WorldSBK Season Finale: a champion’s coronation & farewells aplenty at Jerez
The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, a staple in the WorldSBK calendar since 1990, has consistently delivered thrilling Superbike action. This year marks the first time since 2013 that the venue is hosting the season’s title-deciding and closing round.
Spain’s rich motorcycling heritage includes luminaries like Carlos Checa, the 2011 WorldSBK Champion, and Alvaro Bautista, the 2022 WorldSBK Champion and the current Championship leader, making Jerez a place where tradition and excellence converge.
JEREZ HOT SPOTS WITH AXEL BASSANI
T1/ « T1 is a nice first corner because in part of the braking zone you go uphill. It is a strong point of the track and also a good place for an overtake. It is an important corner to do correctly because immediately afterwards you have a little straight of 100 metres before the second corner and then you are on the brakes again. But you have to do T1 properly to have good speed arriving at T2.”
T6/ « You have to come out of T5 with a lot of speed to arrive at T6. You go downhill a bit to you have to concentrate where you start to brake. But it is like coming out of a hill, so the bike likes to wheelie. So, you have to manage that with the rear brake and still take good speed down the straight. T6 is a little, little corner – flat – where you have to brake hard, It is another good opportunity to overtake.”
T13/ « The last corner – I think it is the Jorge Lorenzo corner now? Very difficult because it is not easy to pick your point in the corner to close the throttle and brake. Why? You arrive from the previous right hand corner fast and you have to change direction. When you do that you also have to brake, so it is very easy to make a mistake. In the last lap of the race it is really important to stay inside the corner because if you have a rider behind you it is a good point for overtaking. So you have to manage the distance if you are in front, or you have the chance to overtake if you are behind. A really important corner. Sometimes you see a lot of crashes there, because there is a bump in the entry. So, it is again easy to lose the front. I think Jerez is a really good track, a lot of racing history and when you ride neatly there it is always nice.”
WorldSBK | KEY STAT
18
This year, Razgatlioglu has finished in 2nd place 18 times, setting a new season record, surpassing Jonathan Rea’s 16 times in 2019. In 2019, Rea finished second to Bautista 12 times, while this year, the Turkish rider finished second 16 times.
What to look out for in Jerez
As the 2023 World Superbike Championship season reaches its grand finale at Jerez, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. The stage is set for a thrilling climax, featuring the crowning of a Champion and bittersweet farewells. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), renowned for his remarkable history at Jerez with Ducati, including two wins in 2019, is merely two points away from securing the title. The Prometeon Spanish Round offers him a golden opportunity to be crowned as the Champion, with Saturday’s Race 1 holding the promise of glory.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), currently second in the Championship, and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), in third place, are prepared to challenge the Championship leader’s dominance. With two victories for Razgatlioglu and three wins for Rea on this historic circuit, their past performances at Jerez suggest that this race could yield the unexpected.
However, this Round isn’t just about titles; it’s also a poignant moment for several riders who are bidding farewell to their current teams. Toprak Razgatlioglu is set to make a switch to BMW in 2024, leaving his mark at Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK. Jonathan Rea is also embarking on a new adventure with Yamaha, leaving behind a remarkable legacy with the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, where the pair clinched six WorldSBK titles together. Additionally, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), and Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) are all in the midst of transitions on the eve of the 2024 season.
This season finale at Jerez promises a blend of high-stakes racing, farewells, and a shot at Championship glory, making it an unforgettable event for WorldSBK fans.
