Tag Archives: WSBK 2021

Toprak takes first blood in Mandalika over Jonny

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 13 Indonesia, Mandalika


After day one at the all-new track, it was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) who set the benchmark in both FP1 and FP2, the Turk looking to build on a successful Friday to clinch the Championship and defeat Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Both riders are in the fight for the title, and it could be the battle we’ve been hoping for.

Razgatlioglu got down to a strong pace straight away, despite being a little bit late to his pit box at the start of the session. However, he was unflappable and unstoppable, taking to the circuit and going quicker than his morning time, before concluding the day on top with a 1’34.230. On fine form at a brand-new track, Razgatlioglu stole a march and is the firm favourite going into the remainder of the weekend, just under two tenths clear having sported a 1.5s advantage in the morning. On the other side of the garage and aiming to end his rookie season well, Andrea Locatelli did many laps with Razgatlioglu as he set about learning the circuit and was inside the top three for most of the session before finishing eighth overall.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – P1

Today we start very fast! Also, I’m feeling very good and I like this track, it is fun to ride. I’m very happy for this last race of the year also because Indonesia is a Muslim country and the feeling is a little like home, I’m really happy for this! Now, I’m feeling that we are ready to race, but we will see tomorrow, I try again, I’m fighting again. We will see, everybody is fast, everybody improves and they will also try their best, but tomorrow we only try to win.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

After losing more than 20 minutes in the pits in FP1 during the morning, Jonathan Rea was out to make amends in FP2 and the afternoon session. The Ulsterman, fighting for a seventh successive title but 30 points down on Championship leader Razgatlioglu in the standings, had a much stronger FP2 session and led sporadically in the opening stages. However, he was demoted soon after but remained a solid feature inside the top three, chipping away in each sector and making incremental improvements to finish second overall.

Jonathan Rea – P2

The track is nice, the layout is nice, but it is just quite dirty out there, especially off line. FP2 was a big step compared to FP1 with a lot of rubber laid down. The layout is very good and it has a different character. The last corner is a bit like Termas in Argentina. T1 feels almost like Donington. Turn Two to Three is like a smaller version of Misano T1 and T2. The middle sectors are really fast and they are where you make the lap time. If the bike is working a little bit better then you carry all that speed through. I spent more than half the session in the pitbox this morning which had a knock-on effect to learn the track. But in FP2 I think we did a positive job to find a good rhythm and the bike is working OK. There is still margin to improve in some areas, so I am quite optimistic to fight tomorrow in Race One.

Jonathan Rea

Back in action and returning from injury, teammate Alex Lowes finished day in seventh despite an early fall at Turn 2 and hopes to help his teammate out throughout the weekend.


Alex Lowes – P7

The plan was to get as many laps in as possible at this new circuit. We managed to achieve that. In the afternoon we did plenty of laps and we tried a couple of things working with the tyre options. The front tyre seemed to be a little bit critical on tyre wear but this afternoon it was a little bit better. As the track improves, in terms of more rubber being laid down, the grip will be a bit better. The layout of the track is really good and it is enjoyable to ride. The section from Turn Three all the way to Turn Ten has a lot of changes of direction. It’s a relatively fast section, which is good fun to ride. For a first day it has been really good. I am really happy to be here in the Mandalika Circuit and I’m looking forward to some improvements tomorrow.

Alex Lowes

The battle for top Independent is to be fought this weekend and currently leading the fight by 14 points, Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was back to his old self, inside the top three throughout the day and finishing third come the chequered flag at the end of the afternoon. However, Gerloff hasn’t got the battle won just yet, as Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) had a strong opening day. The rookie Italian is in good form and finished the day in tenth overall. Come the races, it promises to be an intriguing battle.

Garrett Gerloff – P3

Awesome Friday here at Mandalika. The track was a bit dirty this morning, but it soon cleaned up and in the second session it had a lot of grip. It seems like this circuit was made on purpose for our Yamaha R1, and everything is working really well. We made some setup changes too today, taking a little bit of a different direction, and I really like them. I think we have a strong package for tomorrow. I am excited to come back in the morning and see what happens.”

Garrett Gerloff

It was a strong session for Honda as Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) blasted up the order in the closing stages of FP2 to go fourth, having been sixth in FP1. It wasn’t the most straightforward day for the Spaniard though, as he had technical problems at the start. He was in fine form though, with a strong time at the end of FP2 putting him as one of the front-runners.

Alvaro Bautista – P4

Riding at Mandalika is a lot of fun, the track offering a bit of everything, with strong braking and fast corners. There are still a couple of places where I don’t have a clear idea of the best reference points, but generally it’s a fun track. This morning we lacked a little grip, especially through turn one and another couple of corners, but the conditions gradually improved and we were able to set some good times in the afternoon. We worked on the gearbox and the feeling was positive, and we have two rear tyres for the race but choosing is difficult right now because the track will definitely change again tomorrow. It’s just a shame I didn’t digest my food well between sessions, as this left me with stomachache both during FP2 and afterwards when I got off the bike. Stomachache and a headache that I hope will disappear quickly after some rest so that I can be one hundred percent tomorrow and ready to take full advantage of this enjoyable track with our bike“.

Alvaro Bautista

Teammate Leon Haslam reiterated Honda’s strengths, finishing in sixth overall. Both riders will leave the team after the weekend, with Bautista heading back to the factory Ducati team, whilst Haslam’s future is to be confirmed.

Leon Haslam – P6

The situation with my shoulder is frustrating because it looks like the circuit suits the Honda and I’m really enjoying the track, but I need to be able to make 21 laps and not just one. Unfortunately I’m in some pain after surgery, so we need to make a plan with the Clinica to see how we can manage the situation this weekend. That said, today’s lap times aren’t bad, and we’re just a few tenths from the front, time that I think we’re losing through the last two corners. So I feel competitive over most of the lap and now we’ll see what we can do tomorrow. The layout and flow of the circuit is great, and the Honda likes this kind of track as I’ve said, so it can be an exciting and enjoyable one for us, shoulder depending”.

Leon Haslam

Fifth place went to Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), with the British rider having a solid but unassuming start to his Pirelli Indonesian Round. Redding was outside of the top ten going into the final stint of the session but put together some strong times to elevate himself up the order. He leads Ducati’s charge this weekend, as the Italian manufacturer are just 16 points behind Yamaha in the manufacturers’ Championship standings. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was 11th overall and will aim to find something to put himself back into the mix for the rest of the round.

Top BMW honours went to Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with the Dutchman coming to what is a second-home round, with him having Indonesian heritage. Van der Mark took ninth overall and was a feature inside the top ten at various points, something that shows good signs on Friday for someone who hasn’t always been in the top half of the leaderboard after day one. Teammate Tom Sykes returns for his final weekend of racing in the team, with his future also unconfirmed. The 2013 World Champion took 13th overall as he bedded himself back in, although he did suffer a crash at Turn 6 in FP1. Both BMWs hope to end their season strongly, with it being the M 1000 RR’s first in WorldSBK.

One of the bigger surprises during Indonesia’s opening day was Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), with the Spaniard coming on strongly and even featuring inside the top three at points through FP1. Finishing 12th overall, he was the best Independent Kawasaki, less than three quarters of a second behind Razgatlioglu’s top time. Next Independent was Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who was likewise looking good, ahead of Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven). The Welshman is in his swansong weekend and was 15th on day one, ahead of Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team), Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport Yamaha) and Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team) and Oliver Konig (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) brought up the rear, with Konig finding more than four seconds compared to his FP1 time, following a crash at Turn 2.

WorldSBK Combined Friday Practice Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 1m34.230
2 J. Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.174
3 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +0.225
4 A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R +0.230
5 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.349
6 L. Haslam Honda CBR1000 RR-R +0.371
7 A. Lowes Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.528
8 A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 +0.647
9 M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR +0.708
10 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.724
11 M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.727
12 I.  Vinales Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.742
13 T. Sykes BMW M 1000 RR +1.181
14 K. Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 +1.186
15 C. Davies Ducati Panigale V4 R +1.206
16 L. Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R   IN +1.361
17 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +1.407
18 T. Rabat Kawasaki ZX-10RR +1.620
19 S. Cavalieri Ducati Panigale V4 R +1.706
20 O. Konig Kawasaki ZX-10RR +4.692

WorldSBK Championship Points

Pos Rider Man. Points
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu Yamaha 531
2 Jonathan Rea Kawasaki 501
3 Scott Redding Ducati 465
4 Michael Ruben Rinaldi Ducati 278
5 Andrea Locatelli Yamaha 270
6 Michael Van Der Mark BMW 236
7 Alex Lowes Kawasaki 213
8 Garrett Gerloff Yamaha 213
9 Axel Bassani Ducati 199
10 Alvaro Bautista Honda 180
11 Tom Sykes BMW 167
12 Leon Haslam Honda 134
13 Chaz Davies Ducati 131
14 Kohta Nozane Yamaha 54
15 Loris Baz Ducati 53
16 Tito Rabat Kawasaki 50
17 Lucas Mahias Kawasaki 44
18 Eugene Laverty BMW 40
19 Isaac Vinales Kawasaki 35
20 Christophe Ponsson Yamaha 31
21 Leandro Mercado Honda 26
22 Jonas Folger BMW 21
23 Samuele Cavalieri Ducati 12
24 Marvin Fritz Yamaha 6
25 Loris Cresson Kawasaki 3
26 Andrea Mantovani Kawasaki 2
27 Luke Mossey Kawasaki 2

World Supersport

Krummenacher left it late in the second 45-minute session to go to the top of the timesheets as he posted a 1’36.726s, finishing 0.182s clear of his nearest rivals to post the fastest time of the day; with every rider setting their best lap time in the afternoon after the first morning session. Krummernacher’s Swiss compatriot, Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was second with a 1’36.908s; the two Swiss riders the only riders in the 1’36s bracket. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claimed third place as the lead Kawasaki rider, more than three tenths away from Krummenacher’s pace.

Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) had set the fastest time in Free Practice 1 and had been at the top of the timesheets throughout FP2 before being overhauled by Krummenacher, Aegerter and De Rosa, eventually claiming fourth place. Federico Caricasulo (VFT Racing), competing for his third team in 2021, claimed fifth place ahead of his former teammate, Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha), who rounded out the top six. Caricasulo had a technical issue and a crash at the end of the first session.

WorldSBK-bound Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) found plenty of time to move into seventh place in the combined classification, with Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) in eighth. Finnish rider Tuuli lost some track time in FP1 as he looked to take to the track, but responded in both sessions to claim eighth place. South African rider Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. Yamaha WorldSSP Team) claimed ninth place ahead of teammate Peter Sebestyen in tenth.

Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 11th in the combined standings as the Turkish rider looked to get off to a strong start at the new venue, with Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) in 12th. Debise had a crash in FP1 after a highside at Turn 5, but he was able to re-join the circuit following his crash.

Spanish rider Unai Orradre (Yamaha MS Racing) claimed 13th place, eight tenths away from Debise, as his adjustment to WorldSSP continues following a mid-season step up from WorldSSP300. Finland’s Vertti Takala (Kallio Racing) was 14th with Swedish rider Christoffer Bergman (Wojick Racing Team) rounding out the top 15.

Estonian rider Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) was 16th ahead of home hero Galang Hendra Pratama (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) in 17th; the Indonesian just 0.010s away from Soomer as well as a tenth clear of Andres Gonzalez (VFT Racing) as he returned to WorldSSP following his debut last time out in Argentina. Daniel Valle (Yamaha MS Racing) is another returning rider and he finished in 19th place, ahead of Dutch duo Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) and Jeffrey Buis (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti); van Straalen having a highside in the closing stages of FP2 at the Turn 2 and 3 complex.

WorldSSP Combined Friday Practice Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 R. Krummenacher Yamaha YZF R6 1m36.726
2 D. Aegerter Yamaha YZF R6 +0.182
3 R. De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.362
4 M. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 +0.513
5 F. Caricasulo Yamaha YZF R6 +0.537
6 J. Cluzel Yamaha YZF R6 +0.658
7 P. Oettl Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.866
8 N. Tuuli MV Agusta F3 675 +0.891
9 S. Odendaal Yamaha YZF R6 +1.124
10 P. Sebestyen Yamaha YZF R6 +1.195
11 C. Oncu Kawasaki ZX-6R +1.245
12 V. Debise Yamaha YZF R6 +1.339
13 U. Orradre Yamaha YZF R6 +2.145
14 V. Takala Yamaha YZF R6 +2.281
15 C. Bergman Yamaha YZF R6 +2.328
16 H. Soomer Yamaha YZF R6 +3.218
17 G. Hendra Pratama Yamaha YZF R6 +3.228
18 A. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 +3.349
19 D. Valle Yamaha YZF R6 +3.382
20 G. Van Straalen Yamaha YZF R6 +3.425
21 J. Buis Kawasaki ZX-6R +4.442

WorldSSP Championship Points

Pos Riders Man. Points
1 Dominique Aegerter Yamaha 381
2 Steven Odendaal Yamaha 313
3 Manuel Gonzalez Yamaha 275
4 Jules Cluzel Yamaha 241
5 Philipp Oettl Kawasaki 241
6 Can Alexander Oncu Kawasaki 163
7 Luca Bernardi Yamaha 161
8 Federico Caricasulo Yamaha 142
9 Randy Krummenacher Yamaha 140
10 Raffaele De Rosa Kawasaki 137
11 Niki Tuuli Mv Agusta 120
12 Hannes Soomer Yamaha 89
13 Peter Sebestyen Yamaha 64
14 Christoffer Bergman Yamaha 47
15 Marc Alcoba Yamaha 40
16 Vertti Takala Yamaha 38
17 Kevin Manfredi Yamaha 36
18 Marcel Brenner Yamaha 35
19 Valentin Debise Yamaha 29
20 Glenn Van Straalen Yamaha 28
21 Galang Hendra Pratama Yamaha 24
22 Simon Jespersen Yamaha 22
23 Yari Montella Yamaha 16
24 Andy Verdoia Yamaha 14
25 Sheridan Morais Yamaha 13
26 David Sanchis Martinez Yamaha 12
27 Patrick Hobelsberger Yamaha 11
28 Loic Arbel Yamaha 10
29 Stephane Frossard Yamaha 10
30 Leonardo Taccini Yamaha 9
31 Stefano Manzi Yamaha 7
32 Matteo Patacca Yamaha 7
33 Maria Herrera Yamaha 7
34 Unai Orradre Yamaha 7
35 Federico Fuligni Yamaha 7

Pirelli Indonesian Round 13 Schedule

Saturday November 20, 2021
Time Class Event
12:00 WorldSBK FP3

13:25

WorldSSP Superpole
14:10 WorldSBK Superpole
16:30 WorldSSP Race
18:00 WorldSBK Race 1
Sunday November 21, 2021
12:00 WorldSBK WUP
12:25 WorldSSP WUP
14:00 WorldSBK Superpole Race
16:30 WorldSSP Race 2
18:00 WorldSBK Race 2

Source: MCNews.com.au

Toprak versus Jonny WorldSBK Title final showdown looms

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 13 Indonesia, Mandalika

From Friday 19th to Sunday 21st November 2021, the Circuit of Mandalika, located on the Indonesian island of Lombok in Indonesia, will host the final round of the 2021 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship. The track is 4.310 Kilometres long and includes seventeen turns, of which eleven are to the right and six to the left, on top of a start-finish straight 507 metres long.

35 races, 12 circuits, five different winners but only one thing to left to decide: who will be crowned champion?  The final round of a sensational season is on the horizon, with all the twists and turns up to this point making for a grand finale.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) leads the way into the Pirelli Indonesian Round.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is second, 30 points adrift but has three races to keep his crown for a seventh straight season in what would be one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever seen.

In a rivalry that has raged all season, this is the final hurdle: Razgatlioglu vs Rea and the showdown that’s been on everyone’s lips.

It’s been a phenomenal season of racing, but Toprak Razgatlioglu has raised the bar; despite not winning until the ninth race of 2021, he’s has racked up 13 wins and an astounding 28 podiums. He’s cemented himself as the rider to beat but the results are just the fruit of his hard work, as well as his never-give-in attitude. Never knowing when he’s beaten and fighting with resilient spirit, the 25-year-old Turk is on the verge of becoming World Champion, the first for Yamaha since Ben Spies in 2009. Will Toprak and indeed Turkey hold on for a first WorldSBK crown?

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

I am happy to be in Indonesia now, it is always interesting to come to a new track. Already I see some photos and videos of the layout and it looks fun to ride. It has been a great season with many big fights, many victories. Now we have three more chances to fight again for the win, and we will work in every session to find the best set-up for the races and always improve. This is my only idea, try to win and enjoy the races. After we will see the final result, but my focus will stay the same – to fight race by race!”

His team-mate, Andrea Locatelli – already rookie of the year – hopes to get fourth overall in the standings, being just eight points behind Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), whilst also aiming to help Toprak to the title and Yamaha to the Manufacturers’ Championship, as they lead Ducati by 16 points.

Andrea Locatelli

Fortunately, it’s time to go back on track after waiting one month from Argentina! Now we have the last chance, the last round, and I’m so happy to try and conclude the season in the best way possible. For sure, it is important to learn the new track immediately and try to push the bike on the limit to finish with more positive results. It’s not easy, as I’ve said before it’s my first year, and every time when I come back to the bike after a big gap I need to spend a bit of time to return the “feeling” so it’s important to get this feeling immediately to try to push. It’s another important weekend for us and also the team, but we are ready to fight and try to close the season well!”

At Kawasaki, there’s still a chance of retaining the crown. Jonathan Rea’s season started strongly with a 100th win in WorldSBK at Aragon and he, like Toprak, has demonstrated great consistency and has won 11 races and also taken 28 podiums. However, costly errors at Donington Park, Most and notably Portimao, have put Rea on the backfoot. Despite this, Rea remains in touch and is in a position to pounce if Razgatlioglu can’t capitalise. Rea’s never been in this position before and the 34-year-old Ulsterman will do everything in his power to keep the crown.

Jonathan Rea

After a few weeks at home preparing, I’m very excited to go to Mandalika and get the last round of the championship underway. I’m curious to see the circuit for the first time. First impressions from images I’ve found of it are great. It looks like a circuit that will suit the strengths of our ZX10-RR. We will work hard on Friday to learn the circuit and fine tune our settings. We will arrive there 30 points behind in the championship battle but we will fight to the end. I feel all the pressure is off now; I can ride free with nothing to lose and the target is clear. With three points scoring opportunities lying ahead I will give 100% to get the maximum possible.”

