Since Honda’s official return in 2020 to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, the Fireblade has had one pole position, four front row starts and five podiums. Honda hasn’t led a lap for five years and whilst progress has been made, it’s been slow and steady rather than the steps that many expected. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and teammate Xavi Vierge have been solid performers but now into their second year in WorldSBK, more is expected from them. Even though they have underperformed, there is a belief around the paddock that they are now close to being able to exploit their package. A strong engine and super concession upgrades to the chassis has put the bike into the ballpark but now it’s time for the talking to stop. Honda needs; results.

PERFECT TIMING: is Barcelona the chance to showcase?

This weekend in Barcelona is a home round for the team, they’re based nearby, and with many of the team and both riders Spanish, this is an ideal opportunity to shine. Last year, Lecuona took pole position and both riders had top six finishes. For Vierge, a podium man in Indonesia earlier this year, he is also returning to a track where he had a Moto2™ rostrum finish. Last weekend, Lecuona was called back up for MotoGP™ action with Honda. A sign of the confidence that HRC has in their young charge and whilst Jerez proved a solid if unspectacular weekend, it was good to see him rewarded for his successes with Honda. The most notable of those successes was seen at last year’s Suzuka 8 Hours.

In WorldSBK, Honda has struggled. They’ve cycled through experienced riders and brought in two rookies. Alvaro Bautista, well on the way to a second WorldSBK title with Ducati, had a miserable two-year stint with HRC. The Spaniard’s high point of his Honda tenure was Catalunya 2021. A Superpole Race podium and fourth in the afternoon was a great return to form for him. That being said, matching that feat this weekend will be almost impossible for Lecuona and Vierge.

DRAWING COMPARISONS: is it BMW who are still ahead of Honda?

Honda and BMW are the most natural comparisons to make in WorldSBK. The manufacturers have put resources in over the last few years but have little to show for it. That being said, BMW’s form since 2020 when Honda returned is much more impressive. The German manufacturer has won a race, with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) at Portimao in 2021, claimed eight podiums and had three pole positions. Their form has been hit and miss but they do have more to show than Honda for their efforts, including beating them in the manufacturers’ Championship last year. The time between now and the summer break features five rounds and it’s critical for teams and riders to make a step. Can you make your bike and package attractive to a top rider? Can you jump onto a more competitive bike? The only way to do that is to have good results and show that there is performance as well as potential.

A CHANCE IN BARCELONA: can Honda outshine BMW?

This weekend is an opportunity for Honda to prove their progress. For the riders, it’s also a chance to stake their claim to the bike for 2024. Lecuona is the better regarded Honda man but since stepping over from the Grand Prix paddock, he has shown only flashes of what’s expected of him. The speed is definitely there but with a package that has underperformed, he hasn’t been able to put his best foot forward. Xavi Vierge has shown himself to be a capable top ten performer who doesn’t make many mistakes. He’ll feel that as a slow burner he’s now ready to show his full potential. 

Now is the time for Honda to step up to the plate. Winning races is the end goal but right now it’s about getting into the top five because Vierge’s podium in Indonesia is their only top five all season. Catalunya has been their best track since returning to WorldSBK in 2020 and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Team HRC.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Two weeks on from the start of the 2023 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the TT Circuit Assen and the Championship returns to action for the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. History was made last time out in the Netherlands and there was plenty of drama throughout both races. Barcelona has, in the past, been a circuit where races are decided not at the final corner but right at the finish line and, following the last-lap battles at Assen, that could happen again in 2023.

SVOBODA AT THE DOUBLE: more success for the Czech rider?

Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) claimed his first victory in WorldSSP300 at Assen in Race 1 and then doubled up with Race 2 victory a day later. Not only were they his first wins in the Championship, they were his first podiums, and he will be looking to continue that run in Barcelona. He’s raced there twice, both in 2021, with a bet result of 25^th to his name when on Yamaha machinery. Only one previous winner at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit is on the grid with Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) aiming to make it two wins at the Spanish venue. It’s a track where MTM Kawasaki have gone well at in the past four wins in six races; can the team make it five with either Buis or rookie Loris Veneman?

AIMING HIGH AFTER ASSEN: looking to return to the podium

Five different riders stood on the Assen rostrum with only Svoboda a repeat visitor last time out. In Race 1, he was joined by Samuel Di Sora (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) and Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) while, in Race 2, it was Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America Team), who has two top-six finishes in Barcelona, and polesitter Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) joining him. There was a large group of riders fighting for success at Assen and the unpredictable nature of the Championship was on display with more of this to be expected in Barcelona.

