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Post by truenorth on Nov 24, 2021 9:42:41 GMT -8
Toprak: “In 2022 Bautista and Ducati will also play for the World Championship”: “Next year I will race with the number 1 in the Superbike World Championship, this time had come for Yamaha. In the coming months I will try the MotoGP "
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Post by truenorth on Nov 24, 2021 9:58:35 GMT -8
2022 starts now: Bautista back on a Ducati and new WorldSSP machines on track at Jerez Wednesday, 24 November 2021 The 2021 campaign may have only just come to an end, but already 2022 is underway with a two-day test at Jerez… Just days after the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship finished the 2021 campaign at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, preparations for the 2022 season started ramping up with a two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. Alvaro Bautista is the headline name on track as he gets his first taste of the Ducati Panigale V4 R since returning to the Bologna-based manufacturer. Bautista made his WorldSBK debut in 2019 with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, winning 11 races from his debut to take an early lead in the Championship. The Spaniard was unable to maintain that form throughout the rest of the season and finished second in the standings, before making a switch to Team HRC. Bautista spent two years at Honda, claiming three podiums, but will return to Ducati for 2022. After the Pirelli Indonesian Round, Bautista explained his programme for the two-day Jerez test which takes place on November 24th and 25th. He said: “Our plan is just to have a test next week just to ride the bike. I know there are some updates, but I will not try them. I just want to do some laps with the bike and try to get used to the bike. It’s quite different from the bike I was using for the last two years. Just to go to the Christmas holidays with a different mentality.” Bautista will be joined on track by Nicolo Bulega, who links up with the Aruba.it Racing Team’s WorldSSP squad for the first time as he gets to ride the Ducati Panigale V2 machine that will compete in WorldSSP next season. It will be Bulega’s first experience of his new machine having spent four seasons in Moto3™ between 2015 and 2018 and three more in Moto2™. There will be another WorldSSP machine on track as Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti), fresh from the best result of his 2021 season in Indonesia with second, tests out the MV Agusta 800cc bike in preparation for the 2022 season. The Finn spent 2021 on the MV Agusta F3 675 as he competed for podiums. Explaining the test and his future, Tuuli said: “First I need to talk with my sponsors, because we need to find the budget. But what I can say is I will test the 800 next week and after that I will decide, or the team will decide, what I can do. That’s all I can really say but there are some options.” Tuuli will be joined at the test by Lorenzo Baldassarri, who competed with MV Agusta in Moto2™ in 2021, and Bahattin Sofuoglu after the Turkish rider spent 2020 and 2021 competing in WorldSSP300, claiming eight podiums and four wins in his two full seasons; he made his debut in 2018 and made three further appearances in 2019 before a full-time campaign started in 2020.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 25, 2021 9:37:15 GMT -8
2022 WorldSBK Calendar below:
8th – 10th April: MotorLand Aragon, Spain 22nd – 24th April: TT Circuit Assen, the Netherlands 20 – 22nd May: Circuito Estoril, Portugal 10th – 12th June: Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, Italy 15th – 17th July: Donington Park, UK 29th – 31st July: Autodrom Most, Czech Republic 9th – 11th September: Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France 23rd – 25th September: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain 7th – 9th October: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal 21st – 23rd October: Circuito San Juan Villicum, Argentina 11th – 13th November: Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Indonesia Dates to be assigned: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Australia A 13th event is to be announced (TBA)
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Post by truenorth on Nov 25, 2021 9:47:42 GMT -8
Gerloff explains "really difficult" Indonesian Round, had "different aspirations" for 2021 Thursday, 25 November 2021 Garrett Gerloff claimed the Best Independent Rider award in 2021 despite ‘struggling’ in both races in Indonesia The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign ended on a high for American star Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) as he secured the Best Independent Rider award for this season. After an up-and-down season, Gerloff secured the award at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit during the Pirelli Indonesian Round, finishing ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing). Gerloff came into the season-ending Indonesian Round 14 points clear of Italian rookie Bassani, but saw that gap close to just eight points after Race 1 when Gerloff finished 11th with Bassani in fifth place; although Gerloff started ahead of Bassani in both Race 1 and Race 2 after he qualified in fourth place in Tissot Superpole, with Bassani in seventh. In Race 2, Gerloff initially dropped back through the field but was able to recover to claim sixth place which was enough to secure him the 2021 Best Independent Rider award ahead of Bassani. Bassani had been running inside the top four throughout the race but a collision with Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) coming out of the final corner meant he did not finish the race. Reacting to his end-of-season award, which also meant he finished seventh in the overall Championship standings, as well as 2021 as a whole, Gerloff said: “It’s nice. I had different aspirations for this year but it’s nice to give the team something. I know they’re happy for that and it’s the least I could do. It came down to it. The points got close but happy we were able to hold on to it. I’m glad it’s over. I’m just going to forget about it and go home and get ready for next year.” In the dry Superpole session, Gerloff was able to take a second row start with fourth place on the grid but ahead of both races, rain started to fall which added extra challenges including the fact