Team-mate Alex Lowes will be wingman, as he hopes to back-up Rea as both aim to give Kawasaki an opportunity of retaining their Manufacturers’ title. Lowes himself has a chance of sixth overall, 23 points behind Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team).


Alex Lowes

It’s the final race of 2021 and it’s been a frustrating year for me. I’m sure my speed with the ZX-10RR has definitely improved but I haven’t been 100% fit at all this season. We made the decision after Argentina to have some surgery, considering the long break we’ve had in the race action. Now the target is to be in better condition and finish the year strongly as we are already building for 2022. Mandalika is a brand new circuit and Indonesia is a country where the fans have a great passion for two wheels. Both of these reasons are why I’m so happy to be going there and I’m excited to get started. It would be great to finish the season on that podium.

With the Riders’ Championship not featuring a Ducati rider, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) may well be the one who can ride at ease the most. He’s currently third in the standings, something that at the bare minimum he will hold on to, but he’s also not too far away from Rea to take second. 36-points is the gap between Rea and Redding, meaning Rea has to score two more points than Redding in Race 1 to lock the Englishman out.

Redding and team-mate Michael Ruben Rinaldi have the job of keep Yamaha honest in the Manufacturers’ Championship too and may be the spoilers at the front and amidst the title battle. Redding hopes to leave Ducati on a high and win races, whilst Rinaldi looks to secure fourth overall, a respectable result after his first year in the factory team.

Whilst the battle for fourth is mainly a two-horse race, Michael van der Mark has a mathematical chance of snatching it in his first year aboard the all-new BMW M 1000 RR. 42 points back, van der Mark can’t achieve that fourth place without podiums but with a threat of rain looming large, the 29-year-old Dutchman is a contender.

Michael van der Mark

It’s fantastic to go to Indonesia. It’s nice to have a new circuit on the calendar, especially in Asia. I love to go there. It’s also incredible that it’s the last round of the season already. I cannot wait to try the Mandalika circuit because it looks really nice from what I have seen. Getting to know a new track is not too difficult; it comes with doing the laps. I think that it will be a great season finale. We had some strong weekends this year and obviously that’s the same way we want to finish the season.”

Coming back for what could be his final round in WorldSBK, with no clear future on the horizon, Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) aims to sign off his three years at BMW well and take advantage of a neutral track, something which could see both BMWs fighting for good positions. BMW have one hand on fourth overall in the Manufacturers’ standings, something they aim to consolidate in Race 1.

Tom Sykes

I’m very much looking forward to getting back on my BMW M 1000 RR. It has been a long time since I last raced and obviously we have a little bit of work to do to catch up. But having said that, I have to say that the excitement of going to a totally new venue is quite something, not only because Indonesia is a great part of the world. Everybody looks to be doing an incredible job on the new circuit of Mandalika. What a unique venue – to say the least. On top of that, it is located on a beautiful island so I am really looking forward to it. It is new for everybody and I have to say that it is going to be a little bit of a way to finish the season, but that’s another story. In general, it’s a great place to finish the season, and hopefully we can finish it with some strong results to end 2021.

Team HRC head to Indonesia after announcing their 2022 line-up of Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge. Current riders Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) and team-mate Leon Haslam hope to end their season on a high; Bautista comes into the round after a tricky San Juan, but the bike has had podiums in 2021. The Spaniard’s final weekend with Team HRC will see him hope that a good showing proves that two years of development paid off. Bautista can snatch ninth place from Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) in the title and has a mathematical chance of seventh overall, making Mandalika vital.

Alvaro Bautista

I am very excited for the last race of the year. It’s been around a month since the last round, which is a bit too long really, but I’ve had chance to spend some time with my family after a very intense period this summer. I’ve also been able to train well in recent weeks in preparation for a track that is new to everyone. I’m looking forward to going to Indonesia because there is a great passion for our sport there and a lot of fans. It is always exciting to discover a new track. I have seen some videos and it looks to be a great new track. I think it’s a good opportunity to enjoy the end of the season. On Friday we will focus on finding our references, both in terms of the riding and technically speaking, and we’ll need to work quickly so that we’re as prepared as possible for the races. I would like to finish the season with a good result for Honda so hopefully we can be fast and competitive in Indonesia.”

Team-mate Haslam hasn’t got anything signed for 2022, so like Sykes, this weekend has the potential to be his last one. Regardless, the ‘Pocket Rocket’ aims to build on four top ten results in the last six races to fend off Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) who is just three points behind.

Leon Haslam

I’m really looking forward to Indonesia, for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a new track for everyone, which makes things exciting. It’s also the last round of the championship of course, as well as my final event with Honda. The new circuit looks like a fantastic place so I hope we can all enjoy it, and from what I’ve seen, I think the Honda might go well there too, around what is a more flowing layout. I’ve recently had shoulder surgery, so fingers crossed I’m in good shape as it would be really great to bid farewell to 2021 in a positive fashion, finishing the season on a high.”

As well as all the excitement in the factory teams, the battle for the Best Independent rider is still on and is tightening; Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) leads the way by 14 points from Axel Bassani, but the rookie Italian is snapping at the American’s heals. Bassani was in the podium battle in San Juan and will hope to capitalise at the new Mandalika venue.

Bassani is also in contention for a top seven overall, with Gerloff tied on points with Alex Lowes. Behind Bassani is Chaz Davies in 13th overall, having missed two rounds through injury. This will be Davies’ last weekend in WorldSBK, with the British rider hoping to end a career that’s seen him win 32 races and finish runner-up three times in WorldSBK in style.

Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is 14th overall as he faces the final round of his rookie season, four points ahead of Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).

WorldSBK Championship Points

Pos Rider Man. Points
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu Yamaha 531
2 Jonathan Rea Kawasaki 501
3 Scott Redding Ducati 465
4 Michael Ruben Rinaldi Ducati 278
5 Andrea Locatelli Yamaha 270
6 Michael Van Der Mark BMW 236
7 Alex Lowes Kawasaki 213
8 Garrett Gerloff Yamaha 213
9 Axel Bassani Ducati 199
10 Alvaro Bautista Honda 180
11 Tom Sykes BMW 167
12 Leon Haslam Honda 134
13 Chaz Davies Ducati 131
14 Kohta Nozane Yamaha 54
15 Loris Baz Ducati 53
16 Tito Rabat Kawasaki 50
17 Lucas Mahias Kawasaki 44
18 Eugene Laverty BMW 40
19 Isaac Vinales Kawasaki 35
20 Christophe Ponsson Yamaha 31
21 Leandro Mercado Honda 26
22 Jonas Folger BMW 21
23 Samuele Cavalieri Ducati 12
24 Marvin Fritz Yamaha 6
25 Loris Cresson Kawasaki 3
26 Andrea Mantovani Kawasaki 2
27 Luke Mossey Kawasaki 2

WSBK Manufacturer Standings

Pos Man. Points
1 YAMAHA 574
2 DUCATI 558
3 KAWASAKI 520
4 BMW 289
5 HONDA 235

WorldSSP

Just one round remains in what has been an incredible WorldSSP campaign, with plenty to fight for up and down the grid

After 12 thrilling rounds in the FIM Supersport World Championship, the last dance of 2021 takes place at the Pertamina Mandalika Internacional Street Circuit as WorldSSP action returns to Indonesia for the Pirelli Indonesian Round. The battle for the Championship has been sown up but there is still plenty to fight for up and down the grid including the battle for the Championship ‘podium’ places behind Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha).

While Aegerter was able to wrap up his first World Championship with a round to spare last time out in Race 2 at San Juan, meaning Indonesia is his first round as a World Champion, the battle for second and third is still on across the season-ending Indonesian Round. Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) is currently occupying second place in the Championship with 313 points and will be hoping he can withstand the challenge from Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) to maintain that position, with Gonzalez 38 points back with 50 available.

Both Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) and Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) have a chance of securing a top three Championship position too, with both on 241 points; 34 points behind Gonzalez. Cluzel has been in a rich vein of form since WorldSSP visited Portimao, claiming three victories, including a double win at San Juan, and one second place in the last four races. Oettl, who will graduate to WorldSBK in 2022 with Team GoEleven, will hope he can return to the rostrum after not visiting the podium since Jerez. His best result in the last four races has been eighth in Race 2 at Portimao.

One rider heading into the season-ending Indonesian Round has been Turkish star Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) with two podiums in Argentina on his first visit to the venue. While he dropped back from Cluzel at around the halfway stage of the opening race at San Juan, in Race 2 Öncü was able to stay with the Frenchman right until the closing stages as he challenged for his first victory in WorldSSP. At a venue where everyone starts from zero, could Öncü claim his first WorldSSP victory at Mandalika?

Just five points separate three riders in a battle for eighth place with all three riders able to fight for the podium throughout 2021. Federico Caricasulo will be with his third team of the 2021 campaign as he links up with VFT Racing for the final round of the season and currently heads this battle in eighth place, with the Italian on 142 points.

Just two points behind is 2019 Champion Randy Krummenacher (CM Racing), who has been confirmed for the 2022 season with the same outfit. Krummenacher has been able to fight for strong results following a mid-season switch to CM Racing and will be hoping this allows him to overhaul Caricasulo for eighth place. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) is the last of the trio but only three points behind Krummenacher and a further two behind Caricasulo. After a string of top-ten results, including two podiums from Race 2 at Navarra to Race 1 at Portimao, De Rosa’s run ended with 14th in Race 2 at Portimao and two retirements in Argentina. He will be hoping to get back into a strong position in order to claim eighth place in the Championship.

Like in Argentina, Jeffrey Buis will compete for G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti in his second WorldSSP round, and he will also remain with the team for the 2022 season. At Yamaha MS Racing, Daniel Valle returns for his fourth appearance of the season in the Championship, while Andres Gonzalez is back with VFT Racing after making his WorldSSP debut in Argentina with the same squad. Christoffer Bergman (Wojick Racing Team) will need to pass mandatory medical checks in order to compete after he was declared unfit in Portugal and missed racing in Argentina.

WorldSSP Championship Points

Pos Riders Man. Points
1 Dominique Aegerter Yamaha 381
2 Steven Odendaal Yamaha 313
3 Manuel Gonzalez Yamaha 275
4 Jules Cluzel Yamaha 241
5 Philipp Oettl Kawasaki 241
6 Can Alexander Oncu Kawasaki 163
7 Luca Bernardi Yamaha 161
8 Federico Caricasulo Yamaha 142
9 Randy Krummenacher Yamaha 140
10 Raffaele De Rosa Kawasaki 137
11 Niki Tuuli Mv Agusta 120
12 Hannes Soomer Yamaha 89
13 Peter Sebestyen Yamaha 64
14 Christoffer Bergman Yamaha 47
15 Marc Alcoba Yamaha 40
16 Vertti Takala Yamaha 38
17 Kevin Manfredi Yamaha 36
18 Marcel Brenner Yamaha 35
19 Valentin Debise Yamaha 29
20 Glenn Van Straalen Yamaha 28
21 Galang Hendra Pratama Yamaha 24
22 Simon Jespersen Yamaha 22
23 Yari Montella Yamaha 16
24 Andy Verdoia Yamaha 14
25 Sheridan Morais Yamaha 13
26 David Sanchis Martinez Yamaha 12
27 Patrick Hobelsberger Yamaha 11
28 Loic Arbel Yamaha 10
29 Stephane Frossard Yamaha 10
30 Leonardo Taccini Yamaha 9
31 Stefano Manzi Yamaha 7
32 Matteo Patacca Yamaha 7
33 Maria Herrera Yamaha 7
34 Unai Orradre Yamaha 7
35 Federico Fuligni Yamaha 7
36 Filippo Fuligni Yamaha 6
37 Michel Fabrizio Kawasaki 6
38 Max Enderlein Yamaha 5
39 Roberto Mercandelli Yamaha 5
40 Hikari Okubo Kawasaki 4
41 Massimo Roccoli Yamaha 4
42 Luca Grunwald Suzuki 3
43 Ondrej Vostatek Yamaha 3
44 Daniel Valle Yamaha 2
45 Jeffrey Buis Kawasaki 1
46 Ludovic Cauchi Yamaha 1
47 Oscar Gutierrez Iglesias Yamaha 1
48 Luca Ottaviani Kawasaki 1
49 Davide Pizzoli Yamaha 1
50 Pawel Szkopek Yamaha 1

2021 WorldSBK Calendar

Date Track SBK SS600 SS300
21-23 May Aragón (Spain) X X
28-30 May Estoril (Portugal) X X  –
11-13 Jun Misano (Italy) X X
2-4 Jul Donington Park (UK) X    
23-25 Jul Assen (Netherlands) X X
06-08 Aug Autodrom Most (Czech) X X X
20-22 Aug Navarra (Spain) X X  
3-5 Sep Magny-Cours (France) X X
17-19 Sep Catalunya (Spain) X X X
24-26 Sep Jerez (Spain) X
1-3 Oct Portimao (Portugal) X X
15-17 Oct San Juan Villicum (Argentina) X X  
12-14 Nov Mandalika*** (Indonesia) X X  

Round 13 Indonesia Schedule

Friday November 19, 2021
Time Class Event
13:00 WorldSSP FP1
14:00 WorldSBK FP1
17:00 WorldSSP FP2
18:00 WorldSBK FP2
Saturday November 20, 2021
12:00 WorldSBK FP3

13:25

WorldSSP Superpole
14:10 WorldSBK Superpole
16:30 WorldSSP Race
18:00 WorldSBK Race 1
Sunday November 21, 2021
12:00 WorldSBK WUP
12:25 WorldSSP WUP
14:00 WorldSBK Superpole Race
16:30 WorldSSP Race 2
18:00 WorldSBK Race 2

Source: MCNews.com.au

Toprak tops Friday proceedings in Argentina as Rea goes down

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 12 – Circuito San Juan Villicum, San Juan


The 2021 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship’s penultimate round saw an action-packed first day of the Motul Argentinean round from the Circuito San Juan Villicum.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) dominated day one ahead of Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), whilst title rival Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) crashed hard at turn six with around 30 minutes to go, missing the remainder of the session.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

We start this morning and, you know, I clean the track… we are all cleaning the track! And also, it was a good lap time this morning, the feeling was good. This afternoon we try a race simulation and it was also very positive and I am happy with my R1. Now we are ready to race, the race is always difficult but I will try my best again to be fighting for the win. Thanks to my team because this afternoon we made a good set up for my bike and we are happy, but we will see tomorrow!”

Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea

As the temperature rose, it was a strong showing from Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who was inside the top four for most of FP2 whilst team-mate Scott Redding was also in the mix in fifth. Heading out in the final ten minutes of the session Redding improved, as did Rinaldi. Redding went second with less than a minute to go whilst Rinaldi maintain his fourth position.

Scott Redding

I’m satisfied with what we did today, as it was my first time on this circuit. I have to say that I had a lot of fun because the track is really nice. We worked on the tyres ahead of tomorrow’s race and got some important data. Maybe in Race 1, I’ll struggle more than the others who have already raced here but the sensations are really positive“.

Scott Redding
Michael Rinaldi

It was a positive day, not only for fourth place but also for the fact that we are all very close. Unfortunately, after the crash at Portimao I still have a lot of pain in my ankle and I can’t use the rear brake properly. Obviously, this is a limitation but I will try to find other solutions tomorrow that will help me in breaking areas“.

Michael Rinaldi

Top independent honours also went to Ducati with Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) in sixth, ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who was mightily impressive in seventh on his first visit to San Juan.

Over at Kawasaki, it was a Friday afternoon disaster for Jonathan Rea as he crashed hard at turn six. He and the bike tumbled through the gravel, with the ZX-10RR badly damaged, whilst thankfully the defending six-time world champion was able to walk away and get a ride back to the paddock on a scooter.

Jonathan Rea

Team-mate Alex Lowes was having a strong return to action and was second for the majority of the session having been fourth in FP1. Come the end of the session, with Rea unable to improve due the damaged bike, he finished in fifth whilst Lowes was third. Both will look to take the challenge to Razgatlioglu and Redding across the weekend.

Jonathan Rea

I sat out about fifteen minutes of the first practice session just to see how quick the lap times were coming. Towards the end of the session the rhythm was quite OK. Off line it was still very dirty. I don’t think anybody was that optimistic on Thursday because we were literally told to get inside the team cabins because a real sandstorm was coming through! I have got to say that the guys have done a great job here and the track is pretty good compared to the previous years. Tyre choice is going to be important but I feel good with the bike, the feeling is there, and I was able to be fast even with the harder tyre.

Jonathan Rea

Alex Lowes

I missed racing at the previous rounds so it was important to come here and have quite a good Friday. My injured hand is not quite as good as I expected but I was able to do a lot of laps this afternoon with the same tyres on, to understand what we need to do for the race. I hope to be able to make a good race on Saturday. It is nice to be back here at Villicum and at a flyaway event with WorldSBK. It has been quite a while. We just need to improve in a couple of areas for tomorrow. The track was quite good. The lap times are quite fast and I think the track surface is only going to get better as the weekend goes on. I think the track conditions are quite good.

Alex Lowes

Top Honda went to Leon Haslam (Team HRC). The ‘Pocket Rocket’ finished tenth on his return to San Juan, making for a solid start for Haslam, as he adapts to the Honda in Argentina. Team-mate Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC), showed top ten pace on Friday, but finished eleventh, being pushed out in the closing stages of the session. Setting 72 laps between the two riders across the course of the opening day, Team HRC gathered valuable data on their San Juan debut.

Alvaro Bautista

Honestly, I expected to find the track in a much worse condition after yesterday’s sandstorm, but it actually wasn’t that bad. Obviously, this morning was worse than the afternoon but eventually it settled down. We have been trying to improve in the changes of direction because I lose a little grip and so am always a little late. And we want to pick up the pace especially through the second half of the track. In the second session, we made a few changes but we haven’t seen enough of an improvement yet. We hope to do so tomorrow, because we’re suffering a bit more here with respect to other tracks. Tomorrow we will try to get a little bit closer to the frontrunners.

Alvaro Bautista
Leon Haslam

The circuit was dusty today, and we spent the sessions learning and getting up to speed really. This is our first visit here with the Honda and I feel we gathered a lot of information, but we still have work to do. Through the first half of the lap, we’re not far off but we have some problems through the tighter corners, something we already know, so we need to come to some kind of compromise tomorrow.

Leon Haslam

It wasn’t the easiest day at the San Juan office for BMW, as Michael van der Mark could only manage 14th and was only a place higher than Eugene Laverty. Both made big gains in terms of lap time but were over 1.4s off Razgatlioglu’s top time. Both BMW riders will look to find a way forward throughout Saturday and Sunday, although van der Mark is always an improver come the races. Van der Mark and Laverty are the only BMWs on the grid this weekend, as the Bonovo MGM Racing outfit decided to finish their season after the last European round of the season at Portimao.