BARCELONA PODIUMS IN 2022: looking to repeat success

Julio Garcia (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) stunned the WorldSSP300 paddock in 2022 when he recorded a podium finish in Race 1 in Barcelona in his first start as he made his debut as a wildcard. Returning for a full campaign in 2023, after switching to Kawasaki machinery, could Garcia repeat his podium success this year? Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) was another who took a rostrum finish last season and, after showing strong pace throughout 2022 and at the 2023 season opener, the Italian will be looking for his first podium of the season.

LOOKING FOR A 2023 BREAKTHROUGHT: will Barcelona kickstart some campaigns?

In previous WorldSSP300 campaigns, Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) has often had to fight his way back through the field after a disappointing Tissot Superpole result, but Assen flipped that on its head. He took second in Saturday’s Superpole session but two crashes in the early stages of both Race 1 and Race 2 ended his charge. Can Lehmann combine his Superpole speed from Assen with his race craft from 2022 to secure a strong result for KTM?

RIDER CHANGES: Hendra Pratama returns as two riders wildcard

The Sublime Racing by MS Racing team will field Indonesian rider Galang Hendra Pratama at the Catalunya Round alongside Clement Rouge. Hendra Pratama is known by the team from a season in WorldSSP in the bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS Racing squad, while he also has two wins in WorldSSP300 to his name from three campaigns. Two riders will make wildcard appearances in Barcelona with two different teams. Unai Calatayud returns with the Arco Motor University Team at the circuit he debuted at last year, while Ivan Bolano Hernandez joins the Deza-Box 77 Racing Team squad for the Catalunya Round alongside Jose Manuel Osuna Saez.

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Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will be out of action during the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, after his crash at the TT Circuit Assen just over a week ago. Whilst a successful operation has been undertaken, the Dutchman’s road to recovery will see him miss the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this year, however, he’ll be replaced by 2019 Portuguese Superbike champion Ivo Lopes.

Lopes, from Lisbon, has a wealth of experience, including two Spanish Superbike open class titles, a Moto2™ European Championship win and three Red Bull Rookies Cup podiums. Along with the success, he has a WorldSSP start to his name from 2018 and a Superstock 1000 start from 2013; both came at Portimao but no points were achieved. Currently, he is leading the Spanish Superbike championship after a win and two second places. He’ll become the 22^nd Portuguese rider to start a WorldSBK race and the first since South African-born Portuguese rider Sheridan Morais at Estoril, 2020.

“I would like to thank BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for the opportunity they are giving me at Barcelona. I have always dreamed of racing in WorldSBK, and that dream is now coming true. I know the Barcelona circuit very well, as I do the BMW M 1000 RR. However, the WorldSBK version of the bike is obviously different to the one I ride in the Spanish championship. I will work very hard at the weekend and give it my all to support the team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport as well as possible. I would like to thank them for the faith they have put in me, and also to wish Michael van der Mark a speedy recovery!”

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers spoke about van der Mark’s recovery and looked forward to a new name in WorldSBK: “First of all, we wish Michael a good recovery. It was good to hear that the operation in Groningen was a success. We are in constant contact and he has already made the first small improvements. However, he should take the time he needs to return to full fitness.

“At the same time, we welcome Ivo Lopes to WorldSBK. We have known Ivo for a long time in the Portuguese and Spanish championships, where he has repeatedly shown what he is capable of on the BMW M 1000 RR. We are pleased to be able to give him the opportunity to go racing in the World Championship. On the whole, we are excited about the Barcelona weekend. The test there at the end of March was very productive. We hope we can back up the progress we saw at Assen, particularly with Scott claiming his best result of the season so far, at Barcelona.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Two weeks on from the dramatic Pirelli Dutch Round, the FIM Supersport World Championship heads south west to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the 2023 Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round, the fourth round of 2023’s season. At a circuit that has thrown up plenty of surprises in its short presence on the calendar, with weather impacting races, will there be more shocks to come in the fourth Catalunya Round? With only one repeat winner at the circuit, and no previous winners on the grid, who will grab the land of opportunity this time around?

A YAMAHA CIRCUIT… SO FAR: will Yamaha’s Barcelona run come to an end?

