Pata Honda returns to WSBK action in Spain
After an extended summer break of almost seven weeks, the 2015 World Superbike championship reignites this weekend (18-20 September) at Jerez in Spain with Pata Honda riders Sylvain Guintoli and Michael van der Mark eager to get back into action on their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP machines.
Guintoli went into the summer break in great form following round 10 of the series at Sepang in Malaysia. The 33-year-old French rider started the two races from the front row of the grid and followed up his impressive qualifying performance with two strong fourth place finishes, leaving him sixth in the overall points standings.
Van der Mark also performed well last time out and, although a recurring electrical issue halted his race one progress in Sepang, the 22-year-old SBK rookie from Rotterdam in the Netherlands was able to push hard to fifth place in race two and he lies seventh, just behind his team-mate, in the championship table.
A tighter and more technical circuit than Sepang, the 4.423km Jerez circuit in Andalucia in southern Spain was built in 1985 and has hosted World Superbike races since 2013. It will present its own individual challenges to the Pata Honda riders, particularly Guintoli who missed out on valuable testing time at Jerez in January after a heavy crash.
Both riders have been training hard and riding their Honda CRF450R motocross bikes during the summer months to remain as sharp as possible. Both are keen to stress, however, that nothing can replicate riding their CBR machines on track and Guintoli and van der Mark are excited at the prospect of getting back to action at Jerez on Friday morning.
Sylvain Guintoli
It’s a good job that riding the CBR is a bit like riding a bicycle – you don’t forget how to do it! I feel like I’ve been on a long winter break since the last round in Sepang, not a summer break. I’ve been able to do a bit of motocross on my CRF450R but it’s not the same and I’ve not been wanting to push too hard because it’s quite easy to get injured! So I’ve been doing lots of other normal training, riding the push-bike and running. Jerez is a really nice track and I had a couple of good results there last season. My last visit there at the beginning of this year wasn’t so good though because I got injured in a big crash, but I’m looking forward to going back there with the team. The last round in Sepang was really positive with good results in qualifyi ng and in the two races so I’m looking forward to getting back into that rhythm again as soon as we can.
Michael van der Mark
Of course, Jerez holds some very special memories for me because it’s one year since I won the World Supersport title there on the CBR600RR. It’s been a mixed first year learning to ride the Superbike with some good results but also some technical issues which have made things difficult sometimes. The guys have had some time back at the workshop since Sepang and I know they’ve been working hard at eliminating the problem. It’s been a long break for us all, but I’ve been training hard and riding some motocross. Now I’m ready to get back on the CBR and I’m really looking forward to riding again at Jerez. As Sylvain’s results also showed, the bike worked very well at Sepang which has not been a great circuit for us before, so we are optimistic for this weekend.
Pieter Breddels
We’ve spent the last few weeks working on a re-build of Mikey’s CBR and changing the layout of the electrical components. Basically, he had a problem in Sepang that has plagued him earlier in the season so we’ve addressed the issue completely and hopefully we can avoid any recurrence. We have also had a change in personnel on his side of the garage, so hopefully this will be a positive return for him to the circuit where he won his World Supersport title last season. Not very much has changed on Sylvain’s side but we’re just hoping we can pick up where we left off in Malaysia, which was a really positive weekend for him. A front row start and then two really solid results in the races made everyone happy going into the summer break and we’re looking forward to getting that feeling agai n in Jerez.
More, from a press release issued by Voltcom Crescent Suzuki:
Racing returns as Voltcom Crescent Suzuki heads to Jerez
The long summer break is finally over for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki as Alex Lowes and Randy de Puniet return to Spain this week for the 11th round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship on Sunday 20th September.
The previous round concluded at the start of August with a dramatic race day at the Sepang International Circuit, as Lowes was forced to bear the brunt of Max Biaggi’s first corner crash in the second race – his swift avoidance relegating him to the back of the pack and ensuring a determined fightback of mammoth proportions to take an eighth place finish – but the British racer, who turned 25 on Monday, is looking forward to getting his season back on track at the Jerez Circuit. The scene of consistent strong running on his Yoshimura-powered GSX-R during pre-season testing, Lowes is hoping the experience gained during July’s Suzuka 8Hour and Malaysia’s WSBK races will allow him to challenge the frontrunners in the Andalucían heat
De Puniet has raced at Jerez on 15 occasions during his MotoGP™ career, securing two 250cc podiums, and with two pre-season visits aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000 already under his belt, the Frenchman is looking forward to returning to the Spanish track as the World Championship heads into its trio of concluding races.