Michael van der Mark

It’s been a bit of a struggle today; we have seemed to find some limitations on the BMW M 1000 RR. This morning we went out and the track was a bit sandy, but we kept riding to clean the track and ended up using only one set of tyres the whole session, so we were expecting a little more in FP2. We seemed to struggle to get the bike to turn and missed some flow around this circuit. We have a lot of things to improve for tomorrow but I’m pretty sure the boys will be on it.

Eugene Laverty

FP1 this morning was a difficult practice as the track was dirty, so it was a case of lapping laps to clean the surface. I was happy with our performance in FP2, I felt more comfortable on the bike and was riding much better after we made some changes. We still need to work on the agility of the bike around the twisty corners and that’s the goal for tomorrow.

Eugene Laverty

Leading the best of the rest and actually ahead of the factory BMWs, Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 12th having been a remarkable fifth in FP1. He was just ahead of Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who was 13th, as he begins to figure out the Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team) was 16th as he headed of Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), both making their San Juan debut. Home-hero Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) was 18th, ahead of Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport Yamaha). Completing the field, Argentinean pairing Marco Solorza (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and team-mate Luciano Ribodino.

Friday Combined Times

  1. RAZGATLIOGLU Toprak TUR PATA YAMAHA with BRIXX WorldSBK Yamaha 1’37.872
  2. REDDING Scott GBR ARUBA Racing – Ducati Ducati 1’38.118 0.246
  3. LOWES Alex GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK Kawasaki 1’38.420 0.548
  4. RINALDI Michael Ruben ITA ARUBA Racing – Ducati Ducati 1’38.433 0.561
  5. REA Jonathan GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK Kawasaki 1’38.501 0.629
  6. DAVIES Chaz GBR Team GOELEVEN Ducati 1’38.501 0.629
  7. BASSANI Alex ITA Motocorsa Racing Ducati 1’38.851 0.979
  8. LOCATELLI Andrea ITA PATA YAMAHA with BRIXX WorldSBK Yamaha 1’38.875 1.003
  9. GERLOFF Garrett USA GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Yamaha 1’38.879 1.007
  10. HASLAM Leon GBR Team HRC Honda 1’39.177 1.305
  11. BAUTISTA Alvaro SPA Team HRC Honda 1’39.284 1.412
  12. VINALES Isaac SPA ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA Kawasaki 1’39.291 1.419
  13. RABAT Tito SPA Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Kawasaki 1’39.309 1.437
  14. VAN DER MARK Michael NDL BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team BMW 1’39.323 1.451
  15. LAVERTY Eugene IRE BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team BMW 1’39.526 1.654
  16. CAVALIERI Samuele ITA TPR Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki 1’39.753 1.881
  17. NOZANE Kohta JPN GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Yamaha 1’39.857 1.985
  18. MERCADO Leandro ARG MIE Racing HONDA Team Honda 1’40.076 2.204
  19. PONSSON Christophe FRA Alstare Yamaha Yamaha 1’40.678 2.806
  20. SOLORZA Marco ARG OUTDO Kawasaki TPR Kawasaki 1’42.469 4.597
  21. RIBODINO Luciano ARG OUTDO Kawasaki TPR Kawasaki 1’42.776 4.904

World Supersport

As the FIM Supersport World Championship paddock descended on Argentina and the Circuito San Juan Villicum for the first time since 2019, Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) smashed the all-time lap record at the circuit as he looks to maintain his 100 per cent winning record at the Argentinean venue during the Motul Argentinean Round.

French rider Cluzel has won both WorldSSP races held at the San Juan Villicum venue and set the pace on Friday with a 1’41.926s, some seventh tenths under the previous lap record held by compatriot Lucas Mahias. Cluzel missed out on a lot of running in Free Practice 1 but responded in the perfect fashion during the second 45-minute practice session with a new all-time lap record, finishing eight tenths clear of Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) and nine tenths clear of Championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha); both riders making their debuts at the Argentinean venue.

Between Gonzalez in second and Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 15th, 14 different riders were separated by around one second a close battle for the podium appears to be brewing throughout the WorldSSP field. Hungary’s Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) was fourth fastest after a strong day, finishing as the lead Evan Bros. Yamaha outfit with teammate Steven Odendaal in eighth place.

Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) was fifth as the sole MV Agusta rider in the field, and the first non-Yamaha rider. The Finnish rider had suffered from technical issues in Free Practice 1, late on in the session, but was able to get back out on track for Free Practice 2 to post a 1’42.996s for the fifth-best time, with Dutch rider Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) completing the top six after a late lap.

WorldSSP Combined Results after FP2

  1. Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) 1’41.926s
  2. Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGO Team) +0.795s
  3. Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.907s
  4. Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. Yamaha WorldSSP Team) +1.015s
  5. Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) +1.070s
  6. Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) +1.159s

Motul Argentinean WSBK Round Schedule

Friday
Time Class Event
00:30-01:15 WorldSBK FP1
01:25-02:10 WorldSSP FP1
05:00-05:45 WorldSBK FP2
06:00-06:45 WorldSSP FP2
Saturday
Time Class Event
00:00-00:30 WorldSBK FP3
01:25-01:45 WorldSSP Superpole
02:10-02:25 WorldSBK Superpole
03:30- WorldSSP Race
05:00- WorldSBK Race 1
Sunday
Time Class Event
00:00-00:15 WorldSBK WUP
00:25-00:40 WorldSSP WUP
02:00- WorldSBK Superpole Race
03:30- WorldSSP Race 2
05:00- WorldSBK Race 2

World Superbike Championship Standings

Pos Rider Total
 1  Toprak Razgatlioglu  478
 2  Jonathan Rea  454
 3  Scott Redding  424
 4  Michael Ruben Rinaldi  249
 5  Andrea Locatelli  249
 6  Michael Van Der Mark  211
 7  Alex Lowes  199
 8  Garrett Gerloff  193
 9  Alvaro Bautista  174
 10  Axel Bassani  169
 11  Tom Sykes  167
 12  Leon Haslam  123
 13  Chaz Davies  120
 14  Loris Baz  53
 15  Kohta Nozane  51
 16  Lucas Mahias  44
 17  Tito Rabat  41
 18  Eugene Laverty  37
 19  Isaac Vinales  32
 20  Christophe Ponsson  31
 21  Leandro Mercado  25
 22  Jonas Folger  21
 23  Samuele Cavalieri  10
 24  Marvin Fritz  6
 25  Loris Cresson  3
 26  Andrea Mantovani  2
 27  Luke Mossey  2

Source: MCNews.com.au

Rea strikes back on Sunday afternoon at Portimao

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 11 – Portimao

The rollercoaster venue that is Portimao provided more ups and downs in the battle for the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came back from crashes in the opening two races before an emphatic victory on Sunday afternoon, as championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) crashed out of the race at turn 15. The Turk put the crash down to a strange fault with his front fender that caused him to have front end slides.

Rea’s victory narrowed the gap at the top of the championship back down to 24-points ,which means that with two rounds and six races still remaining, the war for the championship is far from over.

WorldSBK now heads to Argentina on the weekend of October 17, before the finale is staged at Indonesia’s new Mandalika International Street Circuit on November 21.


WorldSBK Superpole Race

After the rain that fell over Portimão during the warm-up sessions, the Algarve circuit was in the drying-out stage and put the teams to a hard test in terms of tyre choices. All the riders eventually chose rain tyres and the Tissot Superpole Race got underway on schedule with Aussie rookie still making the start despite a crash on the warm-up lap.

Jonathan Rea made the best start of all the riders, moving immediately into the race lead, but then crashed out later on that opening lap. Most also thought that his championship chances also disappeared in the gravel trap but there was to be more twists and turns in the afternoon…

With Rea out of the race Scott Redding took over as the new leader ahead of Michael van der Mark, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Loris Baz.

During the first half of the race, the Dutch BMW rider demonstrated a pace that was distinctly superior to that of his rival, putting in the fastest laps to then snatched the race lead.

On the other hand, Razgatlioglu was unable to find the pace and dropped back five positions.

Holding on to second place was Redding ahead of Loris Baz and Leon Haslam, battling it out for the podium, whereas Andrea Locatelli and Álvaro Bautista were fighting for fifth.

Michael van der Mark made all the right moves in the final laps, taking his first win of the season and BMW’s first victory since the 2012 season, with an advantage of more than five-seconds ahead of Scott Redding and more than seven seconds over Loris Baz, who celebrated his second podium of his wild-card weekend.

WorldSBK Portimao Results Tissot Superpole Race
1. Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.140s
3. Loris Baz (Team GoEleven) +5.479s

Locatelli took fourth ahead of Bautista while championship leader Razgatlioglu took only four-points from his sixth place finish.

WorldSBK Superpole Race  Results

Pos No. Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR /
2 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R +5.330
3 L.  Baz Ducati Panigale V4 R +7.066
4 A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 +9.264
5 A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R +9.753
6 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 +16.745
7 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +19.047
8 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +19.115
9 E. Laverty BMW M 1000 RR +20.901
10 I.  Vinales Kawasaki ZX-10RR +28.977
11 L.  Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R +31.057
12 S. Cavalieri Ducati Panigale V4 R +38.997
13 J.  Folger BMW M 1000 RR +41.330
14 T. Rabat Kawasaki ZX-10RR +51.079
15 G. Ruiu BMW M 1000 RR +55.894
16 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +56.194
17 L.  Epis Kawasaki ZX-10RR +1m23.343
Not Classifieds
RET K. Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 5 Laps
RET J.  Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR /
RET M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R /
RET L.  Cresson Kawasaki ZX-10RR /

WorldSBK Race Two

The start was delayed due to a technical issue when the riders were lining up on the grid, with the delay meaning the race distanced was reduced one lap to 19 laps.

WorldSBK Race Two

Starting from tenth place, Jonathan Rea was on the move from the get-go and was second by the end of the opener, while Toprak Razgatlioglu moved into third place.

Redding, Rea, Razgatlioglu

Rea made his move for the lead through the fast turn nine left-hander on lap two on Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), relegating the British rider who had led from the start. At the start of lap two, Razgatlioglu passed Rea into turn one before the six-time world champion responded.

The trio were battling throughout the opening laps, with both Razgatlioglu and Rea able to take advantage of Redding running wide at turns five and ten on the same lap.

Razgatlioglu made a move on Rea down the start-and-finish straight to move into the right-hander of turn one at the start of lap seven, before Rea responded at turn ten.

At the end of lap ten, Razgatlioglu crashed at turn 15, the same place Rea did in race one, forcing the championship leader out of the race.

Rea went on to take the 110th win and the 210th podium of his career, narrowing the gap in the championship to 24 points.

Rea’s victory means both he and Razgatlioglu have scored 25 podiums this season, the first time it has happened in WorldSBK history. The top two in the Championship are also tied with 25 podiums and 11 wins each.

2021 Portimao WorldSBK Results Race 2
1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
2. Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.425s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +12.289s

At the start of lap 13, Loris Baz moved up into podium contention after his third-place start in race two after overtaking Andrea Locatelli into turn one; Alvaro Bautista had tried to pass both of them but Baz was wise to it, cutting back on the Spanish rider to re-take third place.

Loriz Baz and Alvaro Bautista

Two laps later and Bautista looked to make a move through the opening couple of corners with Baz defending and keeping the position. The battle went on through lap 16 and 17 with Bautista looking to make the move into turn one each time and Baz responding into turn two.

On lap 18, Bautista looked to make a move on Baz into the turn five hairpin, with Bautista running wide and Baz looking to reclaim the place. Through the exit of the corner, the pair made contact with Bautista coming off his bike and retiring from the race.

Baz held on to cross the line in third place, while Locatelli came home in fourth place after withstanding a late surge from fellow Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff in fifth place. After the race, Baz was sanctioned with a one place position drop, demoting him to fourth place and promoting Locatelli to third; the Italian’s fourth podium of his rookie campaign.

Michael van der Mark was sixth after starting from first place, five seconds clear of Michael Ruben Rinaldi with the Italian suffering from a right ankle sprain and contusion and a right hip contusion following his Tissot Superpole Race crash. He battled with Leon Haslam throughout the race with the pair separated by just three tenths at the end of the 19-lap encounter.

Italian rookie Axel Bassani continued his strong form with ninth place, after battling with Rea during the open lap of the race, eventually finishing two tenths clear of Eugene Laverty as he scored points again while standing-in for Tom Sykes.

Laverty finished five-seconds clear of Leandro Mercado in 11th place, who was also clear of Spanish rider Isaac Viñales in 12th place.

Japanese rookie Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 13th, just over a second behind Viñales, with Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) and Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Action) rounding out the points. Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team) was the last of the classified runners in 16th place.

Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) was the first retirement of the race after a crash at the start of lap three, with the Belgian rookie taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the incident. Cresson was diagnosed with a concussion and a left knee injury and was transported to Portimao Hospital for further assessments.

Cresson’s team-mate, Lachlan Epis, retired from the race with technical problems while Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) also suffered from technical issues during the early running and brought his bike back to the pits. Wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (B-Max Racing Team) was also a retirement from race two after completing 10 laps.

Toprak Razgatlioglu – DNF

In the rain, after I see Jonny crash again, I close gas and just finish to focus on Race 2, because my feeling was not so good compared to Barcelona wet race. Race 2 was just bad luck for me, because something on my front fender was broken and after it entered the front tyre, and then front sliding, this is very bad luck! I say ‘why not possible to be broken on the straight, when it gives no problem?’ ‘Why broken on the last corner!’ But this is life, this is racing. I’m not happy because I was fighting for the win, but I crash and it was not my mistake. I am not looking back at this, I am only looking to focus on the next race. Every race weekend it is still changing in the championship. I am focused on the Argentina race now, and I am fighting again for the win – if I win, I take the points but I am still not looking!”

Jonathan Rea – P1

Complicated is the word, disappointing is a better word. I’m really frustrated because my team put me in such a good position to capitalise this weekend and I threw it away. I made two silly mistakes by being impatient when my bike was working well, and I had a rhythm. I’ve already apologised to them. I was really upset with myself after the Superpole Race and I just said to the guys that we had nothing to lose. We’ve been in this position before. Let’s just try to enjoy my bike.”

Looking back on Race 2 where he started in tenth after his sprint demise, Rea added: “I sat on the grid with no pressure. I just wanted to make a really good start. I had such a perfect launch; I was just going forward. It was the best start of my season. From that point, I was able to gain good track position, be clever with my passes and tried to put sectors two and three to good use. I really struggled going down that start straight into the headwind. When I could keep in front for a few laps, I knew that I was trying to keep my rhythm. I saw Toprak was out so that gave me some breathing space, I could really not buck the rhythm, enjoy the race and ride to the pit board. That was a nice feeling.”

WorldSBK Race Two Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 J.  Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR /
2 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R +5.425
3 A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 +12.289
3 L.  Baz Ducati Panigale V4 R (Demoted) +8.905
5 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +13.956
6 M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR +15.289
7 M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R +20.639
8 L.  Haslam Honda CBR1000 RR-R +20.933
9 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +26.031
10 E. Laverty BMW M 1000 RR +26.276
11 L.  Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R +31.493
12 I.  Vinales Kawasaki ZX-10RR +41.117
13 . Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 +42.583
14 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +48.074
15  J.  Folger BMW M 1000 RR +51.009
16 S. Cavalieri Ducati Panigale V4 R +57.467
Not Classified
RET A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2 Laps
RET G. Ruiu BMW M 1000 RR 9 Laps
RET T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 10 Laps
RET T. Rabat Kawasaki ZX-10RR 13 Laps
RET L.  Epis Kawasaki ZX-10RR 15 Laps
RET L.  Cresson Kawasaki ZX-10RR 17 Laps

World Superbike Championship Standings

Pos Rider Points
 1  Toprak Razgatlioglu  478
 2  Jonathan Rea  454
 3  Scott Redding  424
 4  Michael Ruben Rinaldi  249
 5  Andrea Locatelli  249
 6  Michael Van Der Mark  211
 7  Alex Lowes  199
 8  Garrett Gerloff  193
 9  Alvaro Bautista  174
 10  Axel Bassani  169
 11  Tom Sykes  167
 12  Leon Haslam  123
 13  Chaz Davies  120
 14  Loris Baz  53
 15  Kohta Nozane  51
 16  Lucas Mahias  44
 17  Tito Rabat  41
 18  Eugene Laverty  37
 19  Isaac Vinales  32
 20  Christophe Ponsson  31
 21  Leandro Mercado  25
 22  Jonas Folger  21
 23  Samuele Cavalieri  10
 24  Marvin Fritz  6
 25  Loris Cresson  3
 26  Andrea Mantovani  2
 27  Luke Mossey  2

WorldSSP

The FIM Supersport World Championship action concluded at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in thrilling style with Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) claiming his fifth win of the season and denying Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) a Portimao double by just 0.011s across the line in Race 2 for the Motul Portuguese Round as the South African cut his gap in the Championship.

World Supersport

Although Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) got a good start as the lights went out, Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) was the rider on the move as he battled his way up from seventh to lead at the start of the second lap after passing three riders into Turn 1, with the action on the opening lap setting the tone for the rest of the race.

Soon, a lead group of nine riders formed with Odendaal leading as the seventh lap started before, he was passed by Championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) into Turn 1, with the lead constantly changing throughout the 17-lap race. As Lap 10 ended, Odendaal ran wide throughout the final corner and lost time and positions, allowing Cluzel to take the lead of the race with the South African dropping down into the mid-pack of the lead group.

The race would go down to the wire between Odendaal and Cluzel, as the lead group fragmented in the second half of the race, with the South African claiming victory for the fifth of his season and his first since Race 1 at Most, ahead of Cluzel who doubled up on podiums at Portimao. The pair were separated by just 0.011s at the end of the 17 laps, with Federico Caricasulo (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing) claiming his first podium since 2019 at the same venue. Just 0.364s separated the podium trio at the line.

Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) had been in the lead group but a mistake at Turn 1 dropped him down the order, with Championship leader Aegerter in fifth place as he saw the gap closed in the Championship with Odendaal’s victory, with Gonzalez just six tenths separating Gonzalez and a race victory. Yari Montella (GMT94 Yamaha) claimed sixth place in Race 2 of his debut WorldSSP Round, ahead of 2019 Champion Randy Krummenacher (CM Racing). Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) was another who had been competing in the lead group but a Lap 16 crash at Turn 4 forced him out of the race with just a few laps to go.