Yamaha have won every race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since it joined the calendar. In 2020, Andy Verdoia taking a shock victory in Race 1 in wet conditions to become the youngest ever winner in the class, Andrea Locatelli winning Race 2 to become Champion, Randy Krummenacher’s and Manuel Gonzalez’s last career wins in 2021 and Dominique Aegerter doing the double last season. In 2023, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) leads the way with four wins from six races while Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) has one and Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who won’t be in Barcelona, has also won a race. With no Yamaha victories so far this year heading into a track where they’ve enjoyed so much success, could their Barcelona fortress conquered, or will offer a retreat and act as a turning point in the 2023 campaign?

THE NEXT TARGET: from the podium to a win

Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) is second in the Championship standings and top Yamaha; he’ll be hoping to claim Yamaha’s first win of 2023. He has a best finish of third at the circuit, from last year when on the Triumph, and he knows the circuit well from his time in the MotoGP™ paddock. Three manufacturers are in the top three of the Championship with Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) third and, after his first WorldSSP podium last time out at Assen, will be looking for his first win of the year. With four top-eight finishes in his last five races at the circuit in Moto2™, it’s a circuit he knows well and will be aiming to convert this into his first WorldSSP victory.

LOOKING TO SPRING A SURPRISE: never say never in Barcelona

Whilst the wins have been shared between Ducati and Kawasaki so far this season, five of the six manufacturers on the grid have stood on the rostrum. Dynavolt Triumph have a podium finish courtesy of Niki Tuuli’s third place in Race 1 at Mandalika and he was again in the top five at Assen. With a podium already to his name at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in 2021 with MV Agusta, could he help Triumph to a first win of 2023?

Honda will be looking to score big points again as the only manufacturer yet to score a podium this season with riders Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE HONDA Team) and teammate Adam Norrodin, while Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was strong here last year and took fifth place in Race 1. He’s also a race winner here in WorldSSP300 from 2021, so the Turkish youngster will be full of confidence heading into the Catalunya Round despite a crash from the podium battle last time out at Assen. After a wretched start to his season with just an eighth-place finish to his name, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will aim to return to the fore this weekend – although he’ll serve a double Long Lap Penalty in Race 1.

HOME HEROES: will Navarro or Huertas shine in Catalunya?

There are two full-time Spanish riders on the 2023 WorldSSP grid and both are looking for strong results on home soil. Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) has had a tough start to his WorldSSP career after making the switch from Moto2™ and suffering from injuries at the end of that season. However, Catalunya is a circuit he’s gone well at in both Moto3™ and Moto2™; winning the 2016 Moto3™ Catalan Grand Prix and taking third in Moto2™ three years later. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) made his return from injury at Assen and was back in the top ten in Race 2 with eighth place and he will have high hopes for the Catalunya Round although he is yet to stand on the podium in Barcelona; his best result is fourth in WorldSSP300 in 2021.

WILDCARDS AND RIDER LINE-UP CHANGES: news ahead of the Catalunya Round

There will be a few changes to the grid in Barcelona with wildcards and replacement riders coming in. Swiss rider Baris Sahin, who made his debut in Catalunya in 2021 and was a replacement rider in Argentina last year but did not race following a highside in FP2, will wildcard in Barcelona with the MDR Offitec Yamaha squad. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was declared unfit following the crash at Assen with Montella, as was Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) following a Free Practice 1 crash. The Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team will field two bikes in Barcelona, with full-time rider Andrea Mantovani joined by one event rider Adrian Fernandez Gonzalez.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

As the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship readies for its fourth round of the season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the track may have only been on the calendar since 2020 but it’s been a modern classic. A stone’s through from Barcelona city centre, new fans are often venturing out during the stay in the city, and they’re guaranteed some of the best moments of the year. So, we looked back through recent times, to remind you of the wacky results we often see in Barcelona.

Race 2, 2020 and Race 1, 2022 – Garrett Gerloff’s shock podiums

Technically, these are two moments but both share the same context: they came as a bit of a surprise. In 2020, he was improving with each round but nobody could have predicted that he’d finish ahead of the likes of Championship contenders Jonathan Rea and Scott Redding. A battle with Michael van der Mark on the final lap saw him take third, whilst in Race 1 last year, Gerloff conserved his tyre to pick his way through the field, storming up to third for his only podium 2022. Can we see another Texan surprise this weekend, this time, for BMW?

