash, where he didn’t set a lap time, to secure third, in FP2 after posting a 1’47.122s. Svoboda and Perez Gonzalez were the only two riders in the 1’46s bracket.

IMPRESSING ON DEBUT: Mahendra stuns on Friday

Wildcard Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) was impressive on his WorldSSP300 debut as he took fourth, 0.767s down on Svoboda’s fastest time. Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) was fifth as two KTM riders finished in the top five at a circuit the Austrian manufacturer have traditionally gone well at, while Samuel Di Sora (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) completed the top six. He was 0.898s off the pace.

ALL TO PLAY FOR: nothing set in stone at Most…

Indonesia’s Galang Hendra Pratama (Sublime Racing by MS Racing) was seventh and missed out on a spot in the top six by just 0.009s, with less than a second covering the top ten in what is set up to be an unpredictable weekend. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) was eighth after posting a 1’47.419s with Julio Garcia (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) and Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) rounding out the top ten; Seabright had been second in the wet FP1 session.

HOUSEKEEPING: to note from FP2

Debutant Krittapat Keankum (Arco Motor University Team) and Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) were involved in a Turn 10 crash which ended their session early, with Keankum taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash. Juan Pablo Uriostegui (Team#109 Kawasaki) crashed in the closing stages of FP2 when he came down at Turn 2. The Mexican was classified in 22^nd place.

WHAT HAPPENED IN WET FP1? Perez Gonzalez on top, Geiger crashes

Spanish rider Perez Gonzalez put the Accolade Smrz Racing BGR squad on top in FP1 in the wet conditions, lapping more than a second clear of his rivals. Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) was another who mastered the tricky wet conditions, with FP1 starting on a damp track without rain before it started to fall as the session concluded, with rookie Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) in third. The trio were the only riders to lap under the two-minute barrier, while home hero Svoboda was fifth. Championship leader Geiger crashed out on his out lap and didn’t set a lap time.

The top six from WorldSSP300 action on Friday, full results here:

1. Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) 1’46.492

2. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) + 0.252

3. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) 0.630s

4. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) +0.767s

5. Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) +0.864s

6. Samuel Di Sora (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) +0.898s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The eighth round of the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship got underway on Friday morning in very contrasting conditions to anything that had been seen throughout the rest of the morning. After wet sessions for WorldSBK and WorldSSP300, the best conditions of the morning track action were reserved for WorldSSP, with it being perfectly dry. At the front, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the rider to beat, setting a 1’35.437.

Championship leader Bulega is keen to strike back after giving up ground at Imola last time out, and he started out as he means to go on at Most, with a 1’35.437 being the best time, less than a second off the lap record as the track rubbered in and four tenths ahead of the opposition. Second place went to another Ducati as Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) aims to hit good form before the summer break ensues. Rider in form Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was third and looks to make it a hat-trick of victories on the spin in his quest to close down Bulega in the title race. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) also continued his strong showings, taking fourth and was top Kawasaki, ahead of Dutchman Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team).

Outside the top five and in sixth place, Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) adapts to Most on a WorldSSP machine for the first time, whilst back in action following his Imola crash, Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) was seventh. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was in eighth place, ahead of Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by just 0.001s, whilst home-hero Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) was something of a revelation in P10, deputising for the injured Harry Truelove and showcasing his and the Triumph’s strengths at his home round. Outside the top ten, Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) was only 12^th, with Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 14^th, both split by Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing), the top WorldSSP Challenge rider in P13. Making his debut in the class, Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) was 25^th.

Top six after WorldSSP FP1 at Most, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’35.437s

2. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.421s

3. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.494s

4. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +0.556s

5. Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) +0.722s

6. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.962s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Round eight of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship from the Autodrom Most is underway, although the Acerbis Czech Round was wet for the first 35 minutes of action. The first rider to fit slick tyres to his bike after the wet majority of the session, Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) initially went top and was the first rider to set the trend for slicks with ten minutes to go. However, with the rain now gone and slicks being used by everyone, times tumbled and were heading for something slightly more relative.

