This weekend sees the end of an intense FIM CEV Repsol season in which 230 riders of 29 nationalities chose the championship as their route to success. No team wants to miss this final event of the season, as the crowded entry lists attest.
With the title already decided in favor of Quartararo (FRA-Honda) in Moto3™, there’s still plenty left in the balance. Over fifty riders will take to the track, many of whom have one foot already in the 2015 World Championship. Japanese riders Tatsuki Suzuki and Hiroki Ono, Italians Stefano Manzi and Andrea Migno, Argentina’s Gabriel Rodrigo, Spanish rider Jorge Navarro and reigning FIM CEV Repsol champion, Fabio Quartararo, have already confirmed their presence in this championship. But we shouldn’t lose sight of riders who have been going from strength to strength, such as the Australian Remy Gardner (AUS-KTM) – who was challenging for the top positions in the recently held FIM CEV Repsol event in Portugal – or the exciting Nicolo Bulega (ITA-KTM), as shown by his recent two consecutive podiums.
Moto2™ presents a similar picture: with Jesko Raffin already crowned champion, the battle for second place is hotter than ever. Oddly enough, it will be the two winners of the FIM CEV Repsol Moto2 races in Portugal – Florian Alt (GER-Kalex) and Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) – who will be battling it out for the honour of runner-up. But this weekend won’t see the end of the lively tussles between Jesko Raffin (SWI-Kalex) and Florian Alt (GER-Kalex): both will be sharing the track in the Moto2 World Championship next season. Whatever the outcome, they will be accompanied on the podium by Superstock 600 champion, Bertin Thibaut (FRA-Yamaha).
Uncertainty is the word that defines the current Superbike standings. Without a clear favorite, up to four riders have a mathematical chance of taking the title: Iván Silva (SPA-BMW), Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki), Santi Barragán (SPA-Kawasaki) and Carmelo Morales (SPA-Kawasaki). They will only have one chance, as there is only one race left in the calendar. The privateer riders will be responsible for adding an extra dose of excitement, since the championship will also be decided in this category.
The Kawasaki Z Cup riders will add the final touch to the day, with everything to ride for: three riders are in with a chance for the laurels. The chequered flag will decide if Joan Sandanyons, José Javier Jiménez or Francisco Javier Valera is proclaimed champion.
The race schedule for next Sunday is as follows:
11:00 Moto3 (18 laps)
12:00 Superbike (19 laps)
13:00 Moto2-Supertock 600 (19 laps)
14:00 Moto3 (18 laps)
15:00 Kawasaki Z Cup (18 laps)
As usual, entry to the paddock will be free on Sunday. In addition, the first FIM CEV Repsol fans on Sunday to go to the Accreditation Centre located in the access control booth can get a pass to take part in the Pit Lane walk which will take place before the start of racing.
Regarding television coverage, the following channels have confirmed they will broadcast some or all of the races live: the Movistar MotoGP channel of Movistar TV and the Energy TV channel of Mediaset Spain; Eurosport in France; Sky in Italy; and BT Sports in the UK. For all other countries, races can be seen live in English on the Championship’s Youtube channel.
All the results and information about the championship can be accessed on the official website: www.fimcevrepsol.com