German star Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was the lead Kawasaki runner in eighth place, finishing just ahead of Hungary’s Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) in ninth with Sebestyen claiming his best result of the season. Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) got a good start and was competing in the front group in the first half of the race but finished the race in tenth place.

With Kevin Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team) finishing in 11th place, the Italian rider claimed the WorldSSP Challenge title for 2021 as he retained his crown. Manfredi leapfrogged Caricasulo due to his three points, with Caricasulo only entering the WorldSSP Challenge for two rounds as a replacement for Maria Herrera (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing). David Sanchis Martinez (WRP Wepol Racing) secured points with 12th place ahead of Estonian rider Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) in 13th.

Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) had shown strong pace throughout the majority of the race but a late crash at Turn 13 on Lap 16 put the Italian rider down the order, with De Rosa re-joining the race and finishing in 14th place. German rider Patrick Hobelsberger (Bonovo MGM Action) rounded out the points-paying places with 15th place, just 0.003s behind De Rosa.

De Rosa’s fellow Italian rider, Federico Fuligni (VFT Racing) was 16th ahead of teammate Marcel Brenner in 17th, with the Swiss rider battling his way back through the field after an early issue to finish just a second behind his teammate. Ondrej Vostatek (IXS-YART Yamaha) claimed 18th place with Vertti Takala (Kallio Racing) and Bill van Eerde (IXS-YART Yamaha) rounded out the top 20.

Eduardo Montero Huerta (DK Motorsport) did not take part in the final race of his campaign, as a WorldSSP Challenge competitor, due to a technical issue. Leandro Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was the first retirement of the race after he had a Lap 3 crash at Turn 13, while Unai Orradre (Yamaha MS Racing) had a spectacular highside at Turn 2 on Lap 4, putting him out of the race; Orradre was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. On Lap 11, Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) crashed out of the race at Turn 5.

WSSP Race Two Results

Pos No. Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 S.  Odendaal Yamaha YZF R6 /
2 J.   Cluzel Yamaha YZF R6 +0.011
3 F.   Caricasulo Yamaha YZF R6 +0.364
4 M. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 +0.629
5 D.  Aegerter Yamaha YZF R6 +3.196
6 Y.   Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +5.247
7 R.  Krummenacher Yamaha YZF R6 +6.721
8 P.   Oettl Kawasaki ZX-6R +9.428
9 P.   Sebestyen Yamaha YZF R6 +9.758
10 C.  Oncu Kawasaki ZX-6R +18.317
11 K.  Manfredi Yamaha YZF R6 +19.119
12 D.  Sanchis Martinez Yamaha YZF R6 +20.426
13 H.  Soomer Yamaha YZF R6 +20.461
14 R.  De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +21.766
15 P.   Hobelsberger Yamaha YZF R6 +21.769
16 F.   Fuligni Yamaha YZF R6 +31.62
17 M. Brenner Yamaha YZF R6 +32.732
18 O.  Vostatek Yamaha YZF R6 +33.367
19 V.  Takala Yamaha YZF R6 +38.991
20 B.  Van Eerde Yamaha YZF R6 +40.843
21 G.  Hendra Pratama Yamaha YZF R6 +41.1
22 S.  Frossard Yamaha YZF R6 +41.139
23 M. Herrera Yamaha YZF R6 +44.35
24 L.   Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +125.425
Not Classified
RET P.   Romero Barbosa Kawasaki ZX-6R 1 Lap
RET N.  Tuuli MV Agusta F3 675 2 Laps
RET G.  Van Straalen Yamaha YZF R6 7 Laps
RET U.  Orradre Yamaha YZF R6 14 Laps
RET L.   Taccini Kawasaki ZX-6R 15 Laps
RET E.  Montero Huerta Yamaha YZF R6 /

WSSP Championship Standings

Pos Rider Points
 1  Dominique Aegerter  354
 2  Steven Odendaal  300
 3  Manuel Gonzalez  249
 4  Philipp Oettl  232
 5  Jules Cluzel  191
 6  Luca Bernardi  161
 7  Federico Caricasulo  142
 8  Randy Krummenacher  140
 9  Raffaele De Rosa  137
 10  Can Alexander Oncu  127
 11  Niki Tuuli  112
 12  Hannes Soomer  72
 13  Christoffer Bergman  47
 14  Peter Sebestyen  44
 15  Marc Alcoba  40
 16  Kevin Manfredi  36
 17  Marcel Brenner  26
 18  Galang Hendra Pratama  24
 19  Vertti Takala  23
 20  Simon Jespersen  22
 21  Yari Montella  16
 22  Andy Verdoia  14
 23  Glenn Van Straalen  13
 24  David Sanchis Martinez  12
 25  Patrick Hobelsberger  11
 26  Loic Arbel  10
 27  Stephane Frossard  10
 28  Valentin Debise  9
 29  Sheridan Morais  9
 30  Stefano Manzi  7
 31  Matteo Patacca  7
 32  Maria Herrera  7
 33  Federico Fuligni  7
 34  Filippo Fuligni  6
 35  Michel Fabrizio  6
 36  Max Enderlein  5
 37  Roberto Mercandelli  5
 38  Hikari Okubo  4
 39  Massimo Roccoli  4
 40  Leonardo Taccini  4
 41  Luca Grunwald  3
 42  Ondrej Vostatek  3
 43  Unai Orradre  2
 44  Daniel Valle  2
 45  Ludovic Cauchi  1
 46  Oscar Gutierrez Iglesias  1
 47  Luca Ottaviani  1
 48  Davide Pizzoli  1
 49  Pawel Szkopek  1

WorldSSP300 Race Two

The Spanish rider was crowned Champion on Saturday and followed that up with a resounding victory in the final race of the season

The final race of the 2021 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship provided some of the same drama and excitement at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as the rest of the season has as newly-crowned Champion Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) claimed victory in Race 2 for the Motul Portuguese Round in a typically-frantic encounter to round out the 2021 campaign.

World Supersport 300

The first half of the 13-lap race involved riders looking to try to break away but it was the 2021 Champion, Huertas, who was able to do so with just a handful of laps to go, extending his lead at the start of the penultimate lap to more than two seconds as he ended the season in scintillating style for his sixth victory of a record-breaking season; decorated in a special gold livery on his Kawasaki machine and his helmet. Huertas’ victory was the 25th for Spain in the Championship, as well as the eighth of his career which equals teammate Jeffrey Buis’ (MTM Kawasaki) from 2020.

British rider Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) had challenged for the title in 2021 but an injury sustained in Catalunya derailed his title aspirations, but he was able to secure second in the Championship after finishing second in Race 2 after Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) retired from the race following a late-race crash which forced the 2020 Champion out of the race, with Buis taking third in the Championship. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing) had crossed the line in third place but was given a three-second time penalty in lieu of a Long Lap Penalty after it was deemed he had being riding irresponsibly, meaning he was classified in 17th place, while Iñigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) claimed third place.

Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki) backed up his third place in Race 1 with fourth place in Race 2. Rookie Dirk Geiger (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) claimed a second successive top-six finish during his debut weekend, although the German rider had crossed the line in fifth place but was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap. He would have finished in fourth but for the penalty, which initially demoted him to sixth before gaining a place with Sofuoglu’s penalty.

Dutch rider Koen Meuffels (MTM Kawasaki) was in sixth place ahead of Oliver König (Movisio by MIE), with the Czech rider claiming another top-ten finish but just 0.081s away from Meuffels. Mirko Gennai (Team BRcorse) was in eighth, two tenths clear of Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing) in ninth and Bruno Ieraci (Prodina Team WorldSSP300) who rounded out the top ten.

Gabriele Mastroluca (ProGP Racing) was 11th ahead of Kevin Sabatucci (Kawasaki GP Project); Sabatucci had crossed the line in 12th but was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Like Geiger, Sabatucci benefitted from Sofuoglu’s penalty to be classified in the position he had originally finished in before his own penalty.

Meikon Kawakami (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing) was 13th, although the gap to Sabatucci was recorded as 0.000s following the Italian’s penalty for a track limits infringement. Kawakami held on to 13th place ahead of Victor Steeman (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) who claimed 14th spot and Yeray Ruiz (Yamaha MS Racing) who claimed the final point. The Dutchman had been running towards the front of the field in the early stages of the race but dropped back as the race progressed.

Ruiz was just 0.038s clear of Alex Millan Gomez (2R Racing) as Millan Gomez missed out on a point by the smallest of margins. Harry Khouri’s (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) season came to an end with 18th place in Race 2, ahead of the penalised Sofuoglu, finishing 0.060s clear of Ton Kawakami (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing). Alessandro Zanca (Kawasaki GP Project) rounded out the top 20.

Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) was the first retirement of the race with a technical issue shortly after he had a crash at Turn 5, with the Race 1 winner retiring from the race on Lap 9 of 13. Alfonso Coppola (Team Trasimeno) was the second retirement of the race as he crashed out on Lap 10 at Turn 13.

WorldSSP300 Race Two Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 A.  Huertas Kawasaki Ninja 400 /
2 T.   Booth-Amos Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.077
3 I.    Iglesias Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.196
4 Y.   Okaya Kawasaki Ninja 400 +3.049
5 D.  Geiger Kawasaki Ninja 400 +3.1
6 K.  Meuffels Kawasaki Ninja 400 +3.586
7 O.  Konig Kawasaki Ninja 400 +3.667
8 M. Gennai Yamaha YZF-R3 +3.788
9 J.   Perez Gonzalez Kawasaki Ninja 400 +3.992
10 B.  Ieraci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +4.037
11 G.  Mastroluca Yamaha YZF-R3 +4.302
12 K.  Sabatucci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +4.314
13 M. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +4.314
14 V.  Steeman KTM RC 390 R +4.465
15 Y.   Ruiz Yamaha YZF-R3 +4.899
16 A.  Millan Gomez Kawasaki Ninja 400 +4.937
17 B.  Sofuoglu Yamaha YZF-R3 +5.184
18 H.  Khouri Kawasaki Ninja 400 +5.962
19 T.   Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +6.022
20 A.  Zanca Kawasaki Ninja 400 +15.358
21 A.  Carrasco Kawasaki Ninja 400 +15.433
22 P.   Svoboda Yamaha YZF-R3 +15.701
23 J.   Gimbert Kawasaki Ninja 400 +15.703
24 M. Gaggi Yamaha YZF-R3 +15.757
25 S.  Markarian Kawasaki Ninja 400 +15.774
26 Y.   Saiz Marquez Yamaha YZF-R3 +15.8
27 T.   Alonso Kawasaki Ninja 400 +15.852
28 J.   Buis Kawasaki Ninja 400 +21.459
29 M. Garcia Kawasaki Ninja 400 +22.673
30 F.   Palazzi Yamaha YZF-R3 +36.117
31 D.  Borges Kawasaki Ninja 400 +36.967
32 R.  Bijman Yamaha YZF-R3 +42.259
33 A.  Frappola Kawasaki Ninja 400 +42.879
34 J.   Kocourek Kawasaki Ninja 400 +47.2
35 J.   Romero Kawasaki Ninja 400 +117.132
36 M. Duarte Yamaha YZF-R3 +123.841
Not Classified
RET A.  Coppola Yamaha YZF-R3 4 Laps
RET S.  Di Sora Kawasaki Ninja 400 5 Laps

WorldSSP300 Championship Standing

Pos Rider Points
 1  Adrian Huertas  255
 2  Tom Booth-Amos  189
 3  Jeffrey Buis  174
 4  Samuel Di Sora  148
 5  Bahattin Sofuoglu  131
 6  Yuta Okaya  140
 7  Meikon Kawakami  101
 8  Inigo Iglesias  101
 9  Koen Meuffels  85
 10  Victor Steeman  81
 11  Oliver Konig  64
 12  Hugo De Cancellis  62
 13  Ton Kawakami  57
 14  Alejandro Carrion  54
 15  Mirko Gennai  54
 16  Ana Carrasco  52
 17  Dorren Loureiro  51
 18  Gabriele Mastroluca  48
 19  Alvaro Diaz Cebrian  42
 20  Unai Orradre  39
 21  Bruno Ieraci  39
 22  Daniel Mogeda  27
 23  Dean Berta Vinales  26
 24  Marc Garcia  26
 25  Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez  25
 26  Yeray Ruiz  23
 27  Kevin Sabatucci  22
 28  Ruben Bijman  21
 29  Dirk Geiger  21
 30  Victor Rodriguez Nunez  15
 31  Harry Khouri  13
 32  Filippo Maria Palazzi  10
 33  Vicente Perez Selfa  9
 34  Petr Svoboda  8
 35  Facundo Llambias  7
 36  Johan Gimbert  5
 37  Alfonso Coppola  4
 38  Alessandro Zanca  3
 39  Oscar Nunez Roldan  3
 40  Thomas Brianti  2
 41  Alex Millan Gomez  2
 42  Christian Stange  1


2021 WorldSBK Calendar

Date Track SBK SS600 SS300
21-23 May Aragón (Spain) X X
28-30 May Estoril (Portugal) X X  
11-13 Jun Misano (Italy) X X
2-4 Jul Donington Park (UK) X    
23-25 Jul Assen (Netherlands) X X
06-08 Aug Autodrom Most (Czech) X X X
20-22 Aug Navarra (Spain) X X  
3-5 Sep Magny-Cours (France) X X
17-19 Sep Catalunya (Spain) X X
24-26 Sep Jerez (Spain) X X X
1-3 Oct Portimao (Portugal) X X
15-17 Oct San Juan Villicum (Argentina) X X  
19-21 Nov Mandalika*** (Indonesia) X X  

Source: MCNews.com.au

Toprak tops race one in Portugal and takes upper hand in championship chase

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 11 – Portimao


Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) raced to victory, his first in WorldSBK at the Algarve circuit in Portimao and his 11th of the year, whilst Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) crashed at speed from the lead of the race at turn 15. The Championship gap is now 45-points with Toprak leading the way, whilst Rea loses more ground.

WorldSBK Portimao Race One Report

In what was one of the most intense opening five laps of the season, neither Razgatlioglu or Rea wanted to give an inch as they duelled hard. On lap two, Rea put a superb pass on Razgatlioglu at turn 11 but Toprak held on at turn 12, firing his Yamaha back through.

Redding- Razgatlioglu, Rea

Rea tried again at turn 13 but ran slightly wide, whilst Razgatlioglu scythed back through, colliding with Rea. The fight continued as Rea had a huge moment at turn one on lap five before getting under Razgatlioglu again at turn 11, whilst race leader Scott Redding ran wide at turn 13, with Rea coming back through to the lead. Then, disaster, as Rea tucked the front at turn 15, his Kawasaki ZX-10 RR barrelling through the gravel.

Rea crashed out

At the front, Scott Redding was leading the way until Toprak took back the lead at turn 1 with just less than four laps to go, and whilst Redding continued to try and retaliate, he couldn’t keep Toprak at bay. Razgatlioglu delivered Yamaha a first Portimao win since Marco Melandri in 2011.

Speaking after the race, Razgatlioglu said: “It wasn’t an easy race because Jonny and Scott were very strong. After Jonny’s crash, we are fighting with Scott; we are fighting with both of them, but I am happy, because we win again. Some corners, I wasn’t very strong because I felt some electronic problems but tomorrow, I think we will improve. We will come back again stronger, every race we are improving and also yesterday, I didn’t feel very good whereas now, the bike is much better.

Redding chasing Razgatlioglu

Talking about the battle with Redding, Razgatlioglu said that his strategy to wait until the closing stages of the race paid dividends: “It wasn’t easy because he is strong. We are fighting again but after I understood that we are together, I decide to wait for the last two laps. In the last two laps, I try my best again and we made it.”

After the crash Jonathan Rea was taken to the medical centre, where he was diagnosed with multiple contusions and a left elbow abrasion. He will be reviewed on Sunday morning prior to Warm-Up. Up until race one, it had been a sparkling weekend for Rea, who said on Friday that he ‘felt like he had his bike back’ and that he could ‘do things on the bike that he’d not been able to do all year’. Topping Friday and Saturday morning practice sessions, Rea was second on the grid after Superpole, but couldn’t convert it in to championship points.

Talking at the end of the day about his crash and the race until that point, Rea commented: “I am relatively OK, just a little bit beaten up because when I crashed and hit the gravel, I started tumbling. Apart from some bumps and bruises, relatively, I am quite fine. I can’t say ifs and buts because I crashed; I know my pace was good but inside the battle, it wasn’t good because every time I had track position, there was a bike on the inside releasing the brake. I couldn’t really make any rhythm. When Scott made the mistake at Turn 13, I thought ‘OK, I have to go’ because if I can’t go on the straight with some advantage, then I’ll be in the battle again. Congratulations to the guys at the front, I felt like I could’ve been there battling because my pace all weekend has been quite strong. I have another chance tomorrow, so we’ll try to do a good job.

Adding in his media debrief on Saturday and reflecting on the battle with Razgatlioglu, Rea expressed that he’s ready for the challenge, even if Toprak can be without “consideration” when going for an apex: “I don’t want to put s**t on Toprak about how he rides, because he is clearly doing a good job and he’s not even at his limit. However, the guy he’s passing is on their limit with the bike and tyres and the combination of everything.

“I’m ready to fight like that and I’m going to fight like that”

“I don’t want to complain too much; I’m ready to fight like that and I’m going to fight like that. I can shake his hand after that and not complain, but I’m happy to let the brakes off and use him as a berm. That’s pretty much what he did to me at Turn 13; he committed to the pass on the apex. I’m not going to grumble; rubbing is racing. He can train on his kart track in Turkey, but I grew up motocrossing, and that’s also hard.

“Of course, there’s a line and these are big bikes and you can’t just come from miles away to make a pass because you feel brave in yourself that you can stop at the apex. I don’t know if Scott was complaining a lot but I don’t want to cry about it because I get labelled a cry-baby… I can roll my sleeves up to.”

The fight for third was an ongoing affair throughout the 20-lap encounter with Leon Haslam (Team HRC) starting from third place holding onto that position until around the mid-way point of the race before he dropped positions, with Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) working his way up to third place on lap 12.

Haslam looked on course for a top result

There was plenty of action between the six riders in contention for a podium, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), Haslam and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) all running wide at turn one at various points of the race.

As the race progressed, Bautista was unable to pull out a gap to the chasing pack with Loris Baz (Team GoEleven) and Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) chasing Bautista, Baz making the move at turn one before van der Mark and Locatelli, still chasing third, made contact at turn five with Locatelli retiring and van der Mark bringing his bike back to the pits; the incident will be investigated after the race by the FIM WorldSBK stewards. With the pair out of contention for the podium, Baz and Bautista battled for third place with the Spaniard coming out on top. At turn 15 on the final lap, Bautista crashed out of the race with Baz inheriting third place, his first podium since his WorldSBK return.