The last 60 seconds of FP1 were arguably the most action-packed of the season in terms of Free Practice, with Redding improving his outright fastest lap time with his final flying lap being a 1’33.926, pipping Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), as the two rivals from the past two years at Most occupy the top two slots after FP1. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) completed the top three with three different manufacturers at the front. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is as close to home as he gets and the Swiss rider was fourth, whilst his Australian teammate, Remy Gardner, was fifth on his Most debut.

The top half-dozen was rounded out with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in P6, making it four Yamahas inside that top six, whilst Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was the top Ducati in seventh. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) led the way for Honda in eighth, one place ahead of Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth. Brazilian rider Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) completed the top ten on his WorldSBK Most debut. There was a crash for Granado’s stand-in teammate Hannes Soomer at the final corner, with a dramatic highside but he was OK. Making his comeback from injury, Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had a tentative return to action with just four laps set in the tricky conditions; he’ll be reviewed again after FP2.

Top six after WorldSBK FP1 at Most below, full results here:

1. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’33.926s

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.644s

3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.743s

4. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +1.425s

5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +2.090s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +2.155s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The rain wasn’t falling for the start of Free Practice 1 at the Autodrom Most, but the track was damp on Friday morning as the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship took to the track. Times rapidly improved throughout the 30-minute session with Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) who topped the times by more than a second with his lap time coming at the optimum time before rain started falling during the first on-track action for the Acerbis Czech Round.

The Spaniard set a best time of 1’58.868s and was one of only three riders to be under the two-minute barrier in the rain-affected session as he finished 1.018s clear of British rider Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) in second as the Kawasaki rider shone in the tricky conditions. Loris Veneman’s (MTM Kawasaki) last lap moved him up the order into third place with a 1’59.960s but he, like Seabright, was more than a second down on Perez Gonzalez.

Alessandro Zanca (Team#109 Kawasaki) put in a strong performance in FP1 as he took fourth place after posting a 2’00.086s, 1.398s slower than the fastest time. Home hero Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) was fifth as he looks to get his Championship charge back on track, with 2020 Champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) rounding out the top six with a 2’00.345s; more than 1.6s slower than Perez Gonzalez.

Brazil’s Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America Team) was seventh with Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) in eighth. The Italian was one of several crashers in FP1 when he came off his at Turn 17. Troy Alberto (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) was ninth with Marc Garcia (China Racing Team) once again putting Kove inside the top ten as he returns to the Chinese manufacturer.

Dirk Geiger’s (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) session ended before he could set a lap time as the Championship leader crashed at Turn 21 before he could set a lap time. Wildcard Walid Khan, Geiger’s teammate, also crashed. He went down with under 20 minutes left in FP1. Krittapat Keankum (Arco Motor University Team), making his WorldSSP300 debut at Most, was another who crashed as he down at Turn 15. Mattia Martella (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) also crashed at Turn 7.

The top six following WorldSSP300 FP1, full results here:

1. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) 1’58.688

2. Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) +1.018s

3. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +1.272s

4. Alessandro Zanca (Team#109 Kawasaki) +1.398s

5. Petr Svoboda (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) +1.436s

6. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) 1.657s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It’s that time of year; the rumour mill is in overdrive, rider managers are meeting up with various teams and the jigsaw starts to take shape. It’s often what you see, not what you’re told and it’s how you interpret, not how it’s literally spoken. However, what’s not spoken is also of interest, and that was one of the key takeaways on Thursday at Most.

THE RUMOUR: Rea to Yamaha for 2024

Rumours were circulating that six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) could make a bombshell switch to Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK for next year, as reported by Speedweek after Imola. Ahead of the Acerbis Czech Round, these were put to Rea, with the 36-year-old acknowledging what had been said.