Race 1, 2021 – Axel Bassani leads a race and takes a first podium

Our second visit to Barcelona saw the rain clouds open and drama throughout the race. Garrett Gerloff crashed a special Yamaha livery on the sighting lap, Toprak Razgatlioglu battled with Axel Bassani in the early stages before he retired with an electrical fault and then, the rookie Italian hit the front. He led for three laps and then, three laps from home, Scott Redding came through to deny what would have been one of the most emotional wins we’d ever seen. The first of a new-look Bassani, who’s been a podium contender ever since.

Superpole Race, 2021 – Rea vs Razgatlioglu on blistering opening lap

There’s often talk about the greatest last laps, but what about the greatest first laps? Usually, first laps are electric anyway, but for one to standout so vividly, it must have been good. In 2021, the restart of the Superpole Race was exactly that, as Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu continued their rivalry. Off the line, the pair collided, whilst from Turn 4 to Turn 9, the two were side by side all the way through the middle parts of the track in what was a stunning sight. Alvaro Bautista on the Honda managed to get into second into Turn 10, whilst behind, there was a crash for Andrea Locatelli and Kohta Nozane, which took title contender Scott Redding out wide into the gravel. An incredible battle, one of many in their catalogue.

Race 2, 2021 – Rinaldi shows what he’s capable of

Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s up and down form in 2021 saw peaks and troughs, but Barcelona was one of the high points. In low-grip and high-heat conditions, Rinaldi eased his way to the front with less than two laps to go after a battle with Toprak Razgatlioglu. He’d go on to take his most recent win in fine style to show that when the stars align, he’s the one who can shine supremely. It’s also proof that despite what a form book in Barcelona, whilst good for getting a general picture of what to expect, isn’t always indicative of what is to come.

Superpole, 2022 – rookie Iker Lecuona takes pole for Honda

After successful testing during pre-season and the middle of the year at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Team HRC always looked good. Even previous results with leading a race and taking a podium with Alvaro Bautista, Honda have always featured in the battle. However, last year’s Superpole was something special as Iker Lecuona stormed to pole. The third different polesitter (rider and manufacturer), it wasn’t exactly what was expected but it was a sign that Honda’s hard work was paying off. Can they mount the podium in 2023?

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: the youngest WorldSSP winner and WorldSSP300 drama

Some other moments that can’t be forgotten include Andy Verdoia staying out on slick tyres in monsoon-like weather in 2020’s WorldSSP Race 1. As everyone pitted for wets, he remained on track and then the red flag came out and the race wasn’t restarted and therefore he was declared the youngest-ever winner in WorldSSP aged just 17. In Race 2, Andrea Locatelli was crowned Champion, whilst the same year in WorldSSP300, Tom Booth-Amos and Yuta Okaya took maiden wins – also first wins for the UK and Japan. In 2021, Randy Krummenacher took his last WorldSSP race win in Race 1, whilst Manuel Gonzalez won a classic in Race 2. More excitement awaits in 2023!

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Barcelona calls as the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is heading for the fourth round – and the second in Europe – of the season. Titanic fights are expected like always, but perhaps with different names to what we usually expect. Find out how a form guide is hard to read in Barcelona, why Superpole is NOT a good indicator and plenty more in this week’s stats guide.

400 – Ducati has reached 400 wins at Assen, but there is another 400 in sight: Yamaha counts at the moment 396 podium placements. The Japanese manufacturer is fourth in these rankings behind Ducati (1032), Kawasaki (527) and Honda (397). With just one podium placement, they will reach Honda at the third all-time spot.

334 – If a top speed of 334km/h is hit, then it will be the highest top speed on the current calendar in WorldSBK. The current highest is 333.9km/h, at Aragon by Chaz Davies on an Aprilia in 2012. The outright top speed is 339.5km/h achieved by Tom Sykes and Kawasaki at Monza, 2012.

250 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is currently on 248 podiums; he can be the first rider to reach 250.

73 – The pair of riders who have shared the highest number of podiums at the moment is Chaz Davies and Jonathan Rea, at 73. The couple of Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) is just two shy of that value, at 71.

51 – In 2021, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) recorded his 51^st pole, increasing his all-time record; this was BMW’s most recent pole position. His next competitor is Troy Corser at 43 and Sykes’ record will stand at least for this year, as the active rider with the highest number of poles is Jonathan Rea at 41.

50% – If Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) wins Race 1 in Barcelona, he would have a perfect 50% winning rate on a Ducati: 41 wins out of 82 starts.