Loris Baz – P3

It’s a good holiday! I said I took it like holidays and I just want to thank Team GoEleven and Ducati because they gave me this opportunity and it’s amazing. I had so much fun riding this bike, improving session by session since Jerez. Just wanted to have fun. I was disappointed for the first time this morning; I could not use the Q tyre. It’s such a big difference and I thought it would be tough to fight for the podium. I knew I had the pace yesterday but starting from ninth is never easy. I made my way through. I had a nice fight with Alvaro. I saw he was on the limit with the front, so I just tried to show him I was there. I hope he’s okay because it’s a bad place to crash. So happy. It’s my holidays and it’s the best I’ve ever had!”

Loris Baz

Rinaldi finished the race in fourth place after the incredible battle for third place, with Haslam eventually coming home in fifth place after starting from the front row. Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) claimed a solid sixth place, just three tenths behind Haslam in fifth place.

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) continued his strong rookie campaign with seventh place ahead of Argentinean star Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda) claiming eighth place – his best result of the 2021 campaign. Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) battled up for ninth with Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) claiming tenth.

Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) missed out on the top ten by just over half-a-second but came home in 11th place, just ahead of Italian Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team); Cavalieri just a second behind Viñales. 2014 Moto2 World Champion Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) scored points on his first WorldSBK race onboard Kawasaki machinery, with Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) rounding out the points.

Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) was the last of the classified riders with the Belgian missing out on a point by just 0.079s. Cresson’s teammate, Lachlan Epis, retired from the race after bringing his bike into the pits, while Gabriele Ruiu (B-Max Racing Team) was also a retirement from the race, along with Rea, Locatelli, van der Mark and Bautista.

WorldSBK Portimao Race One Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 /
2 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.691
3 L.  Baz Ducati Panigale V4 R +10.628
4 M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R +12.901
5 L.  Haslam Honda CBR1000 RR-R +13.305
6 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +13.596
7 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +26.961
8 L.  Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R +28.826
9 E. Laverty BMW M 1000 RR +29.654
10 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +39.061
11 I.  Vinales Kawasaki ZX-10RR +39.703
12 S. Cavalieri Ducati Panigale V4 R +40.669
13 T. Rabat Kawasaki ZX-10RR +41.275
14 K. Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 +41.412
15 J.  Folger BMW M 1000 RR +52.815
16 L.  Cresson Kawasaki ZX-10RR +52.894
Not Classified
Ret A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R 1 Lap
Ret M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR 5 Laps
Ret A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 6 Laps
Ret G. Ruiu BMW M 1000 RR 12 Laps
Ret L.  Epis Kawasaki ZX-10RR 13 Laps
Ret J.  Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR 16 Laps

WSBK Championship Standings

Pos Rider Points
 1  Toprak Razgatlioglu  474
 2  Jonathan Rea  429
 3  Scott Redding  395
 4  Michael Ruben Rinaldi  240
 5  Andrea Locatelli  227
 6  Alex Lowes  199
 7  Michael Van Der Mark  189
 8  Garrett Gerloff  180
 9  Alvaro Bautista  169
 10  Tom Sykes  167
 11  Axel Bassani  159
 12  Chaz Davies  120
 13  Leon Haslam  115
 14  Kohta Nozane  48
 15  Lucas Mahias  44
 16  Tito Rabat  41
 17  Loris Baz  33
 18  Eugene Laverty  30
 19  Christophe Ponsson  29
 20  Isaac Vinales  28
 21  Jonas Folger  20
 22  Leandro Mercado  20
 23  Samuele Cavalieri  10
 24  Marvin Fritz  6
 25  Loris Cresson  3
 26  Andrea Mantovani  2
 27  Luke Mossey  2

WSSP600

The FIM Supersport World Championship race action kicked off on Saturday afternoon at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve with a long-awaited return to the top step for Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) over after the Frenchman claimed a hard-fought win in Race 1 for the Motul Portuguese Round, finishing less than half-a-second clear of his nearest rival.

Jules Cluzel took victory

The drama started from the beginning of the 17-lap race with Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) taking to the front of the field at the start of the race before he lost places in the closing stages of the opening lap, with Turkish star Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) briefly taking the lead of the race, before Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) and Cluzel came through.

Aegerter found himself dropped down to fourth place but soon found his way back in the podium places as he passed Öncü for third place. On Lap 6, Öncü found himself bundled down the order into sixth place as Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) came through, while Gonzalez lost the lead of the race and fell down to fifth behind De Rosa and Tuuli.

Aegerter made his move for the lead of the race in Cluzel into Turn 1 at the start of Lap 10 with the Swiss rider looking to add to his already-impressive win tally in his rookie campaign, but just a lap later Aegerter was down in fourth place after losing out to Cluzel, Gonzalez and De Rosa into Turn 1. On Lap 13, Tuuli made his move on Aegerter to demote the Championship leader into fifth, while out in front Gonzalez had re-taken the lead of the race at the expense of Cluzel.

At the start of Lap 14, Tuuli was up into the podium places after a move into Turn 1 as Cluzel made his move onto Gonzalez in the latter stages of Lap 14, with Gonzalez responding despite pressure from Tuuli into Turn 1 on Lap 15. Tuuli dropped back from the podium fight in the closing stages, as did De Rosa, with Cluzel making his move at the start of the final lap before holding in to claim his first victory since San Juan 2019, almost two years later. Such was Cluzel’s pace in the closing stages, the French rider was able to smash the lap record on the final lap of the 17-lap battle as he posted a 1’44.783s.

Gonzalez finished in second place ahead of Aegerter in third; the Swiss rider backing out of a move on Gonzalez in the closing stages of the race to extend his Championship lead over Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team). De Rosa claimed fourth place ahead of Tuuli in fifth, with Odendaal rounding out the top six after closing in on the lead group in the second half of the race.

Aussie teenager Billy van Eerde crossed the line 20th, his best performance since debuting in the class a few weeks ago.

WSSP600 Race 1 Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 J.  Cluzel Yamaha YZF R6  /
2 M. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 +0.389
3 D. Aegerter Yamaha YZF R6 +0.565
4 R. De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.669
5 N. Tuuli MV Agusta F3 675 +1.099
6 S. Odendaal Yamaha YZF R6 +1.486
7 R. Krummenacher Yamaha YZF R6 +5.519
8 C. Oncu Kawasaki ZX-6R +9.051
9 P. Oettl Kawasaki ZX-6R +9.272
10 Y. Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +9.464
11 P.  Sebestyen Yamaha YZF R6 +18.124
12 P. Hobelsberger Yamaha YZF R6 +18.372
13 H. Soomer Yamaha YZF R6 +18.698
14 F. Caricasulo Yamaha YZF R6 +22.048
15 O. Vostatek Yamaha YZF R6 +32.635
16 L.  Taccini Kawasaki ZX-6R +32.649
17 F. Fuligni Yamaha YZF R6 +33.216
18 M. Herrera Yamaha YZF R6 +38.180
19 M. Brenner Yamaha YZF R6 +38.225
20 B. Van Eerde Yamaha YZF R6 +38.614
21 V. Takala Yamaha YZF R6 +38.784
22 G. Hendra Pratama Yamaha YZF R6 +39.682
23 S. Frossard Yamaha YZF R6 +53.667
24 L.  Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +1m00.976
25 P. Romero Barbosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +1m11.124
26 U. Orradre Yamaha YZF R6 +2 Laps
Not Classified
RET G. Van Straalen Yamaha YZF R6 3 Laps
RET D. Sanchis Martinez Esp Yamaha YZF R6 12 Laps
RET K. Manfredi Yamaha YZF R6 13 Laps
RET E. Montero Huerta Yamaha YZF R6 15 Laps

WSSP600 Championship Standings

Pos Rider Points
 1  Dominique Aegerter  343
 2  Steven Odendaal  275
 3  Manuel Gonzalez  236
 4  Philipp Oettl  224
 5  Jules Cluzel  171
 6  Luca Bernardi  161
 7  Raffaele De Rosa  135
 8  Randy Krummenacher  131
 9  Federico Caricasulo  126
 10  Can Alexander Oncu  121
 11  Niki Tuuli  112
 12  Hannes Soomer  69
 13  Christoffer Bergman  47
 14  Marc Alcoba  40
 15  Peter Sebestyen  37
 16  Kevin Manfredi  31
 17  Marcel Brenner  26
 18  Galang Hendra Pratama  24
 19  Vertti Takala  23
 20  Simon Jespersen  22
 21  Andy Verdoia  14
 22  Glenn Van Straalen  13
 23  Loic Arbel  10
 24  Patrick Hobelsberger  10
 25  Stephane Frossard  10
 26  Valentin Debise  9
 27  Sheridan Morais  9
 28  David Sanchis Martinez  8
 29  Stefano Manzi  7
 30  Matteo Patacca  7
 31  Maria Herrera  7
 32  Federico Fuligni  7
 33  Yari Montella  6
 34  Filippo Fuligni  6
 35  Michel Fabrizio  6
 36  Max Enderlein  5
 37  Roberto Mercandelli  5
 38  Hikari Okubo  4
 39  Massimo Roccoli  4
 40  Leonardo Taccini  4
 41  Luca Grunwald  3
 42  Ondrej Vostatek  3
 43  Unai Orradre  2
 44  Daniel Valle  2
 45  Ludovic Cauchi  1
 46  Oscar Gutierrez Iglesias  1
 47  Luca Ottaviani  1
 48  Davide Pizzoli  1
 49  Pawel Szkopek  1

WSSP300

Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was crowned the 2021 Champion during the Motul Portuguese Round after team-mate Jeffrey Buis retired from the race after contact with Huertas, while French rider Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) claimed his maiden WorldSSP300 victory; the 20th different winner in the class.

Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was crowned the 2021 Champion

As the lights went out, the two riders in Championship contention jumped to the front of the field with Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) holding the lead from pole position despite heavy pressure from Jeffrey Buis. As the third lap of the race got underway, Huertas had managed to battle his way in front after losing out, before Buis found himself shuffled down the order as Huertas re-took the lead of the race.

Buis lost out in terms of the lead group and had to battle to make sure he could re-join the group fighting for victory and he was able to do so, finding himself battling again with his teammate on Lap 7 of 13, taking the lead on Lap 8 of the race. As the ninth lap started, Buis attempted an overtake on Huertas into the Turn 3 hairpin with the Dutchman retiring from the race, enough to crown Huertas as the 2021 Champion.

The battle for race victory went down to the wire in Portimao and it was Di Sora who would go on to claim victory in Race 1 by just 0.067s, his first victory in WorldSSP300 and also the first victory for France in the class, with Huertas finishing second place after Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki) was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Okaya’s podium means he claimed his third podium of 2021 and the fifth of his career.

Turkish star Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing) was in fourth place after battling his way up the grid to finish inside the top four, ahead of the returning Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) in fifth place; Booth-Amos had missed the Spanish Round at Jerez due to an injury sustained in Catalunya. Rookie Dirk Geiger (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) claimed sixth place after a strong result for the German rider, finishing 0.005s clear of Iñigo Iglesias (SMW Racing).

Young Aussie Harry Khouri crossed the line in 24th place.

WSSP300 Race 1 Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 S. Di Sora Kawasaki Ninja 400 /
2 A. Huertas Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.067
3 Y. Okaya Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.068
4 B. Sofuoglu Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.069
5 T. Booth-Amos Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.424
6 D. Geiger Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.844
7 I.  Iglesias Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.849
8 K. Meuffels Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.907
9 M. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.914
10 B. Ieraci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.082
11 K. Sabatucci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.802
12 O. Konig Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.81
13 R. Bijman Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.85
14 A. Coppola Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.932
15 A. Carrasco Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.18
16 T. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +12.446
17 J.  Gimbert Kawasaki Ninja 400 +12.702
18 A. Zanca Kawasaki Ninja 400 +12.763
19 Y. Ruiz Yamaha YZF-R3 +13.186
20 A. Millan Gomez Kawasaki Ninja 400 +13.222
21 T. Alonso Kawasaki Ninja 400 +13.27
22 M. Gaggi Yamaha YZF-R3 +13.95
23 M. Gennai Yamaha YZF-R3 +13.982
24 H. Khouri Kawasaki Ninja 400 +14.142
25 S. Markarian Kawasaki Ninja 400 +14.636
26 M. Garcia Kawasaki Ninja 400 +18.568
27 F. Palazzi Yamaha YZF-R3 +18.584
28 Y. Saiz Marquez Yamaha YZF-R3 +18.621
29 V. Steeman KTM RC 390 R +24.584
30 J.  Kocourek Kawasaki Ninja 400 +30.661
31 A. Frappola Kawasaki Ninja 400 +45.943
32 M. Duarte Yamaha YZF-R3 +1m41.655
33 J.  Romero Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1m49.273
Not Classified
RET J.  Perez Gonzalez Kawasaki Ninja 400 4 Laps
RET J.  Buis Kawasaki Ninja 400 5 Laps
RET D. Mogeda Kawasaki Ninja 400 6 Laps
RET P. Svoboda Yamaha YZF-R3 9 Laps
RET G. Mastroluca Yamaha YZF-R3 9 Laps
RET F. Llambias Yamaha YZF-R3 10 Laps
RET I.  Offer Kawasaki Ninja 400 /
RET D. Borges Kawasaki Ninja 400 /

WSSP300 Championship Standings

Pos Rider Points
 1  Adrian Huertas  230
 2  Jeffrey Buis  174
 3  Tom Booth-Amos  169
 4  Samuel Di Sora  148
 5  Bahattin Sofuoglu  131
 6  Yuta Okaya  127
 7  Meikon Kawakami  98
 8  Inigo Iglesias  85
 9  Victor Steeman  79
 10  Koen Meuffels  75
 11  Hugo De Cancellis  62
 12  Ton Kawakami  57
 13  Oliver Konig  55
 14  Alejandro Carrion  54
 15  Ana Carrasco  52
 16  Dorren Loureiro  51
 17  Mirko Gennai  46
 18  Gabriele Mastroluca  43
 19  Alvaro Diaz Cebrian  42
 20  Unai Orradre  39
 21  Bruno Ieraci  33
 22  Daniel Mogeda  27
 23  Dean Berta Vinales  26
 24  Marc Garcia  26
 25  Yeray Ruiz  22
 26  Ruben Bijman  21
 27  Kevin Sabatucci  18
 28  Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez  18
 29  Victor Rodriguez Nunez  15
 30  Harry Khouri  13
 31  Dirk Geiger  10
 32  Filippo Maria Palazzi  10
 33  Vicente Perez Selfa  9
 34  Petr Svoboda  8
 35  Facundo Llambias  7
 36  Johan Gimbert  5
 37  Alfonso Coppola  4
 38  Alessandro Zanca  3
 39  Oscar Nunez Roldan  3
 40  Thomas Brianti  2
 41  Alex Millan Gomez  2
 42  Christian Stange  1

Motul Spanish WorldSBK Round schedule

Time Class Event
1900 WorldSBK WUP
1925 WorldSSP WUP
1750 WorldSSP300 WUP
2100 WorldSBK Superpole Race
2100 WorldSSP Race 2
2230 WorldSBK Race 2
0000 WorldSSP300 Race 2

2021 WorldSBK Calendar

Date Track SBK SS600 SS300
21-23 May Aragón (Spain) X X
28-30 May Estoril (Portugal) X X  
11-13 Jun Misano (Italy) X X
2-4 Jul Donington Park (UK) X    
23-25 Jul Assen (Netherlands) X X
06-08 Aug Autodrom Most (Czech) X X X
20-22 Aug Navarra (Spain) X X  
3-5 Sep Magny-Cours (France) X X
17-19 Sep Catalunya (Spain) X X
24-26 Sep Jerez (Spain) X X X
1-3 Oct Portimao (Portugal) X X
15-17 Oct San Juan Villicum (Argentina) X X  
19-21 Nov Mandalika*** (Indonesia) X X

Source: MCNews.com.au

Jonny Rea hot out of the blocks at Portimao

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 11 – Portimao


Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes finished first and second fastest respectively after the first day of practice at the WorldSBK Championship round in Portimao.

In bright morning sunshine Rea and Lowes finished FP1 in first and third positions, riding on a new track surface from that used in the 2020 race weekend. The KRT duo recently tested at Portimao and used that prior knowledge to good effect in their early preparations for the three WorldSBK races that will take place this weekend.

Jonathan Rea

In FP2 Alex moved up one place to second in the combined timesheets to complete a KRT 1-2, with Jonathan finally 0.191 seconds ahead of Lowes.

Alex Lowes

The conditions at Portimao have been universally warm and dry since the WorldSBK paddock arrived after the recent Jerez round, with the track temperatures almost reaching 50-degrees in FP2.

Rea and his crew made several set-up changes from FP1 to FP2 and as a consequence Rea was not only the fastest rider over a single lap but made real advances in his race pace on used tyres.

Rea, the most successful rider at Portimao in recent years, was 0.217 seconds ahead of the next best non-Kawasaki rider, with his main championship rival Toprak Razgatlioglu fifth overall today.

American Garrett Gerloff was this quickest ahead of Leon Haslam.


Jonathan Rea – P1

“I’m very happy with the bike and the work we did today. We made some quite significant changes to our set-up between session and I felt more comfortable on the bike; probably the most comfortable I have felt all season. I feel relieved in some ways and excited for tomorrow to see what it brings. I was able to keep quite a high-paced rhythm over a long run and just kept getting faster and faster. Normally when you keep the rhythm high in the beginning the tyre drop is quite significant, but I was able to keep the tyre and manage it. Especially at a track like this, where you put a lot of energy into the tyre around the long last corner, I have been quite strong. Great work from all the team and I am looking forward to seeing what happens tomorrow. I feel ready.”

Alex Lowes – P2

“It was not bad for the first day and I felt pretty good on the bike. We had a good test here, maybe a month-and-a-half ago. At this track on our bike it seems to be pretty good. The bike is stable and it is fun to ride it here. I still need to check of I can ride in the races here. We have made a good start to this weekend but now I am going to the Clinica for checks and then I will see how the hand feels in the morning. Today was good and my hand feels better than it did a week ago, but it has been very boring sitting for a few days with a cast on!”

Garrett Gerloff – P3

“It was a good day. I am really enjoying the track and the new surface they put down, as there is a lot more grip especially with high temperatures. Last year it was very hot during all the races, which made it very difficult to find grip. But this time, the Yamaha R1 feels good. I thought that, thanks to the new surface, there would be less bumps, but the track feels as bumpy as before to be honest. At least, there is more grip when you hit the bumps, and the bike is not as affected by them as before, which is positive. I feel good, and the goal is to have a solid qualifying session and a good start in both races in order to stay close to the top guys. I ran laps both on the Pirelli SC0 tyre and on the 415 tyre: they feel very similar and I believe that the difference between them will only show in the last laps.”