that no rider on the grid had raced or tested at the Mandalika circuit in wet conditions. Race 1, held on Sunday morning, featured a half-wet, half-dry circuit on slick tyres while Race 2 was in full wet conditions. Discussing the two races in Indonesia, Gerloff said: “It was really difficult because we had full dry for the whole weekend, and then before both races it started raining. The first race was half-wet, half-dry on slicks was really tough and the second race, having a full wet but no real wet experience, made it really difficult for me. I kind of struggled in both races. Glad we were able to hold it together and to get the Independent Championship. That was nice and happy we were able to do that for the team.” Gerloff ends his sophomore season in WorldSBK two podiums from 2021 at MotorLand Aragon and Donington Park, and seventh in the Championship standings. As well as wrapping up the Best Independent Rider title for 2021, he helped his GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team to claim the Best Independent Team award for this season alongside rookie teammate Kohta Nozan
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Post by truenorth on Nov 29, 2021 9:35:17 GMT -8
Scott Russell (Kawasaki) on his way to victory in a World Superbike championship race at Sugo in 1993, the year he won the championship.
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Post by truenorth on Dec 14, 2021 12:38:26 GMT -8
World Superbike: more crashes in this 2021 season, Bautista recordman!: ANALYSIS - Alvaro was the rider who crashed the most in the last season, while Rea and Redding boast twice as many as Toprak, almost 30% fewer crashes in SSP300 compared to 2019
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Post by truenorth on Dec 14, 2021 14:02:12 GMT -8
Honda, Kawasaki and BMW head to Jerez for three-day test Wednesday, 15 Dec 2021 The Spanish venue will host three days of testing for three manufacturers and four teams as preparations for 2022 ramp up Just under a month since the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign came to a thrilling conclusion and already teams, manufacturers and riders are getting ready for 2022. Honda, BMW and Kawasaki are all venturing down to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for a three-day test as they look to end 2021 and start 2022 on a positive note in Andalusia, Spain. The 4.423km circuit in the south of Spain has hosted many WorldSBK rounds, including as recently as last season, and provides a mixture of long straights, heavy braking zones and slow, medium and fast corners. With 13 corners to tackle, the eight riders on track throughout the test will be able to rely on data from the manufacturers and teams gathered in recent years and will look to build on that to start the process of refining their machines for the upcoming campaign. Taking place from December 15th-17th, the three-day test will be the first time Team HRC’s new line-up will be seen on track as Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge get their first taste of the CBR1000RR-R machine ahead of their debut WorldSBK season. With the pair coming from MotoGP™ and Moto2™ respectively, it will give them the chance to get acquainted with the team and bike for the first time. BMW will be represented on track by four riders at the Jerez test with Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) being joined by Michael van der Mark for the first test together as teammates, although Redding was able to jump on the BMW M 1000 RR at Estoril recently. The new teammates will be able to work with each other for the first time at a circuit where BMW claimed a highest placed finish of seventh in 2021, with the pair hoping BMW can become consistent podium and victory challengers throughout 2022 after one win in 2021. The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will be joined by satellite outfit Bonovo action BMW Racing Team as they expand to two bikes for the 2022 season, fielding the returning Loris Baz alongside Eugene Laverty. Irishman Laverty raced on the BMW M 1000 RR throughout 2021 as he stood in for the injured Tom Sykes, as well as with RC Squadra Corse during the early stages of the season, while Baz will make his debut on the bike after a season competing on Ducati machinery in the United States as well as a super-sub appearance in WorldSBK last season. The third manufacturer on track at Jerez will be Kawasaki with factory outfit Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK. Six-time Champion Jonathan Rea will be hoping this test kickstarts a successful season where he can re-claim the title won by Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) in 2021, while teammate Alex Lowes will be looking to respond in style after a 2021 campaign blighted by injury especially in the second half of the campaign. It will be the first time KRT have taken to the track since the season-ending Indonesian Round and they will be hoping they can start 2022 strongly as they look to challenge for more titles and history next season. Looking ahead to the three-day test, Rea said he was expecting to have new parts to test. He said: “I am really happy to get back on the bike this side of Christmas because we can try to carry on the good feeling we finished with at the end of the season. Jerez is always a good test circuit to go to because we have a lot of data from there. It is also a circuit that has never been the strongest for us so we can work in some weaker areas. We expect to have some items to test, which is really good because KMC and KRT have been working very hard on some new chassis items and electronics. We hope to improve the feeling of our bike, work together in a good way and the target will be to give good solid info to all the engineers try to improve the overall package.” Lowes admitted he was still not 100% fit but was still eager to start preparing for 2022. He said: “Obviously this test is important to select the direction we need to go with our package for 2022. Whilst I won’t be 100% fit yet, our performance isn’t our focus at this time. My crew chief Marcel, my electronics engineer Danilo and all the guys on the technical side have been working hard and have prepared lots of options for me to try. I am really excited to see what we can improve. If we get through all these items not only will it be a busy test, but it will be job done - this is our only aim.”