The 4,423m circuit is situated just 10kms outside of Jerez de la Frontera, in Andalucía’s southwest province of Cadiz. The fast and flowing layout has provided intense battles throughout its 13 corners since its re-introduction to the World Superbike Championship in 2013, due to the combination of multi-speed turns and directional changes, and remains a firm favourite with the attending fans.
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s campaign kicks off with the first of two free practice sessions at 11:15hrs local time (10:15BST) on Friday 18th September, with Sunday’s two 20-lap races scheduled for 10:30 and 13:10 (09:30 and 12:10BST).
Alex Lowes:
“I can’t wait to get back on my GSX-R and ride again at Jerez. For me the summer break is too long, especially with the ban on testing, so I am eager to get to Spain and start building on the progress made over the last few races. We have been solid recently and I hope to keep improving for the rest of the year. I have three weekends to do the best I can possibly do, and that is what I’m aiming for now!
“The track at Jerez is one we get to ride a lot with all the testing that goes on there! I really enjoy the layout, it has some great sweeping corners and a couple of hard-braking areas. The faster corners are better for me and the Suzuki but I will be working harder on getting in and out of the slower corners this year to make us more competitive.”
Randy de Puniet:
“Jerez was my first chance to ride the Superbike last year, during the pre-season, and the test was good. We also tested there at the beginning of this year which was also interesting, even if the bike was using the different electronic system. I like the track and the tests went well so I’m confident, because the last two race weekends before the summer break were much better with the bike feeling, especially the engine brake. We still have some improvements to make with the traction and wheelie control, especially for Jerez where this will be important, but I’m hoping to start the weekend with the same feeling I have had over the past few races and to continue the improvements.
“I have raced at Jerez all through my GP career from 1999-2013, with some good podiums and results so I have some good memories there. I like the track, especially the first few corners, turn five before the back straight, and the final two right-handers are very fast so it is always a fun track to ride and I’m looking forward to it!
“During the break I have done a lot of training, so I’m confident and ready to race again, it has been too long without racing and I am excited to get back on the bike. The last three races will be important for me so I really want to do well and I’m confident we can have some good results.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
THE WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP IS BACK AT JEREZ
APRILIA RIDERS HASLAM AND TORRES ARE ON THE TRACK LOOKING FOR PODIUM POSITIONS
IN SUPERSTOCK 1000 LORENZO SAVADORI COULD CLINCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Noale, 16 September 2015 – After a long summer break, the World Superbike Championship is back on the track at Jerez de la Frontera, the Spanish circuit that will be hosting this third last round of the 2015 season.
The Aprilia Racing – Red Devils riders are both strongly motivated and keen to get back on their RSV4 machines.
Leon Haslam has made it clear that his goal is to get back onto the podium after two races where he struggled more than usual. On the Spanish track Leon will be able to take advantage of the work done during the winter tests, partially hindered by foul weather but still useful for finding a starting point in terms of bike setup.
Spaniard Jordi Torres will be playing on his home pitch where an extra push is expected from his local fans, always ready with a warm welcome in Andalusia. The best rookie in the 2015 World Superbike Championship is coming off a nice podium in the Sepang Race 2, taken in difficult conditions, and he is banking on his RSV4’s characteristics to continue performing consistently.
Leon Haslam: “I’m really looking forward to Jerez, seven weeks is a really long time off my RSV4. Jerez is a track where we tested with Aprilia, so that makes me even more anxious to get started. After the disappointments in the last two rounds I can’t wait to put my Aprilia back on the podium.”
Jordi Torres: “Jerez is my home track and we have done a lot of testing here. After such a long break I’ll need to take care in the first session and get used to the speed again quickly so I can start working on the setup as soon as possible. After this long holiday I am really anxious to get back on the bike, especially at Jerez, a track that I like and where I’m confident that my Aprilia will do well. It is a technical and very physical track, but I’m sure the Spanish fans will help me to be as fast as possible.”
SUPERSTOCK 1000: FIRST MATCHPOINT FOR LORENZO SAVADORI
At Jerez de la Frontera the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup teams will also be back on the track. This is a championship which, with two rounds left to race, has Aprilia leading: the Team Nuova M2 RSV4 RF ridden by Lorenzo Savadori. With a 34 point lead over the closest contender, the rider from Cesena could clinch the championship title already on the Andalusian circuit.
Riding alongside Savadori will be team mate Kevin Calia and wildcard Alessandro Andreozzi, a contender for the Italian Superbike title.