Garrett Gerloff
Leon Haslam – P4

“We went into this weekend with quite a different approach in terms of the chassis. So losing time this morning wasn’t ideal, but it was my fault, I was going that little bit too fast and hit the white line. The boys did a fantastic job to basically build a new bike for FP2. We stuck with the hard tyre throughout that session, and so I was really surprised we finished P3. To be honest, the times feel quite comfortable and although we have work to do in certain areas, I admit I was surprised to end up in that position today. As for tyres, I think I can make the harder solutions work better and I don’t seem to get the advantage that some riders find with the “X” solution. It’s a lot about the riding here too though, considering the kind of track it is, so a combination of things come into play. Hopefully with our new approach we can be a little bit more consistent both in practice and the races too.”

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – P5

“It was difficult, because I have a little bit of a “cold” again, but we try a good set-up for the race. Not easy for me to try the long run, but result was not bad! We improved the bike again this afternoon, a big step compared to last year and new asphalt has more grip, but we will see what is possible in the race. Today we worked just for the race consistency, and not try to focus on the lap time this afternoon – we are not looking at the position today. I say again, not bad but we will see tomorrow.”


WSBK Portimao Friday Combined Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 J. Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m41.466
2 A. Lowes Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.191
3 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +0.217
4 L. Haslam Honda CBR1000 RR-R +0.250
5 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 +0.283
6 L. Baz Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.294
7 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.520
8 M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.633
9 A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R +0.649
10 A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 +0.706
11 M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR +0.858
12 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +1.179
13 I.  Vinales Kawasaki ZX-10RR +1.310
14 L. Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R  +1.387
15 E. Laverty BMW M 1000 RR +1.691
16 J. Folger BMW M 1000 RR +1.855
17 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +2.400
18 K. Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 +2.471
19 S. Cavalieri Ducati Panigale V4 R +2.847
20 T. Rabat Kawasaki ZX-10RR +2.886
21 G. Ruiu BMW M 1000 RR +3.002
22 L. Cresson Kawasaki ZX-10RR +3.309
23 L. Epis Kawasaki ZX-10RR +4.032

WSSP

The last of the triple headers for the FIM Supersport World Championship got underway at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for the Motul Portuguese Round, with Spanish rider Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) breaking the all-time lap record for the Portuguese venue in the morning Free Practice 1 session, and that was good enough to set the fastest time of the day.

Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) was second quickest after a strong day for the Frenchman; Cluzel topping Free Practice 2 in the afternoon while finishing second in FP1. Cluzel’s former team-mate, Federico Caricasulo (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing) was third on Friday, his best time coming in the morning session.

Championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was fourth after initially finishing eighth in the opening session, before responding in FP2 with the second fastest time in the afternoon. His nearest rival in the Championship, Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team), was directly behind him in fifth place with Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) rounding out the top six after bouncing back from technical issues in FP1.

Australian youngster Billy van Eerde was 30th on Friday, four-seconds off that new lap record set by Gonzalez.

WSSP Portimao Friday Combined Times

Pos No. Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 M. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 1m44.188
2 J. Cluzel Yamaha YZF R6 +0.170
3 F. Caricasulo Yamaha YZF R6 +0.341
4 D. Aegerter Yamaha YZF R6 +0.405
5 S. Odendaal Yamaha YZF R6 +0.430
6 N. Tuuli MV Agusta F3 675 +0.633
7 C. Oncu Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.766
8 P. Oettl Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.768
9 R. De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.792
10 R. Krummenacher Yamaha YZF R6 +1.050
11 Y. Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +1.052
12 P. Hobelsberger Yamaha YZF R6 +1.193
13 M. Brenner Yamaha YZF R6 +1.378
14 P. Sebestyen Yamaha YZF R6 +1.398
15 G. Van Straalen Yamaha YZF R6 +1.661
16 C. Bergman Yamaha YZF R6 +1.665
17 D. Sanchis Martinez Yamaha YZF R6 +1.681
18 K. Manfredi Yamaha YZF R6 +1.908
19 H. Soomer Yamaha YZF R6 +1.912
20 F. Fuligni Yamaha YZF R6 +1.998
21 U. Orradre Yamaha YZF R6 +2.138
22 L. Taccini Kawasaki ZX-6R +2.153
23 O. Vostatek Yamaha YZF R6 +2.271
24 V. Takala Yamaha YZF R6 +2.618
25 M. Herrera Yamaha YZF R6 +2.724
26 G. Hendra Pratama Yamaha YZF R6 +2.786
27 A. Viu Yamaha YZF R6 +2.838
28 S. Frossard Yamaha YZF R6 +3.025
29 L. Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +3.594
30 B. Van Eerde Yamaha YZF R6 +4.004
31 P. Romero Barbosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +4.561
32 E. Montero Huerta Yamaha YZF R6 +4.685
33 S. Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-6R +5.054

WSSP300

Tom Booth-Amos topped both timesheets for the 30-minute Friday practice sessions with a 1’56.273s, posted in the morning Free Practice 1 session, the fastest time of the day by just 0.009s ahead of Championship leader Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki). Iñigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) was in third place, 0.010s off top spot, in a very tight top three after both sessions.

The top six times in the combined classification came from FP1 with Uruguayan rider Facundo Llambias (Machado CAME SBK) in fourth after another strong showing from the first rider from Uruguay to compete in WorldSSP300. Koen Meuffels (MTM Kawasaki) was the second MTM Kawasaki rider in the top six, with reigning Champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) completing the top six.

Harry Khouri was 23rd on Friday and had a small crash in FP2.

WSSP300  Portimao Friday Combined Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 T. Booth-Amos Kawasaki Ninja 400 1m56.273
2 A. Huertas Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.009
3 I.  Iglesias Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.010
4 F. Llambias Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.139
5 K. Meuffels Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.152
6 J. Buis Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.192
7 B. Ieraci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.228
8 K. Sabatucci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.236
9 B. Sofuoglu Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.492
10 J. Perez Gonzalez Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.549
11 G. Mastroluca Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.550
12 S. Di Sora Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.790
13 Y. Okaya Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.792
14 R. Bijman Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.861
15 V. Steeman KTM RC 390 R +0.911
16 M. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.916
17 O. Konig Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.925
18 D. Geiger Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.965
19 A. Coppola Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.969
20 A. Zanca Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.043
21 Y. Ruiz Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.164
22 T. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.172
23 H. Khouri Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.201
24 A. Carrasco Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.227
25 S. Markarian Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.404
26 A. Millan Gomez Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.504
27 M. Garcia Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.586
28 P. Svoboda Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.662
29 M. Gennai Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.716
30 J. Gimbert Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.728
31 M. Gaggi Yamaha YZF-R3 +1.812
32 D. Mogeda Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.882
33 T. Alonso Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.302
34 F. Palazzi Yamaha YZF-R3 +2.332
35 V. Perez Selfa Yamaha YZF-R3 +2.348
36 A. Frappola Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.501
37 J. Kocourek Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.907
38 Y. Saiz Marquez Yamaha YZF-R3 +3.171
39 M. Duarte Yamaha YZF-R3 +3.616
40 D. Borges Kawasaki Ninja 400 +3.641
41 J. Romero Kawasaki Ninja 400 +4.540
42 I.  Offer Kawasaki Ninja 400 +5.886

Motul Spanish WorldSBK Round schedule

Source: MCNews.com.au

Razgatlioglu arrives at Portimao with 20-point lead in championship

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round 11 – Portimao


After a Spanish Round at Jerez that had its mix of triumphs and tragedy, WorldSBK is now amassing at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, readying for the eleventh round of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend.

The Portimao circuit was designed by architect Ricardo Pina and opened in 2008. I rode it for the fist time in 2009, at the world launch of the then all-new first generation BMW S 1000 RR. I have also ridden this awesome rollercoaster of a circuit a few times since. It is a close second to Phillip Island when it comes to my limited experience of circuits around the world. This spectacular track is 4592 metres long, with nine right-handers and six left-hand corners and a configuration with a maximum gradient of 57 metres, a long turn radii that goes from 23 metres to a maximum of 207 metres, and a finishing straight which has a total length of 835 metres. It was down that main straight that I experienced the top end horsepower of the S 1000 RR for the first time, and it was immediately obvious that it truly did set a new benchmark for sheer horsepower when it came to road going motorcycles.

With a few over-crest blind entries along with a heart-in-mouth final turn that seems to go on forever it is certainly daunting. That final bend is a 350 metre curve that even takes World Superbike riders more than 6.5-seconds to navigate at a 50-degree lean angle, as they accelerate from 150 km/h on entry to 250 km/h by the exit.  Corners 5, 8, 11, 13, and 14 have on the contrary a very tight radius (about 30 metres), which forces the rider to brake to an extremely low speed, it really does have a bit of everything. Those huge altitude changes and demanding blind entry curves mean that riding it at true high level race pace must be a mix of the truly frightening, and absolutely thrilling.

With Razgatlioglu sporting the biggest Championship lead he’s ever had, the Turk is hoping to increase that advantage further at Portimao, a track that title rival Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has won at 12 times, had 21 podiums and four pole positions… As the final European round of the season beckons, it could make or break Rea’s campaign this weekend at Portimao.  Striking back at Portimao will put Rea back in contention, but leaving the track with a deficit of 27-points or more will mean that rival Razgatlioglu will be able to finish second in the remaining races, even if Rea wins.

Jonathan Rea

“I am expecting much more from Portimao. I think there’s a few factors that should work in our favour there. It’s a track where I’m quite strong as well. We expect to capitalise. We expect a good weekend. So that’s good – it’s good pressure. I like this feeling. I like the feeling when my back is against the wall. It’s nice. I like gritting my teeth. But I need a weapon to fight with. You can’t just grit your teeth and make it happen. We need to fix the small issues we’re having in these hot conditions with the soft tyre. But, I think the soft tyre is on holiday now until next year. I think Portimao should suit us a little bit better than the previous rounds.”

WorldSBK Portimao R Rea Wins
Jonathan Rea at Portimao in 2018

Toprak’s had his fair share of success at the circuit too; along with his three WorldSBK podiums, Toprak won at Portimao in the European Superstock 1000 class in 2017 and in the Superstock 600 class in 2015. Team-mate Andrea Locatelli was denied two podiums last time out at Jerez and had to settle for fourth twice, although he was a double winner in WorldSSP at the track in 2020.

Rea has not been able to rely on team-mate Alex Lowes too much of late. Lowes was ruled unfit ahead of Race 2 following a right hand fracture from Catalunya; he took two podiums for Kawasaki at the track in 2020, if fit, he’ll aim to add to that tally.

At Ducati, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) came away from Jerez with a double podium, taking a last lap third place in Race 1 and just missing out on Race 2 victory after a fight with Toprak Razgatlioglu. 69-points behind championship leader Razgatlioglu, Redding’s relying on good form combined with bad luck for the two ahead of him to remain in the title fight. His form at Portimao was mixed last year, with seventh and fifth in Race 1 and Tissot Superpole Race, whilst Race 2 saw him second. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi showed flashes of brilliance at Jerez, but a Race 1 crash and a late Race 2 fade left him wanting more; he took a double top six in the full races in 2020 at Portimao.

A trending topic from the last two rounds have been Team HRC, particularly Alvaro Bautista, who has had two podiums in the last four races. A third in the Tissot Superpole Race at Catalunya was backed up with a fine Race 2 third place at Jerez, beating Andrea Locatelli late on. Bautista was a winner at Portimao back in 2019 for Ducati and last year, he took his first top five for Honda in Race 2. On the other side of the garage, Leon Haslam (Team HRC) didn’t crack the top ten at Portimao in 2020 or at Jerez last time out, so hopes that recent good Superpole showings give race pace gains.

Alvaro Bautista

“We arrive in Portimão after two positive weekends in terms of performance and results. Last year we were competitive in Portugal, and the bike has improved since then, but we will reset everything and head there with a free mind. We’ll get our heads down, keep on working, and aim to start out on the right foot already on Friday and just try and get all we can from the bike. And then, if we can fight for more top-five finishes or the podium, it would be fantastic.”

Leon Haslam

“Portimão is a really good track and, although we haven’t tested there this year, it’s a circuit at which I’ve done well in the past. We’ve seen that we need to keep working to sort out a few issues we’ve had in the last races of course, but this is a circuit that I’m very much looking forward to race at, and it always makes for some exciting races so we’ll see if we can have a good weekend there.”

It was a tricky round last time out for BMW, as Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was only 13th on the grid, battling to seventh in Race 1 and eighth in Race 2. Van der Mark has good form at Portimao, with six podiums during his Yamaha years, as well as a win in 2014’s WorldSSP race. With Tom Sykes’ participation unconfirmed as the British rider recovers from his Catalunya Race 2 injuries, the BMW squad will hope that the new M 1000 RR hits the ground running at Portimao, in order to stay in the fight for a top six in the Championship overall.

It’s tightening up for the best Independent’s battle, with Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) not able to rekindle his early season form at present. His lead over Axel Bassani in the standings has been whittled down to 20 and Bassani’s recent form may well see it reduced further this weekend. With Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) still out injured, Loris Baz is back on the Ducati Panigale V4 R, heading to the track where he took a podium at in 2020 – his first podium since Race 2 at Losail, 2014. Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is the next Independent, two points clear of Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), although he’ll miss the rest of 2021; he’s replaced by Tito Rabat for the Motul Portuguese Round.

Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport Yamaha) hopes to close on Eugene Laverty in the standings, the Irishman’s presence to be confirmed. Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) will make an emotional return to racing action and hope to put pressure on the top ten placings, whereas Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) will be going for a third consecutive points-scoring ride for the first time in his WorldSBK career. Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) had made a visible step forward at Jerez and that’s something he will wish to take to Portimao. Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team) is back again, whilst Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) leads team-mate Lachlan Epis in Lucio Pedercini’s outfit. One wildcard to know about is Gabriele Ruiu (B-Max Racing Team), with the Italian aboard the BMW M 1000 RR.


Motul Spanish WorldSBK Round schedule

Source: MCNews.com.au

Toprak tops tragic Saturday at Jerez

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round Ten Jerez


The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s tenth round of the season at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto saw Toprak Razgatlioglu claim pole for Sunday racing at the MOTUL Spanish round.

After the sad passing of Dean Berta Viñales following an accident in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race one on Saturday, all Saturday track activity was cancelled. Sunday will now feature WorldSBK race one at 11am (local time) and race two at 2pm, while the Tissot Superpole Sprint Race has been cancelled. There will also be races for WorldSSP and WorldSSP300.

Having been knocked off his pole position perch last time out at Catalunya, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was eager to get back to the head of the field. However, it wouldn’t happen as Turkish delight was on order; Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) took a first pole of the year and a second of his career, as he powered to the head of the field. Razgatlioglu has not taken a pole since Estoril 2020.

With the WorldSBK field taking to the track under the beautiful Andalusian sunshine, the first laps came in with some riders going straight to the Q tyre for their first attack on pole. Both title contenders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea on the Q tyres, as well as Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), who shadowed team-mate Toprak on the first run.

However, it was formation flying as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who is far from 100% fit as he nurses a right-hand injury, hit the front ahead of teammate Rea, both on the Q tyre, ahead of Locatelli, following the first flurry of action, both being the first riders into the sub-39 brackets with 1’38.7s, separated by just 0.005s. After the first run, Razgatlioglu was only tenth whilst there were surprises in the top ten, with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) in seventh and eighth, both just behind an in-form Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC), who was fifth having not used the Q tyre straight away, whilst Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) was also impressive, in and around the top ten.

Leaving it later to go out on track for a first run, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was already up inside the top three, popping up to third after his first flying lap. Soon, he would be bumped back by teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who set his first flying lap on the Q tyre after initially going out on race tyre rubber; Rinaldi went third and was, like the two Kawasaki ahead of him, in the 1’38s bracket. With further changes down the order, Razgatlioglu was down in 13th place.

The final two minutes set the grid as Alex Lowes improved further, dropping the time down to a 1’38.539, just two tenths outside of Jonathan Rea’s 2019 pole record. However, after being more than two tenths of a second down after three sectors, Toprak Razgatlioglu pulled out the final sector of his life, blasting to the line and storming to his first pole position of the season by just 0.027s. More than a tenth of a second faster in the final sector than his rivals, Razgatlioglu was on fire to deliver Yamaha’s first pole of 2021, beating Lowes who starts second, whilst Jonathan Rea couldn’t take it to the two ahead of him and for a second round running, finishes third. The pole for Yamaha is the 40th in their WorldSBK history, the first since Estoril in 2020, also by Razgatlioglu.

Fourth place went to the first Ducati rider, Scott Redding, who was able to hold off a late charge from teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, with the Italian completing the top five. Rinaldi has looked like he’s been fast with race pace too, so a top five starting position could well see him come to the fore in the race. Andrea Locatelli completes the second row, just more than half a second from his teammate’s top time.

ROW THREE SURPRISES: a shock in store?

Heading up the third row of the grid in seventh place is super-sub Loris Baz (Team GoEleven), who was top Independent at the end of Superpole. The Frenchman gave Team GoEleven a return to the top ten, whilst in the middle of the third row, Leon Haslam (Team HRC) took top Honda honours, ahead of his in-form teammate Alvaro Bautista, who takes a first top nine since Misano, which is encouraging given his ability to charge through the field and pull a result out. Completing the top ten, Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) held off a late challenge from a sensational Leandro Mercado, who takes his best Superpole result since Losail 2019.

THE REST OF THE FIELD: a comeback from behind?

Other riders further down the order included Axel Bassani who was 12th whilst it was another tricky Superpole session for BMW, with Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) heading up an all-BMW top five, with substitute teammate Eugene Laverty in 15th, both split by Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing). Isaac Viñales ended up 16th ahead of Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), whilst Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team) was 18th. Marvin Fritz (IXS-YART Yamaha) was 19th, ahead of Andrea Mantovani (Vince64), Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport Yamaha), Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and team-mate Lachlan Epis.