HORSE’S MOUTH: Rea doesn’t deny there’s rumours, but maintain they are just that

“At this time of the year, there’s always rumours and stories and I guess Toprak’s seat is the big one to be filled,” responded Rea about the speculation, referring to Razgatlioglu’s vacant seat for 2024 as the Turk moves to BMW. “From my side, there’s nothing really to say on my future; I will sit down with my wife, kids and family to understand it. I’m sure everything is ongoing, but it’s all rumours right now.”

However, Rea already has a contract for 2024, when he inked a two-year deal in 2022 for this year and next. Usually, a rider under contract is already out of any rumours or silly season gossip, but not this year and not the #65, who in his answer didn’t deny any rumours, only acknowledging and stating that as of this moment, they are just rumours. However, in his answer there was no mention of his Kawasaki deal for next year and instead, saying about sitting down with his family to think about his future – even if he has already ruled out retirement. None of those things were mentioned in his answer about the speculation.

DOSOLI’S CARDS HELD CLOSE: “We’ll comment on this only when we have our rider line-up defined”

Thankfully, WorldSBK’s media day gives us a chance to catch-up with all the key people, one of which is Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli, responsible for Yamaha’s riders. When the rumours were put to him, he confirmed multiple riders are on the manufacturer’s shopping list: “We’re monitoring all available riders and it will take time before we make a decision. We’ll comment on this only when we have our rider line-up defined. It’s a long list of riders. We’re not in a rush.” Technically speaking, Rea isn’t an “available” rider…

REDDING: probably an announcement, then there wasn’t, then there was but not saying where

It’s a bit of a mouthful and longwinded. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) said at Imola that there’d probably be announcement on Sunday, and then there wasn’t. He has/had an option to remain in BMW for 2024, as his contract had an extension clause, but that was supposed to be taken up by July 15^th, which was the Saturday of Imola. Redding then confirmed that he’d be on the grid in 2024 but didn’t say where, with an Instagram story which appeared just hours after the Rea-Yamaha rumour was published by Speedweek. Speedweek’s article has a timestamp of 00:07 CEST on July 19^th – so the story was being readied at least on the 18^th; Redding’s Instagram story was published around midday on the 19^th.

Responding to a question put to him about Rea being linked to Yamaha and potentially opening a big green door with “Kawasaki” written on it, Redding – after a pause – stated: “An opportunity at Kawasaki isn’t something I’ve looked into because it came out of nowhere. Is it rumours again? Is there something behind it? It’s not really my business. My job is to focus on what I’m doing here at the moment.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is just days away from the summer break but 2024 is stealing the show on Thursday. From major rumours surrounding some of the biggest names, to pre-round form and objectives for the weekend, WorldSBK’s media day had all the juicy bits, and we’ve put them all in one place.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Toprak’s seat is the big one to be filled… everything’s ongoing, but it’s all rumours right now”

Speaking ahead of the round about rumours linking him to a shock switch from Kawasaki to Yamaha for 2024, Jonathan Rea addressed the reports, albeit by not mentioning his current existing deal with Kawasaki for next year: “I’m quite excited! I feel like I have some unfinished business at Most as I’ve never won a race here! We’ve had some good momentum at Donington Park and Imola, so I feel more comfortable with the bike, so let’s hope I can fight in the front group. Like in the last few races, the target has to be the podium, to head into summer in a healthy condition and then we’ll be looking towards the last part of the season. 400 starts makes me feel quite old but it’s something else! At this time of the year, there’s always rumours and stories and I guess Toprak’s seat is the big one to be filled. From my side, nothing really to say on my future; I will sit down with my wife, kids and family to understand it. I’m sure everything is ongoing, but it’s all rumours right now.”

Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “There was a little bit of a miscommunication… an opportunity at Kawasaki isn’t something I’ve looked into”

Speaking about the announcement that eventually never came and instead having to make an announcement the following week about his future, Scott Redding addressed the hot potato again: “There was a little bit of a miscommunication, actually. Not too much to say after that. I thought there would’ve been something. In the end, there was no news, so I had a little bit of peace and quiet for the rest of the weekend! An opportunity at Kawasaki isn’t something I’ve looked into because it came out of nowhere. Is it rumours again? Is there something behind it? It’s not really my business. My job is to focus on what I’m doing here at the moment. We know this year has been a little bit more difficult for us, even at our strong circuits. I feel like here is somewhere we can have a good weekend. With the tyres, it’s new for everybody, so it could help us a little bit more.”

Andrea Dosoli (Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager): “A long list of riders, we’re not in a rush”

Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli spoke about Yamaha’s increase in revs, as well as the 2024 line-up, keeping quiet on the latter: “About the RPM, the rules gave us the possibility to ask for concessions and we’ve took this opportunity and chosen the 250rpm. It’s something that our riders will use if needed. We’re monitoring all available riders and it will take time before we make a decision. We’ll comment on this only when we have our rider line-up defined. It’s a long list of riders. We’re not in a rush.”

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “We’re talking… we’ll see what’s going on”

Sticking with 2024 talk, Michael Ruben Rinaldi didn’t say too much, perhaps alluding to a potential change: “After Imola, my focus was to get in the best shape again and that’s what I did. I trained in the proper way, did a lot of physio, and on Monday I went to train with a Panigale V4 R at Mugello to understand how I was on the bike. Physically, I’m better than Imola. The news will be after Most. At the moment, I cannot say anything because we are still talking. Before the next round in September, I will have an update. We are talking. Our goal is to keep racing with a good package, and we will see what’s going on. For now, I’m focused on this weekend, and, after that, we will focus on next year.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “This year is completely different!”

Toprak Razgatlioglu is looking forward to Most, where he’s the most successful rider: “I’m very happy to come back to Most because I enjoy this track a lot. Last year, I took two wins here. This year is completely different because everyone is very fast. It looks like the weather is a bit strange this weekend. Maybe it rains, maybe it doesn’t. It’s not possible to say before the race but Alvaro is very strong here. I’m still trying to fight with him again. Last year, he was riding very well and this year he’s riding much better; I think he’s stronger than last year. I think the 2021 stoppie was 214 or 216 metres, something like that! But, also, 200 metres is enough. Last year, I didn’t try for the stoppie, maybe we’ll do it again!”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “The Championship is long… it’s not over!”

After a fall last time out at Imola, Championship leader Alvaro Bautista spoke of the dynamic ahead of Most: “This Championship is so good because we have a lot of points to play for each weekend. It’s nice because you think the Championship is long and, for sure, it’s not over. I’m not thinking about the Championship or the points. I’m just trying to take it race by race. I’m trying to do my best. It doesn’t matter about the points. I want to be the best rider I can be. The tyres are harder than last year at Most so it’s even more difficult. We have the same tyres as Phillip Island but they are different tracks because the speed is so high and you force the tyres a lot. In those tracks where you don’t need to stop the bike too much and accelerate from low speed, it’s easier to use the hard compound because you have high corner speed.”

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “About my future… I’ll know this weekend but I can’t say!”

Aiming to bounce back, Iker Lecuona is aiming for a strong Czech Round, whilst also looking ahead to his future: “This year, we’ve struggled a lot. We’ve started the weekends with a lot of problems on the bike, we always need to change the base. We can’t find the base to use at every track. We need to work a lot more than the other riders. This tells us something on the bike is not correct. I still don’t know about my future. I can’t say until the moment we have everything closed but, from my side, I hope this weekend I’ll know a little bit more. Right now, honestly, I don’t know. I’ll know this weekend, but I can’t say! It depends on the project. Next week, I have a chance to go again but with LCR this time. MotoGP™ is the top, I’ve always said this.”

Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO): “I would like to stay in WorldSBK”

A home-hero is in the house this weekend, as Oliver Konig plans to deliver something special: “I’m so excited because it’s one of my favourite tracks. I don’t have one favourite turn or sector. I like the braking into the first corner. I’m not good like Toprak! His stoppie from two years ago is legendary. I like this turn. Right now, we don’t know anything 100%. We are trying to find the best solution for me for 2024. I would like to stay in WorldSBK.”

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): I’ve still got nothing to worry about with my future!”

Michael van der Mark is more than happy to be back in action: “Finally, I’m back on the grid! I’m really excited! I wanted to come back earlier but we had to be smart and have a little bit of patience. I wanted to do a race before the summer break; I don’t think we have any expectation. We just want to do this race and get back up to speed. Missing four rounds is tough as you’ll be missing some sharpness. I need to stay calm, enjoy riding the bike and go step by step. In the summer break, we have a test and we’ll be ready for Magny-Cours. I’ve still got nothing to worry about with my future!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

On the eve of the Acerbis Czech Round, the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) have announced that rev limits in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will be updated.

As per article 2.4.3.3 of the regulations, Yamaha have elected to use five concession points to benefit from a 250-rpm rev limit increase from this round onwards.

A regularly updated version of the FIM WorldSBK Regulations, which contains the detailed text of the regulation changes, may be viewed on the FIM website here.

Source: WorldSBK.com

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will be back on track in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship on Friday after passing his medical check at the Autodrom Most. The Dutchman fractured his left femur in a huge highside at Assen back in April and has missed every round since but will return to the M1000RR during the Acerbis Czech Round after undergoing a medical check on Thursday, although will be reviewed again on Friday.

Van der Mark’s crash happened in the early stages of Race 2 at the TT Circuit Assen and the injuries left him requiring surgery on his left femur, with the 30-year-old slowly working his way towards full fitness. His return comes just one round before WorldSBK’s summer break in August and BMW announced their plans to have him back as soon as the Italian Round at Imola concluded two weeks ago. Van der Mark will undergo more checks on Friday after Free Practice 1 but will return to WorldSBK action tomorrow.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Hannes Soomer will make a return to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock at the Autodrom Most as he makes his WorldSBK debut with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team. The Estonian will stand in for Malaysia’s Hafizh Syahrin as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a crash while testing for the Suzuka 8 Hours, and the 25-year-old is no stranger to the CBR1000RR-R machine as he competes with Honda in the German championship.

Known as the ‘Baltic Bullet’, Soomer competed in both the European Junior Cup and WorldSSP between 2013 and 2022 inside the WorldSBK paddock. His best EJC campaign came in 2016 as he took two wins and finished sixth in the standings, before moving up to WorldSSP for a full-time campaign after several one-off appearances in 2015 and 2016.

He recorded only one top-ten Championship finish in WorldSSP, which was in 2020, and that was the year he made history in WorldSSP. Soomer became the first Estonian rider to stand on the podium with a total of three to his name, in both races at Magny-Cours and in Race 1 at Estoril, before finishing 12^th in 2021 and 13^th in 2022 in the standings. Last season, he competed with the PTR Triumph squad as they made a return to WorldSSP as part of the Next Generation ruleset, although it was teammate Stefano Manzi who took the team’s sole win.

After missing out on a ride in the World Championship, Soomer switched his attention to the IDM, the German national championship, where he rides this season for Honda. He has already raced at Most this season, taking third on the grid and finishing in the same position in the first race on the CBR1000RR-R. Now, he will put his IDM Superbike experience to use on the world stage as he looks to impress in the Czech Republic.

Talking about his debut, where he will race alongside Eric Granado, Soomer said: “I am happy to be making my debut in WorldSBK with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team this weekend and I am looking forward to being back in the WorldSBK paddock.  I know I will have to adapt to the bike quickly, but Most is a fun track, and I am up for the challenge!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com