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Post by truenorth on Dec 19, 2021 9:47:17 GMT -8
Rea: “Mentally challenging Jerez test, we’ll understand the situation in January”: “During these two days, I’ve collected a lot of data, and everything we had to do has been done. We’ll soon understand our level.”
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Post by truenorth on Dec 24, 2021 7:21:06 GMT -8
Honda changes brakes and suspensions: Nissin and Showa on the CBR-RR in 2022: The Japanese SBK, in the hands of Lecuona and Vierge, will have new components next season.
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Post by truenorth on Jan 1, 2022 9:24:23 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jan 14, 2022 10:10:18 GMT -8
Lecuona: “I must forget that I was a MotoGP rider for SBK”: “I'll have to start from scratch, the Honda is completely different from the KTM. Replace Marquez? I don't know anything, my manager never told me about it "
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Post by truenorth on Jan 17, 2022 8:05:13 GMT -8
Petrucci in Portimao with the Ducati Panigale V4: MotoAmerica direction: Danilo is confirmed in the list of riders who will participate in the SBK tests and will be on track with the Borgo Panigale test team to prepare for the season in the States
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Post by truenorth on Jan 17, 2022 8:14:55 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jan 17, 2022 11:28:36 GMT -8
Bassani Vs the Marquez brothers: it happens in Portimao: The great surprise of the 2021 SBK world championship found Marc and Alex on the track while riding his Ducati Panigale V4. Axel prefers SBK, but got a taste of MotoGP
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Post by truenorth on Jan 20, 2022 8:38:20 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jan 25, 2022 8:19:39 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jan 26, 2022 8:19:26 GMT -8
2022 track action ignites at Jerez test, Vierge and Lecuona top at midday Wednesday, 26 January 2022 The new 2022 season is set to bring plenty of drama and the first wheels have turned The 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is edging closer to getting underway, with testing schedules now being undertaken. The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto is playing host to the first test of the year, with Team HRC, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK and more taking to the track to get back to business. Starting at 11:00 local time (GMT+1) and finishing at 17:00, it was rookie Spaniard Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) who headed a Honda 1-2 at midday, as fellow rookie teammate Iker Lecuona lay second. There was a brief Red Flag just before 14:00 but not for a crash; marshals were checking track conditions at Turn 8. HRC AHEAD: Vierge leads the way, KRT stay in the box Team HRC were hard at work throughout the morning, getting back to track action in their first public test, having test privately behind closed doors back in December at Jerez. Xavi Vierge set the benchmark, whilst Lecuona was less than a tenth adrift. Both riders commented similar things to Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam last year, giving Honda a good direction to follow. Both riders were looking at all areas of the bike, from turning and handling to electronics and traction control, whilst also looking for more grip and enhancing their engine-braking. Vierge’s time of a 1’41.248 doesn’t compare with the December test, with time to find on Jonathan Rea’s unofficial 1’38.831. One of the main stories from the opening hours of testing was the lack of action from the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK outfit. Six-time World Champion and 2021 runner-up Jonathan Rea decided to not test on the first day, preferring to utilise the ten-day rule the best possible. For Alex Lowes, he sat out the opening two hours of the testing day, but commented on his improvement in physical fitness, saying he’s “feeling a lot better” and is keen to work on corner exit and try new items from Showa. He tested just after 13:00 and was third at lunch with a 1’41.402 after nine laps. Back in action is Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who has been side-lined for four months with a broken wrist. The wrist has only been better for three months, but Mahias still has ligament pain. The 2017 World Supersport Champion said that the focus for today is on him getting accustomed to the ZX-10RR once again, as he’s been off the bike for a considerable time. He expects to try new items on day two, as well as some chassis work. He was third at midday. WorldSSP ACTION: Öncü heads of fresh faces, Kenan Sofuoglu returns Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was the fastest of the World Supersport contingency after the opening hours. The Turkish rider headed off rookie teammate and 2020 CEV European Moto2™ Champion Yari Montella, with the Italian getting to grips with his ZX-6R. Öncü has a new bike but the same model, so hopes that it delivers the goods from the start. Third place belonged to Ben Currie (G.A.P Motozoo by Puccetti Racing), with the Australian making his World Championship debut, a second behind Montella. Kenan Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was next as he deputises for nephew Bahattin Sofuoglu, who tested positive for COVID-19. Jeffrey Buis was the last of the WorldSSP runners, with the 2020 WorldSSP300 Champion less than half-a-tenth behind five-time Champion Sofuoglu. Ana Carrasco was also on track, setting more than 30 laps. WorldSBK unofficial lap times at 14:00: 1. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC): 1’41.248 2. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): 1’41.272 3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): 1’41.402 4. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing): 1’42.005
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Post by truenorth on Jan 26, 2022 10:39:41 GMT -8
Lowes on day 1 at Jerez: new items, potential benefits from Marino and fitness updates Wednesday, 26 January 2022 The Brit was the only KRT race rider on track at Jerez on Wednesday but was still able to find a lot of positives from his 41 laps Alex Lowes and Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK were back on track as a two-day test got underway at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for a few MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship outfits. British rider Lowes was one of these after he completed half-a-day of action on Wednesday, looking to start 2022 in a strong way after an injury-hit campaign at the end of the 2021 season. WHAT WAS LOWES WORKING ON? After missing races at the end of last season, Lowes was back on track in southern Spain to work on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR machine ahead of racing action starting in April. It was his first day on track since a two-day test at Jerez in December, with Lowes posting the fastest lap time of the day on the unofficial times, a 1’40.316s after completing 41 laps. Explaining what he had been working on throughout the day, Lowes said: “We didn’t make too many laps. We have a really good schedule of things to test so we need to make sure that if we choose something new, it’s definitely better. It’s easy to make the wrong decision. We tried a couple of things today; I have a couple more things to try tomorrow. Between here and the Portimao test, hopefully we can finalise our base bike for 2022. I tried some new things from Showa on the front of the bike, we tried some electronic things that were positive. Tomorrow, we’re going to focus more on the rear of the bike to try to have some confidence in the middle of the corner, to lift the bike, and get off the corner a little bit better. Today was more focused on the front, and tomorrow we’re going to look a bit more at the rear. If we get through another two or three items tomorrow, it’s been a good test for us.” HELP FROM FLORIAN MARINO While teammate Jonathan Rea did not test on Wednesday at Jerez, Kawasaki did utilise two bikes with former WorldSSP, STK1000 and STK600 rider Florian Marino taking to the track. Marino has acted as a coach for Lowes inside the KRT box, and the six-time STK1000 podium finisher was able to get on track with Lowes at Jerez. Explaining the thought process behind this, and the potential benefits for himself, Lowes said: “Florian was able to help us with introducing a couple of new things, to try and get them more ready for when me and Jonathan ride. It’s nice to have Florian on the bike. I work with him every weekend as a coach, and if he understands the bike a bit more from the experience, he gets from riding it, I think he’s going to be able to help me a little bit more. It’s positive for the team to try to help with the testing load and it’s positive for me because I think he can give me some better information on the race weekends.” LOWES PROVIDES INJURY UPDATE Lowes started the 2021 campaign strongly with KRT, claiming three podiums at MotorLand Aragon to kickstart the season. However, the Brit found himself on the sidelines at various points throughout rounds at Jerez, Argentina and Indonesia due to injury. Providing an update on this, Lowes said: “I feel good. It was nice to be back on the bike and start 2022. I need to be healthy, that’s the main thing. Last year, I never rode at more than 80 or 90% fit. Last year I wasn’t able to ride like I wanted to because of my body. The target this year is to try and stay as healthy as possible. If I’m healthy, I think I’ll be fast. Last year, I didn’t have any rhythm but when I was racing, even though I missed a lot of races, I was still able to be fast over time. The speed is there, and we just need to build up some confidence, some consistency to start the season.”
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Post by truenorth on Jan 27, 2022 7:51:52 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Jan 27, 2022 8:18:36 GMT -8
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