WorldSBK Jerez Superpole
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’38.512s
2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.027s
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.102s

2021 Jerez WSBK Superpole

Pos No.  Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 1m38.512
2  A. Lowes Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.027
3 J.  Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.102
4 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.149
5 M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.348
6 A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 +0.544
7 L.  Baz Ducati Panigale V4 R +0.810
8 L.  Haslam Honda CBR1000 RR-R +0.911
9 A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R +1.097
10 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +1.235
11 L.  Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R +1.511
12 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +1.569
13 M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR +1.580
14 J.  Folger BMW M 1000 RR +1.609
15 E. Laverty BMW M 1000 RR +1.694
16 I.  Vinales Kawasaki ZX-10RR +1.761
17 K. Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 +1.855
18 S. Cavalieri Ducati Panigale V4 R +1.921
19  M. Fritz Yamaha YZF R1 +1.978
20 A. Mantovani Kawasaki ZX-10RR +2.283
21 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +2.518
22 L.  Cresson Kawasaki ZX-10RR +2.743
23 L.  Epis Kawasaki ZX-10RR +4.114


WorldSSP600

The Tissot Superpole session for the FIM Supersport World Championship was a tightly-contested affair at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed his first WorldSSP pole position at the venue he took his first Moto3 win at in 2018 for the Motul Spanish Round as he edged out Championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha)

Oettl was quick on Friday in Jerez and he continued that into Saturday’s Superpole session as he posted a 1’41.798s to claim the first German pole position in WorldSSP since Sandro Cortese at Brno in 2018, his lap only just shy of the all-time lap record set by Federico Caricasulo (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing). Aegerter claimed second position in Jerez on his return to WorldSSP after missing the Catalunya Round, while Caricasulo took his second front row of the season and his best result in Superpole since his pole position at Estoril.

Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) will lead the front row off for both races after taking fourth place, 0.248s away from Oettl, while Randy Krummenacher (CM Racing) will line up fifth, missing out on fourth place by just 0.013s. Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) will complete the sixth row after a strong showing as the sole MV Agusta rider in Jerez.

Championship contender Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) will lead away the third row with seventh place, hoping he can strike back against Aegerter in the races and close the Championship gap, while Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) will start eighth and Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in ninth despite a Turn 6 crash late on in the session. Debutant Stefano Manzi (GMT94 Yamaha) took a top ten spot in his first WorldSSP Superpole session, with teammate Jules Cluzel in 12th.

Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) just missed out on a top ten starting spot with 11th on just his second round since returning to the Championship ahead of Cluzel and Federico Fuligni (VFT Racing) in 13th, while Kevin Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team) was the highest-placed WorldSSP Challenge rider in 14th place. Estonian Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) rounded out the top 15 as his recovery from injury continues.

Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) just missed out on a top ten starting spot with 11th on just his second round since returning to the Championship ahead of Cluzel and Federico Fuligni (VFT Racing) in 13th, while Kevin Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team) was the highest-placed WorldSSP Challenge rider in 14th place. Estonian Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) rounded out the top 15 as his recovery from injury continues.

Unai Orradre (Yamaha MS Racing) managed to set one flying lap during the session but crashed at Turn 1 in the early stages, forcing the Spanish rider to take stock before he re-joined the session to bring his Yamaha machine back to the pits; eventually securing 18th place. Martin Vugrinec (Ferquest – Unior Racing Team) crashed with around three minutes left in the session left, qualifying in 25th, while Öncü crashed at the same corner shortly after. Galang Hendra Pratama (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was forced out of the session after the Indonesian rider crashed at Turn 10, eventually qualifying in 24th. Following the crash, Pratama was declared unfit for the Saturday’s action with suspected concussion. He will undergo further checks and assessments during the day.

Young Aussie Billy van Eerde (IXS-YART Yamaha) crashed at Turn 12 in the closing stages of the session, and will start from 27th on the grid.

2021 Jerez WSSP600 Superpole

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 P. Oettl Kawasaki ZX-6R 1m41.798
2 D. Aegerter Yamaha YZF R6 +0.036
3 F. Caricasulo Yamaha YZF R6 +0.166
4 M. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 +0.248
5 R. Krummenacher Yamaha YZF R6 +0.261
6 N. Tuuli MV Agusta F3 675 +0.658
7 S. Odendaal Yamaha YZF R6 +0.772
8 R. De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.794
9 C. Oncu Kawasaki ZX-6R +0.909
10 S. Manzi Yamaha YZF R6 +1.013
11 G. Van Straalen Yamaha YZF R6 +1.134
12 J.  Cluzel Yamaha YZF R6 +1.145
13 F. Fuligni Yamaha YZF R6 +1.317
14 K. Manfredi Yamaha YZF R6 +1.333
15 H. Soomer Yamaha YZF R6 +1.408
16 M. Brenner Yamaha YZF R6 +1.554
17 P. Sebestyen Yamaha YZF R6 +1.594
18 U. Orradre Yamaha YZF R6 +1.598
19 M. Alcoba Yamaha YZF R6 +1.720
20 C. Bergman Yamaha YZF R6 +1.849
21 M. Fabrizio Kawasaki ZX-6R +2.234
22 M. Herrera Yamaha YZF R6 +2.301
23 D. Sanchis Martinez Yamaha YZF R6 +2.358
24 G. Hendra Pratama Yamaha YZF R6 +2.369
25 M. Vugrinec Yamaha YZF R6 +2.485
26 V. Takala Yamaha YZF R6 +2.566
27 B. Van Eerde Yamaha YZF R6 +2.625
28 L.  Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +2.872
29 S. Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-6R +2.992
30 O. Vostatek Yamaha YZF R6 +3.104
31 L.  Taccini Kawasaki ZX-6R +3.141
32 E. Montero Huerta Yamaha YZF R6 +3.517
33 S. Frossard Yamaha YZF R6 +3.570

WorldSSP300

Race 1 for the FIM Supersport was a dramatic affair with the title on the line but it was Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) claiming victory at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for the Motul Spanish Round, ensuring the title battle would go on until at least Race 2 tomorrow with teammate Adrian finishing in seventh place in the Red-Flagged race, with the race stopped on Lap 11.

As the 13-lap encounter got underway, Championship leader Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) kept the lead as he looked to wrap up the Championship in Race 1 with the Spanish rider facing pressure from his rivals throughout the race in a typically frantic WorldSSP300 race.

WorldSSP300

As the race progressed, Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) battled his way up tp the lead group after starting from 12th place, claiming the victory by 0.113s ahead of Inigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) who claimed his first WorldSSP300 with second place, ahead of Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing) in third; the first time he has taken three consecutive podiums in his WorldSSP300.

WorldSSP300

Brazilian rider Meikon Kawakami (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing) claimed fourth place in the shortened race, with Alvaro Diaz Cebrian (Acro-Motor University Team) in fifth place after another impressive race for the Spanish rider. Huertas was seventh which meant he did not win the title on Saturday, with teammate Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki) just a tenth behind in eighth place.

Marc Garcia (Prodina Team WorldSSP300) was in ninth place as he held off the challenge from Oliver König (Movisio by MIE) as the Czech rider completed the top ten, with Victor Steeman (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) in 11th place. The returning Bruno Ieraci (Prodina Team WorldSSP300) scored points on his return to the Championship with Alessandro Zanca (Kawasaki GP Project) in 13th place. Dutch rider Koen Meuffels (MTM Kawasaki) was in 14th with Victor Rodriguez Nuñez (Machado CAME SBK) rounding out the points.

WorldSSP300

Mirko Gennai (Team BRcorse) finished in 16th place, Alex Millan Gomez (2R Racing) missed out on points by less than a second as he finished in 17th place with South African rider Dorren Louriero (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) in 18th. Uraguyan rider Facundo Llambias (Machado CAME SBK) was classified in 19th place with Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300) and Johan Gimbert (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) rounding out the top 21.

Ton Kawakami (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing) was the first retirement from the race when he crashed at Turn 6, before a collision between Kevin Sabatucci (Kawasaki GP Project) and Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing) at Turn 9, with the incident to be investigated after the race by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Sabatucci did re-join the race but brought his bike back to the pits following the incident.

Gabriele Mastroluca (ProGP Racing) had a spectacular highside during the race which forced the Italian out of the race, while Ruben Bijman (Machado CAME SBK) was another retirement after a Turn 1 crash. Although he could re-join, he suffered a technical issue later on which put him out of the race. Yeray Ruiz (Yamaha MS Racing) crashed at Turn 9 on lap 9 but was able to re-join the race.

Khouri and the pack of WorldSSP 300 riders that were later caught up in the incident – Image 2snap

The race was Red Flagged after a crash at Turn 2 at the start of Lap 11 involving Dean Berta Viñales (Viñales Racing Team), Harry Khouri (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki), Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Kawasaki) and Alejandro Carrion (Kawasaki GP Project). Following great efforts by medical staff at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Dean Berta Viñales sadly succumbed to injuries.

Cousin of MotoGP star Maverick Vinales passed away after crash

2021 Jerez SSP300  Race One

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 J.  Buis Kawasaki Ninja 400 /
2 I.  Iglesias Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.113
3 B. Sofuoglu Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.346
4 M. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.503
5 A. Diaz Cebrian Yamaha YZF-R3 +0.637
6 S. Di Sora Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.699
7 A. Huertas Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.817
8 Y. Okaya Kawasaki Ninja 400 +0.944
9 M. Garcia Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.519
10 O. Konig Kawasaki Ninja 400 +1.585
11 V. Steeman KTM RC 390 R +1.737
12 B. Ieraci Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.068
13 A. Zanca Kawasaki Ninja 400 +2.577
14 K. Meuffels Kawasaki Ninja 400 +5.190
15 V. Rodriguez Nunez Yamaha YZF-R3 +5.288
16 M. Gennai Yamaha YZF-R3 +5.840
17 A. Millan Gomez Kawasaki Ninja 400 +6.691
18 D. Loureiro Kawasaki Ninja 400 +7.832
19 F. Llambias Yamaha YZF-R3 +8.388
20 A. Carrasco Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Sector
21 J.  Gimbert Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Sector
22 Y. Saiz Marquez Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Sector
23 P. Svoboda Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Sector
24 F. Palazzi Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Sector
25 M. Gaggi Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Sector
26 A. Coppola Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Sector
27 S. Markarian Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Sector
28 J.  Kocourek Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Lap
29 A. Frappola Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Lap
30 J.  Romero Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Lap
31 Y. Ruiz Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Lap
32 M. Duarte Yamaha YZF-R3 1 Lap
33 I.  Offer Kawasaki Ninja 400 1 Lap
Not Classified
RET D. Mogeda Kawasaki Ninja 400 DNF
RET H. Khouri Kawasaki Ninja 400 DNF
RET D. Berta Vinales Yamaha YZF-R3 DNF
RET A. Carrion Kawasaki Ninja 400 DNF
RET R. Bijman Yamaha YZF-R3 DNF
RET G. Mastroluca Yamaha YZF-R3 DNF
RET K. Sabatucci Kawasaki Ninja 400 DNF
RET J.  Perez Gonzalez Kawasaki Ninja 400 DNF
RET T. Kawakami Yamaha YZF-R3 DNF
Pos Rider Points
 1  Adrian Huertas  210
 2  Jeffrey Buis  161
 3  Tom Booth-Amos  158
 4  Samuel Di Sora  123
 5  Yuta Okaya  95
 6  Bahattin Sofuoglu  93
 7  Meikon Kawakami  82
 8  Victor Steeman  79
 9  Koen Meuffels  63
 10  Hugo De Cancellis  62
 11  Ton Kawakami  57
 12  Inigo Iglesias  56
 13  Alejandro Carrion  54
 14  Ana Carrasco  51
 15  Dorren Loureiro  51
 16  Oliver Konig  46
 17  Gabriele Mastroluca  43
 18  Alvaro Diaz Cebrian  42
 19  Unai Orradre  39
 20  Mirko Gennai  36
 21  Daniel Mogeda  27
 22  Dean Berta Vinales  26
 23  Bruno Ieraci  25
 24  Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez  18
 25  Yeray Ruiz  16
 26  Marc Garcia  15
 27  Victor Rodriguez Nunez  14
 28  Harry Khouri  13
 29  Kevin Sabatucci  10
 30  Filippo Maria Palazzi  10
 31  Ruben Bijman  10
 32  Vicente Perez Selfa  9
 33  Petr Svoboda  8
 34  Johan Gimbert  5
 35  Alessandro Zanca  3
 36  Oscar Nunez Roldan  3
 37  Alfonso Coppola  2
 38  Thomas Brianti  2
 39  Alex Millan Gomez  2
 40  Christian Stange  1

Motul Spanish WorldSBK Round schedule

Source: MCNews.com.au

One point separates Razgatlioglu and Rea as WorldSBK hits Jerez

2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Round Ten Jerez


The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rumbles into the tenth round and the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in Andalusia this weekend. The Motul Spanish Round will see the 100th WorldSBK race in Spain which welcomed the Championship to the country for the first time back in 1990.

At the head of the field, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) has a miniscule one-point lead of title rival and defending six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), as both push each other to new levels each round in a style never seen before. Not wanting to give an inch and aiming to beat each other to the next corner, let alone just the race, something special awaits at Jerez.

Aiming for a perfect ten in the beautiful south, Toprak Razgatlioglu is hoping to get back to winning ways at Jerez, having not been able to grab a victory at Catalunya. Currently on eight wins for the season, the Turkish sensation is within striking distance of getting to double figures, which would make him the first Yamaha WorldSBK rider to reach this tally in one season. Struck by mechanical problems in Catalunya’s Race 1 and in the Tissot Superpole Race at Jerez in 2020, he hopes that his luck improves this weekend. Teammate Andrea Locatelli is in the mix and after a tricky Catalunya, heads to a circuit he knows well with the aim of helping Toprak as well as returning to the rostrum.

In the slipstream of his title rival, Jonathan Rea knows that Jerez is vital. A track of which he was a winner at in 2020 in but also a track where high track temperatures aren’t favourable for Kawasaki, it’s hard to tell how the weekend will go. Rea’s form however speaks for itself at the Spanish track, with three wins and seven podiums, although he’s only made it to the podium three times out of the last six races held there, only taking one win in the same period. With the Championship so tight at the top, every point matters for Rea, who comes into the round off the back of a sixth place in Race 2 at Catalunya and where high track temperatures once again played a part.

Jonathan Rea

We ride a lot in Jerez in November, January and February, when the track is very cold. So, when the track is hot and greasy it’s a little bit different. Last year we rode there when the season restarted after Round One in Australia. So, we have good data from there last year. It was hot for the races, I remember because it was in the middle of summer. I think the problems we faced at Barcelona we need to really fix and make better for the races in Jerez. There is definitely work to do.”

Jonathan Rea

Team-mate Alex Lowes couldn’t crack the top six at Jerez in 2020 and seeks a first full-race podium since Donington Park.

Alex Lowes

After the Barcelona weekend and getting taken out of that last race it was quite messy, with a lot of bikes around. I got clipped by another rider and luckily I got away relatively unscathed from the crash. I have fractured my hand but otherwise I feel quite good. I feel like I can try and ride at Jerez. My neck is a little bit stiff but I will work hard on my recovery these next three days, with Albert our physio, and be in a position to try to ride. It is not an ideal situation but I will go to Jerez and the plan is to try to ride.”

Perhaps Jerez will be painted red for a second year running; Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is 60 points behind Razgatlioglu but with high track temperatures expected, it may favour the British star and the Ducati Panigale V4 R. Although admitting that they struggle in heat, the capacity to cope with such temperatures seems better for Ducati riders, who maintain a stable race pace and come strong at the end. An inspired tyre choice saw both he and Catalunya Race 2 winner Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) opt for the SC0 rear tyre instead of the SCX used by their opponents, a choice that gave them a double podium. Redding won twice at Jerez in 2020 with high temperatures, heading a Ducati 1-2. Crucial for title aspirations and the manufacturer standings – Ducati trail leaders Yamaha by just a point – could the Ducati riders be the ones to watch?

Scott Redding

Last year we worked very well at the Jerez circuit although obviously that weekend came at a very different time in the calendar. For this reason we’ll probably find different conditions. In any case, Jerez is a track where I feel comfortable and I’m sure we can obtain important results“.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi

We come from a very positive weekend in which we have shown that we can be competitive in all conditions, both under the rain and on a dry track. The team is working very well and it is clear that we have made progress. I can’t wait to get out on track tomorrow because I really like the Jerez circuit“.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi

In good form and getting stronger, Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) is starting to show the potential of the Honda project, having been right in contention during the dry Sunday running in Barcelona. A return to the podium in the Superpole Race and a solid fourth in Race 2, Bautista wishes for more of the same at Jerez. Having recently completed a private test at the Andalusian venue, he and teammate Leon Haslam could well be in a prime position to make hay whilst the sun shines over the Honda box. Haslam also showed strength at Catalunya and both riders were competitive at Jerez in 2020; could we see them in contention once more?

Alvaro Bautista

We arrive at Jerez in very good spirits after a positive weekend at Barcelona. We hope to have the same feeling and be able to work as well as we did last weekend. Jerez is a slightly different track to Barcelona though, as although there are some long corners, there aren’t so many straights so maybe we’ll suffer a little more, but we’ll see. We completed a test recently so we have some references that will be useful. We are always trying to improve and are currently fixing some details that are taking us in the right direction. I hope to have another good weekend in front of the Spanish fans.”

Leon Haslam

Jerez is a circuit at which I struggled a lot last year. Having said that, we made a very good test there in hot conditions not so long ago, and this is quite a positive sign because we generally struggle in high temperatures. So hopefully this information can help us as we head into the race weekend. Once again, we will be testing a series of things to see if we can improve our overall package.

Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK rider Tom Sykes (GBR) will not participate in the coming round in light of the injury he suffered in the accident in last Sunday’s race in Barcelona (ESP). Sykes will now fully focus on his recovery in order to be ready for the following round at Portimão (POR).

At Jerez, BMW factory rider Eugene Laverty (IRL) will stand in and line up for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Team-mate Michael van der Mark won here back in 2019, his last full-race victory to-date. He is five points clear of Sykes in the standings and just 29 from a top five placing overall. Firmly in the battle and heading to a track where he took a podium in 2020, van der Mark will be keen to shine.

The Independent battle is alive and kicking with the top two getting closer; Axel Bassani’s podium coupled with Garrett Gerloff’s Race 1 sighting lap crash means just 26 points split the pair, Gerloff ahead. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) is out for Jerez, replaced by 2020 podium-finisher and current MotoAmerica star Loris Baz. The Frenchman is back in action at a circuit he took two top five finishes at in 2020. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) is the next Independent in 14th overall, just a point clear of Japanese rookie Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). At Catalunya, Nozane was top Yamaha in Race 1 and took his first top ten in a full-distance race.

Outside of the main protagonists, Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) hopes he can continue his progress, whilst Christophe Ponsson comes to Jerez off the back of his first ever top ten finish in WorldSBK after Catalunya’s Superpole Race. Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) aims to return to the points at a circuit he won at in 2015’s Moto2 season, whereas Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) aims to build on a first top ten of 2021 at Catalunya. Samuele Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team) returns to action, whilst Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) heads for Jerez with Lachlan Epis as teammate once again. Two extra riders for the weekend: Marvin Fritz (IXS-YART Yamaha) and Andrea Mantovani (Vince64) both join the field again.