43 – With a hat-trick of wins, Bautista will equal Noriyuki Haga at the 4^th all-time spot.

31 – The record was in sight at Assen, Race 2: Bautista led Razgatlioglu and Rea, but the latter crashed, so we have to wait to see the 31^st time they will share a podium. That would equal the WorldSBK record of podiums shared: Chaz Davies, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes (2014-2019).

11/12 – Alvaro Bautista has started the season with eight wins out of nine. Going to Catalunya he can aim to an 11 out of 12. This was recorded only twice in the past: by Neil Hodgson in 2003 and by the same Bautista in 2019.

11 – No less than eleven riders made it to the podium in Barcelona in nine races run: the record belongs to Jonathan Rea at five, followed by Alvaro Bautista at four. Of all those 11 riders, just one isn’t part of the 2023 field: Chaz Davies, who retired in 2021.

6 – In 2020, Barcelona was first on the WorldSBK calendar, the sixth Spanish track in history.

6 – Six different winners came out of nine races run here so far: last year Alvaro Bautista went from zero wins to the track record of three. He’s followed by Rea at two.

5/4 – The most common winning grid spots here are 4^th and the 5^th: three wins from each were recorded in Barcelona.

1 – In 2021, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) got a first WorldSBK podium with P2 in Race 1.

SHORTHAND NOTEBOOK

2022 race winner:

• Alvaro Bautista (Ducati, Race 1, Superpole Race and Race 2)

Polesitters at Barcelona-Catalunya:

• 2022: Iker Lecuona (Honda) 1’40.766
• 2021: Tom Sykes (BMW) 1’40.408
• 2020: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 1’41.619 (old layout)

Manufacturer podium places (and wins) from all WorldSBK races at Barcelona-Catalunya:

• Yamaha: 8 (1)
• Ducati: 12 (6)
• Kawasaki: 6 (2)

Key gaps Catalunya in 2021:

• Front row covered by: 0.217s
• 1 second in Superpole covered… the top 9: 0.917s
• Closest race gap between 1^st and 2^nd: 1.185s (Bautista 1^st, Rea 2^nd, Superpole Race)
• Closest race podium: 1.377s (Bautista 1^st, Rea 2^nd, Lowes 3^rd, Superpole Race) – closest WorldSBK race podium in Barcelona

Manufacturer top speeds at Catalunya 2021):

• Honda: Alvaro Bautista – 333.3km/h, Superpole
• Ducati: Scott Redding – 330.2 km/h, Race 1
• Yamaha: Garrett Gerloff – 326.2 km/h, Race 2
• Kawasaki: Jonathan Rea – 325.3 km/h, FP1
• BMW: Michael van der Mark and Loris Baz – 324.3 km/h, Superpole Race

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Two weeks on from a dramatic MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, the Championship heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round. There will be four different classes in action in Spain to enjoy with your tickets, which you can purchase HERE, as well as a multitude of off-track activities to get stuck into to enjoy the Catalunya Round in full. Enjoy the incredible racing in style complemented with paddock access including the WorldSBK Paddock Show to meet your favourite riders. Access to the paddock is available with selected tickets.

WorldSBK, WorldSSP, WorldSSP300 and the Yamaha R3 European Championship will take place during the Catalunya Round with hours upon hours of track action to watch from the stands. However, there are also several activities taking place which you can enjoy between sessions or after races to get you closer to the riders. Chat shows with several riders throughout the weekend, interactive sessions and quizzes as well as the podiums will all take place in the Paddock Show. There are several activities on different days to enjoy in the paddock as well as the incredible on-track action.

Purchase your tickets for the 2023 Catalunya Round HERE!

Source: WorldSBK.com

It’s the home of Gaudi, a historic old town, rambling avenues, soft sandy beaches and a dramatic landscape, with a strong culture sweeping through this part of Spain. Just 30km away from the centre of Barcelona, nestled in the hills behind, one of the most famous racing venues in the world. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya makes Barcelona one of the most attractive race weekends on the calendar, and WorldSBK is one of the most attractive events to enjoy. However, whilst fans may take in the Sagrada Familia and take pitstops in the tapas bars, riders and teams will be at their own sacred venue, ready for whatever is served their way.