Motul Spanish WorldSBK Round schedule

Source: MCNews.com.au

Scott Redding takes first blood at Navarra

2021 WorldSBK Round Seven
Navarra (Spain) Saturday

Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed his second consecutive WorldSBK win in a row and the ninth of his career after a commanding victory on Saturday at Navarra as he closed the gap to title rival Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) down to 45-points in the Championship standings.

As the lights went out for the first race of the weekend, Redding got the jump over pole-sitter Rea into Turn 1 but Redding’s advantage did not last long as Rea fought back at the Turn 6-7 section of the circuit to re-take the lead, also withstanding an early challenge from rookie Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) on the opening lap.

Andrea Locatelli

At the start of Lap 6, Redding got a better run out of the Turn 15 right-hand hairpin to make a move on Rea into the incredibly fast right-hand Turn 1, getting the move completed just before they turned in before pulling out a gap of over a second on Rea over the next handful of laps.

Rea led Redding early on

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) was a rider making moves from the start as he battled from eighth place to fourth on the opening lap and found himself behind team-mate Locatelli, but spent numerous laps behind him before he was finally able to pass his rookie team-mate on Lap 7 after the Italian ran wide.

Toprak Razgatlioglu

Rea was running in second place but survived a couple of mistakes at Turn 9, a big moment before running wide a on Lap 15, losing around two-seconds to Redding but did not lose out to Razgatlioglu in either the race or the Championship battle; Rea extending his lead over Razgatlioglu to seven-points.

Alex Lowes

There were plenty of battles up and down the field as riders searched for the best possible position, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) coming home in fifth place behind Redding, Rea, Razgatlioglu and Locatelli, with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in sixth and Dutch team-mate Michael van der Mark in seventh.

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) had a battle in the latter stages of the race over eighth place, with American star Gerloff unable to make a pass on the youngest rider on the WorldSBK grid, Bassani holding on to take eighth place with Gerloff in ninth. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the top ten after a challenging opening race, the Italian involved in battles in the midfield throughout.

Rinaldi, Bautista

Rookie Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) claimed 11th place after a strong race battling throughout the field ahead of Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) in 12th; Rabat involved in a long battle with Leon Haslam (Team HRC) with the British rider coming home in 13th place. Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Action) scored his first points since Race 2 at MotorLand Aragon with 14th place, with Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport – Yamaha) completing the points. Ponsson found himself on the ground at Turn 3 after an incident involving Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) on Lap 3 at Turn 3 but was able to re-mount his Yamaha machine to secure one point in Race 1; Mercado retired from the race.

Three riders finished the race but were unable to claim a points finish in Race 1 at Navarra with Suzuki wildcard Naomichi Uramoto (JEG Racing) finishing in 16th place, just two tenths behind Ponsson and narrowly missing out on points. Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) had been running in the points-paying positions during the 23-lap race but fell down the order to finish 17th, with teammate Jayson Uribe in 18th; the American having a crash on Lap 13 at Turn 13 but able to recover to finish the race.

Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) had an incident on his own at Turn 11. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) retired from the race after he crashed on his own at Turn 9 while, at the same time, Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) had a crash at Turn 12 but was able to re-join before bringing his machine back to the pits.

Scott Redding – P1

I’m really happy because it was not an easy race with such a high temperature. But we managed to find the ideal conditions to race at our best. Since the first laps, I had confidence, the feeling was excellent, I felt comfortable. The World Championship? I just want to keep thinking race after race. I’m doing my best, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team and Ducati are doing their best. Let’s continue like this.

Scott Redding
Jonathan Rea – P2

What a lap in Superpole! I really got the best out of the tyre but I was overcooking a few corners, missing some apexes, so I was really surprised at the lap time. I was a little bit nervous about the start of the race. It was very important to be at the front and we had quite a good start, but Scott was just a little bit better. At the beginning I felt I could go to the front and when Scott went quite wide in T5 and T6 I went on the inside and passed him. From there I just kept my rhythm until he blasted me on the straight. After that I thought, ’I’m there’ but then the front started to heat up, stability started to go down and the front was moving. Over-pushing the front, I had a few slides and enough to tell me to brake a bit earlier. I lost as much as one second during one mistake and Scott went away. I did not feel he was destroying us lap-by-lap when it was constant, the gap was quite similar, so I feel we can make some changes on the front tomorrow to make a step forward.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – P3

The race was not easy for me because of the very hot conditions, but it was the same for everybody. After five laps the feeling was like the front tyre was destroyed, there was a very early drop in performance, and every corner I feel like I nearly crash but I try my best. We are happy because again we arrive on the podium and take good points for the championship – but this is not enough for me. Tomorrow I want to try to win. Johnny and Scott were very fast today, but in the second lap I lost time with a big mistake with a missed shift so they got away. After I try again to catch but we did not have enough for second or first position because they were very fast. Tomorrow I will fight again – it is not easy in the heat, especially with the tyres, but we will see.”

Andrea Locatelli – P4

The race for sure was not easy today but I say that we need to fight a little bit because in these conditions we were not quite strong enough. Also yesterday the feeling with the bike was not so bad but today we lost a little bit with the heat. In the end it was a good race because the gap to win is a little bit closer – it’s not so big! We had a little bit of a problem with the gear change, I missed some shift during the first and second lap and so I lost the gap with the front riders. We need to be happy though because we have another good result and for sure, tomorrow we try to find another solution to go a bit faster compared to today and then we will see. But today we did a good job overall.”

Alex Lowes – P5

In Superpole I felt quite good and my laps were not too bad. I used a race tyre and two Q tyres. On the second one I made a mistake in the last sector. It was so close. Jonathan and Scott did good laps but behind it was only a couple of tenths, not even that. I ended up seventh and the position was not ideal coming from the third row. In the race I had a good start and was fourth until Toprak passed me. I thought I would sit behind those guys out front but I wasn’t fast enough because I was struggling with the front. I was a bit quicker than the guys behind so it was a bit of a boring race for me. But it was a long race – and hot. I used the Race One experience to try to be consistent and understand how I can improve for Sunday.

Tom Sykes – P6

It was not too bad. We had a good qualifying and starting from the front row is always a nice target. Coming off the start, another rider came by me and almost took my handle bar so I had to close the gas and a Kawasaki had gone by. So the first lap wasn’t very good and then, to be honest, behind Alex Lowes on the first couple of laps, it was just a bit too steady so I need to have a look at that for tomorrow. I need to try to get a better start and first couple of laps but after that I just settled into the rhythm that we found yesterday afternoon. It looks like everyone was suffering a little bit more today because the times were slower than yesterday afternoon. I really struggled with the front end of the bike with the turning and some of the rear traction so for sure it was a difficult race to manage. We had to change the way to approach some corners et cetera and try to find a way to ride around those problems so we’ve got a lot of work to do tonight and hopefully we can improve the set-up for these hot conditions tomorrow.

Michael van der Mark – P7

To be honest, I was expecting a lot more. This morning, we made a huge step in performance and in lap time consistency. Also in Superpole, we’ve made a good step. I was tenth but the gap to P5 was really close. I was happy with that, but in the warmer conditions in the race the bike just did not react like in the cooler conditions. It’s normal but I struggled too much so we need to find a solution for tomorrow.”

WorldSBK Race One

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 S. Redding Ducati Panigale V4 R /
2 J.  Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR +2.519
3 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha YZF R1 +5.894
4 A. Locatelli Yamaha YZF R1 +9.405
5 A. Lowes Kawasaki ZX-10RR +16.219
6 T. Sykes BMW M 1000 RR +20.600
7 M. Van Der Mark BMW M 1000 RR +24.158
8 A. Bassani Ducati Panigale V4 R +26.497
9 G. Gerloff Yamaha YZF R1 +26.718
10 M. Rinaldi Ducati Panigale V4 R +29.602
11 K. Nozane Yamaha YZF R1 +39.387
12 T. Rabat Ducati Panigale V4 R +41.316
13 L.  Haslam Honda CBR1000 RR-R +44.338
14 J.  Folger BMW M 1000 RR +48.470
15 C. Ponsson Yamaha YZF R1 +1m21.773
16 N. Uramoto Suzuki GSX-R1000R +1m21.956
17 L.  Cresson Kawasaki ZX-10RR +1m30.006
18 J.  Uribe Kawasaki ZX-10RR +1 Lap
Not Classified
RET C. Davies Ducati Panigale V4 R 17 Laps
RET A. Bautista Honda CBR1000 RR-R 17 Laps
RET L.  Mahias Kawasaki ZX-10RR 20 Laps
RET L.  Mercado Honda CBR1000 RR-R 20 Laps

WorldSBK Championship Points

Pos Rider Points
 1  Jonathan Rea  286
 2  Toprak Razgatlioglu  279
 3  Scott Redding  241
 4  Alex Lowes  154
 5  Michael Ruben Rinaldi  141
 6  Garrett Gerloff  134
 7  Andrea Locatelli  132
 8  Tom Sykes  131
 9  Michael Van Der Mark  122
 10  Chaz Davies  89
 11  Alvaro Bautista  84
 12  Axel Bassani  81
 13  Leon Haslam  71
 14  Lucas Mahias  36
 15  Tito Rabat  30
 16  Kohta Nozane  30
 17  Isaac Vinales  19
 18  Eugene Laverty  14
 19  Jonas Folger  10
 20  Christophe Ponsson  8
 21  Leandro Mercado  7
 22  Marvin Fritz  6
 23  Loris Cresson  3
 24  Andrea Mantovani  2
 25  Luke Mossey  2


WorldSSP

Drama and tension throughout the opening race of the FIM Supersport World Championship’s first visit to the Circuito de Navarra as Championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) secured a sensational victory for the seventh time this season after a race-long battle with Championship rival Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) at the Pirelli Navarra Round.

FIM Supersport World Championship

The opening laps of the race were unpredictable as the lead riders exchanged positions consistently. Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) were the big winners as the lights went out with Spanish rider Gonzalez took the lead of the race from second, while Odendaal moved into second from fourth as Championship leader Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) fell to fifth.

After an impressive Friday and Saturday at Navarra, Simon Jespersen (Kallio Racing) moved into the podium places at the start of the race, challenging Gonzalez for second place in the opening laps after Gonzalez lost out to Odendaal. Gonzalez was able to respond on Lap 6 to re-take the lead in search of his first WorldSSP victory. Aegerter dropped down the order in the opening laps but fought back to be in the lead group on Lap 7 as he worked his way back through the field.

Aegerter’s fightback meant he was directly behind Odendaal in the middle phase of the race and soon found himself in second, behind Odendaal, as the pair made a move on Gonzalez on Lap 8 of the 20-lap encounter, with the top two in the Championship running as the top two in the race. On Lap 9, Aegerter made an aggressive move at the Turn 15 hairpin that ends the lap, but Odendaal was able to respond on the start-finish straight at the start of Lap 10.

Luca Bernardi (CM Racing) was another who battled his way up through the order including two aggressive moves into Turn 15 and joined the lead group, before an incredible move into the fast right-hander of Turn 1 on Gonzalez to move into third. He tried a similar move through the first two fast right-handers on Aegerter, but the Swiss rider was able to defend into Turn 3. With eight laps to go, Odendaal made a move on Turn 1 on Aegerter before Aegerter responded through Turns 2 and 3 to regain the lead. Aegerter eventually got past Odendaal and went on to claim victory at Navarra with Odendaal in second and Bernardi third; unable to take advantage of the battling duo ahead although he did battle Odendaal for second throughout the final laps.

Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) claimed fourth place in the thrilling encounter with his former teammate, Federico Caricasulo (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing) in fifth, his joint-best result since his WorldSSP campaign. Just half-a-second separated Cluzel and Caricasulo at the end of the race, with Randy Krummenacher (EAB Racing Team) coming home in sixth place.

German Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished seventh after battling his way up through the field, finishing a second clear of teammate Can Öncü after the Turkish star battled his way up from 24th to eighth in Race 1. Jespersen lost ground as the race progressed but still claimed a stunning ninth place ahead of Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti); Jespersen taking the first top-ten finish for a Danish rider in WorldSSP since 2011 when Robbin Harms at Aragon.

Indonesian Galang Hendra Pratama (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) came home in 11th place after a strong Race 1 at the Circuito de Navarra ahead of the returning Hikari Okubo (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) in 12th; Okubo making his WorldSSP debut in place of the injured Shogo Kawasaki. David Sanchis Martinez (WRP Wepol Racing) was 13th on his WorldSSP debut with Vertti Takala (Kallio Racing) and Christoffer Bergman (Wojcik Racing Team) completing the points.

Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) had a crash but was able to re-join the race, although he brought his Kawasaki machine into the pits later on. Eduardo Montero Huerta (DK Motorsport), Oscar Gutierrez Iglesias (Yamaha MS Racing) and Michel Fabrizio (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) also retired from the race. Gonzalez was taken to the medical centre following the crash. Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) had an off in the closing stages of the race and brought his Yamaha machine back into the pitlane.

Gonzalez was out of the race after he crashed at Turn 9 after being shuffled out of the lead group, bringing to an end his record-equally run of points-scoring finishes of 25 consecutive WorldSSP races in the points, a record that stretched back to his WorldSSP debut at Phillip Island in 2020. Marcel Brenner (VFT Racing) was a late retirement after he had an incident at Turn 13 after a strong showing in the race, running inside the top ten.

P1 Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha)

It was a very good day for me. It’s very hot out here in Navarra and it was a long 20-lap race, but we had a great battle in the first few laps, a lot of overtaking, big battles to get the lead. When I had the lead, I could go at my own pace and in the end, I had a three-second advantage.”

P2 Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team)

It was quite a hard race today, the temperatures were really, really hot. When Aegerter passed me, I held on for a little while. I thought I could try to block pass him again but I just didn’t have it in me. Unfortunately, we have to settle for what we can. It’s a long run in the Championship, not that I’m thinking of that, but it is important. The maximum we could take was 20 points today.

P3 Luca Bernardi (CM Racing)

Today was a very hard race, very hot. Step by step, I worked with my team and I have a good feeling with the bike. It was a very hard race and in the last lap I tried to take second position.”

WorldSSP Race One

Pos Rider Bike Gap
1 D. Aegerter Yamaha YZF R6 +4.425
2 S. Odendaal Yamaha YZF R6 +4.425
3 L.  Bernardi Yamaha YZF R6 +5.074
4 J.  Cluzel Yamaha YZF R6 +6.124
5 F. Caricasulo Yamaha YZF R6 +6.674
6 R. Krummenacher Yamaha YZF R6 +10.729
7 P. Oettl Kawasaki ZX-6R +18.201
8 C. Oncu Kawasaki ZX-6R +19.248
9 S. Jespersen Yamaha YZF R6 +19.954
10 N. Tuuli MV Agusta +21.876
11 G. Hendra Pratama Yamaha YZF R6 +26.139
12 H. Okubo Kawasaki ZX-6R +30.505
13 D. Sanchis Martinez Yamaha YZF R6 +31.526
14 V. Takala Yamaha YZF R6 +31.734
15 C. Bergman Yamaha YZF R6 +32.120
16 B. Gomez Yamaha YZF R6 +34.046
17 K. Manfredi Yamaha YZF R6 +36.057
18 D. Valle Yamaha YZF R6 +36.084
19 M. Herrera Yamaha YZF R6 +36.381
20 F. Fuligni Yamaha YZF R6 +37.126
21 S. Frossard Yamaha YZF R6 +48.876
22 L.  Montella Yamaha YZF R6 +52.468
23 M. Brenner Yamaha YZF R6 +1m02.499
24 L.  Taccini Kawasaki ZX-6R +1 Lap
Not Classifieds
RET 56 P. Sebestyen Yamaha YZF R6 4 Laps
RET 81 M. Gonzalez Yamaha YZF R6 9 Laps
RET 84 M. Fabrizio Kawasaki ZX-6R 11 Laps
RET 17 O. Gutierrez Yamaha YZF R6 13 Laps
RET 3 R. De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R 13 Laps
RET R. De Rosa Kawasaki ZX-6R 13 Laps
RET E. Montero Huerta Yamaha YZF R6 /

WorldSSP Championship Points

Pos Rider Points
 1  Dominique Aegerter  232
 2  Steven Odendaal  190
 3  Philipp Oettl  146
 4  Luca Bernardi  134
 5  Manuel Gonzalez  120
 6  Jules Cluzel  113
 7  Randy Krummenacher  77
 8  Federico Caricasulo  71
 9  Can Alexander Oncu  66
 10  Raffaele De Rosa  56
 11  Niki Tuuli  49
 12  Hannes Soomer  47
 13  Marc Alcoba  40
 14  Christoffer Bergman  35
 15  Kevin Manfredi  22
 16  Vertti Takala  21
 17  Galang Hendra Pratama  21
 18  Peter Sebestyen  15
 19  Valentin Debise  9
 20  Sheridan Morais  9
 21  Simon Jespersen  7
 22  Maria Herrera  7
 23  Filippo Fuligni  6
 24  Michel Fabrizio  6
 25  Max Enderlein  5
 26  Roberto Mercandelli  5
 27  Hikari Okubo  4
 28  Marcel Brenner  4
 29  Massimo Roccoli  4
 30  David Sanchis Martinez  3
 31  Luca Grunwald  3
 32  Matteo Patacca  3
 33  Stephane Frossard  3
 34  Ondrej Vostatek  2
 35  Federico Fuligni  1

2021 Prosecco DOC Dutch Round Schedule

Time Class Event
17:00 WorldSBK WUP
17:25 WorldSSP WUP
19:00 WorldSBK Superpole Race
20:30 WorldSSP Race 2
22:00 WorldSBK Race 2

2021 WorldSBK Calendar

Date Track SBK SS600 SS300
21-23 May Aragón (Spain) X X
28-30 May Estoril (Portugal) X X  
11-13 Jun Misano (Italy) X X
2-4 Jul Donington Park (UK) X    
23-25 Jul Assen (Netherlands) X X
06-08 Aug Autodrom Most (Czech) X X X
20-22 Aug Navarra (Spain) X X  
3-5 Sep Magny-Cours (France) X X
17-19 Sep Catalunya (Spain) X X
24-26 Sep Jerez (Spain) X
1-3 Oct Portimao (Portugal) X X
15-17 Oct San Juan Villicum (Argentina) X X  
12-14 Nov Mandalika*** (Indonesia) X X  

Source: MCNews.com.au