UNSTOPPABLE, UNBEATABLE: the hallmarks of a Bautista triple once more

With a Championship lead that has soared to 56 points, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could afford to have an ‘off’ round, but it doesn’t look like coming here. The reigning World Champion breezed to victory in 2022 with a dominant hat-trick as he got the first fingers on the title, and with upgrades to the Panigale V4 R in the off-season and a successful test conducted at the track, who would bet against that continuing? It’s true that every year is different in Barcelona; the low grip is a constant after five laps, but bad weather does roll in unexpectedly and there’s always one rider who surprises. On paper, Bautista has this weekend covered and smart money says a hat-trick, but races aren’t won on paper.

WHO CAN STOP HIM? A strategic fight coming from old foes

Whilst Bautista does go extremely well at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, his rivals’ determination and tenacity will see them scrap it out with him if the opportunity arises. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) took three podiums at Assen and is second in the Championship. He’s yet to win at Barcelona but did try going with Bautista in 2022’s Race 1, only to suffer a big tyre drop at the end. If his Yamaha crew can improve the longevity and pick up from last year’s P3 in Race 2, then perhaps Toprak will lead the charge. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is likewise in better form with two Assen podiums and he won in Barcelona back in 2020, albeit not with Bautista on the Ducati. For those two, it was clear at Assen that attack is the only chance they have when they spoke after the Superpole Race, so could teamwork be seen? Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has a win in Barcelona and two other podiums at the track; ignore his poor form when it comes to a low-grip situation at Barcelona. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took a podium in 2022 in Barcelona, maybe he’ll have a say in the top three again?

Other riders who could figure towards the front include Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), who is third overall in the Championship and in mighty fine form with a podium at every circuit so far in 2023, although at the March test in Barcelona, ‘Loka’ wasn’t too far up the order. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) is fourth overall in the standings after a stellar start to the season but is yet to take the podium he “needs”; he led a race for the first time and finished second two years ago in Race 1 – what an achievement that’d be if he was to fight for victory this weekend. One rider who impressed at Assen was Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Swiss star very strong at the end of races, conserving tyre life for a late attack; if he repeats that in Barcelona, a track where tyre life will be the number one focus for all, he could repeat GRT’s podium success from 2022. That was with Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), and whilst 2022’s challenge is a different one, don’t be surprised if Gerloff gets his best result of 2023 so far this weekend.

ALTERNATIVE CHARGE FORWARDS: Vierge and Lecuona headline the chasers

It was a weekend to forget at Assen for Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) and teammate Iker Lecuona, with no Honda inside the top ten in either of the full races during a weekend for the first time since Magny-Cours, 2020. However, Barcelona is arguably their happiest of hunting grounds; strength in testing has always seen Lecuona feature inside the top three, whilst he took pole in 2022. Before that, it was Alvaro Bautista in 2020 who led a race before a monumental highside at Turn 4, whilst he took a podium in 2021. It’s Xavi Vierge’s home round and he’ll want to continue having the measure of his teammate, but both will hope to end the crashes that littered the Dutch round.

BMW’S WOES: a tough start and van der Mark out injured

Unequivocally, with the updates brought in 2023, BMW’s start to 2023 has been something of a far cry from what they’d have wanted. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is their top rider in 12^th place overall and on a run of five consecutive points-scoring finishes, with a best of P7 coming last time out at Assen in Race 2. Redding crashed out of the two main races in Barcelona last year and only took two points from the weekend with P8 in the Superpole Race. A tough time in testing at the track saw him 12^th, with BMW’s ability to put the power down at the circuit still an issue. However, they did test four different swingarms, so they’ll have plenty of data of which to use. They’ll also have a different rider on the second bike with Michael van der Mark out injured…

INDEPENDENT CHALLENGES: Petrucci and Gardner count on experience

Sitting seventh overall in the Championship and just three points behind incumbent factory Ducati rider Rinaldi, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) is having a solid debut season in WorldSBK and will be hoping that his MotoGP™ experience in Barcelona and tyre management could help him be in the hunt for his first WorldSBK podium – he enjoyed a MotoGP™ podium for Ducati in 2019 with third. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) could count Barcelona as a second home-round, having lived in Catalunya during the racing season. He won from pole position in the Moto2™ Grand Prix in 2021 and with a tenth and eighth at Assen in the full races, he enjoyed his best round in WorldSBK yet.

Other riders who go well in Barcelona are Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven), with the German a top six finisher there last year, whilst Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) aims for a first top ten of the season, having had a third place in Barcelona in 2020. Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha), Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) all got points last time out and will hope they can repeat it in Barcelona. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) just missed out on a first point of 2023 at Assen, whilst Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team) heads to a track he knows well. Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK) showed good potential at Assen, whilst Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing) readies for his second round of 2023. Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) will also be back in action and in quest for his first points of 2023.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

After the drama of the 2023 Dutch Round, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship moves west from the Netherlands to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round. WorldSBK, WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 will be in action along with the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship and it’s this that starts track action at 09:00 Local Time (GMT+2) on Friday. WorldSSP300 Free Practice 1 follows at 09:45 with WorldSBK at 10:30 and WorldSSP at 11:25. In the afternoon, WorldSSP300 Free Practice 2 gets underway at 14:15 followed by WorldSBK at 15:00 and WorldSSP at 16:00. The first racing action takes place on Saturday, with WorldSBK Free Practice 3 starting the day’s action at 09:00, followed by three Tissot Superpole sessions: WorldSSP300 at 09:45, WorldSSP at 10:25 and WorldSBK at 11:10. The racing action starts with WorldSSP300 Race 1 at 12:40, WorldSBK Race 1 at 14:00 and WorldSSP300 Race 1 at 15:15. On Sunday, three Warm Up sessions start the day from 09:00 before racing gets underway at 11:00 with the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race, followed by WorldSSP Race 2 at 12:30, WorldSBK Race 2 at 14:00 and WorldSSP300 at 15:15.

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Friday, 5^th May (all times Local Time, GMT+2)

09:00-09:30 – Yamaha R3 Championship Free Practice

09:45-10:15 – WorldSSP300 Free Practice 1

10:30-11:15 – WorldSBK Free Practice 1

11:25-12:10 – WorldSSP Free Practice 1

13:30-14:00 – Yamaha R3 Championship Superpole

14:15-14:45 – WorldSSP300 Free Practice 2

15:00-15:45 – WorldSBK Free Practice 2

16:00-16:45 – WorldSSP Free Practice 2

Saturday, 6^th May

09:00-09:30 – WorldSBK Free Practice 3

09:45-10:05 – WorldSSP300 Tissot Superpole

10:25-10:45 – WorldSSP Tissot Superpole

11:10-11:25 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole

11:45 – Yamaha R3 Championship Race 1 (11 laps)

12:40 – WorldSSP300 Race 1 (12 laps)

14:00 – WorldSBK Race 1 (20 laps)

15:15 – WorldSSP Race 1 (18 laps)

16:15 – Yamaha R3 Championship Race 2 (11 laps)

Sunday, 7^th May

09:00-09:15 – WorldSBK Warm Up

09:25-09:40 – WorldSSP Warm Up

09:50-10:05 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up

11:00 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race (10 laps)

12:30 – WorldSSP Race 2 (18 laps)

14:00 – WorldSBK Race 2 (20 laps)

15:15 – WorldSSP300 Race 2 (12 laps)

Source: WorldSBK.com

As the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship had a weekend away from the race circuit, Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was in action during the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez in the MotoGP™ World Championship. The Spaniard was deputising for the injured Marc Marquez in the Repsol Honda Team, something Lecuona hailed as the team of his childhood dreams ahead of action commencing on Thursday.

With there being no expectations, Lecuona took 18^th in his first MotoGP™ Sprint outing on Saturday afternoon after qualifying in 25th. On the opening lap of the Sprint, he had a collision with Augusto Fernandez but managed to stay on the bike. The Sprint was red-flagged after a multiple rider crash at Turn 2 involving Franco Morbidelli, Alex Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi. In Sunday’s Grand Prix, the race was red-flagged for another opening lap crash at Turn 2, this time involving Fabio Quartararo and Miguel Oliveira. Come the end of the race, Lecuona took 16^th, less than half a second from scoring points. 

Talking about the weekend, Lecuona said: “I’m really happy with the job, so thanks to the team for all the work they did. We improved every time I jumped on the bike, the feeling, pace and lap time. At the beginning, I was in the grip but after ten laps, I felt the first drop and missed the lap time a bit. I learnt a lot in the race to keep a good lap time and at the end of the race, I recovered a lot to get to Raul Fernandez. I think I needed half a lap to overtake him but to finish three tenths from a point… overall I am really happy!”

“After a year and a half away from this paddock, it’s hard to come back. It was my first time on this Honda, my first time with the new front tyres and my first time with many new things. I am really happy because run by run, I felt more comfortable and better on the bike. I need to be happy.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com