Joerg Teuchert
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Title fight rages on as WorldSBK returns to Misano
The third round of 2021 will take place at high speed with the return of the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” to the calendar after a year of absence in 2020
The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is set to take on the first “return” circuit on the calendar, with the majestic and magical Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” ready to rock WorldSBK once again. The fight for the championship is alive with just 36 points between the top three, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) leading Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) in the third round. Misano was the scene of their first final clash for victory in Race 2 in 2019, so will we see the same again?
He’s a maestro from Misano, it’s the scene of his first victory; Jonathan Rea’s relentless records tend to be evident on most circuits which are a staple feature of the calendar, but Misano has an air of magic around him. Countless wins and a solid circuit for the ZX-10RR, Rea might just be on the verge of making more memories of Misano and expanding his championship advantage. Across the garage is his teammate Alex Lowes, who endured a tough, bad-luck round of Estoril. He has a good track record at Misano, but this will be his first track experience on Kawasaki in terms of racing.
It was the setting for one of his first attacks on WorldSBK victory and he gave it his all, although there is a feeling in 2021 that Toprak Razgatlioglu will do everything in his power to achieve a first victory. in 2021. Razgatlioglu’s Race 2 podium in 2019 may seem like a distant memory, but the last time WorldSBK raced in Misano it was the headlining duel with Rea that stole the show and put the fans on foot. After three podiums at Estoril and just top six so far this year, Toprak wants to taste victory. Local hero Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) heads to his first home event in the WorldSBK paddock after finishing fifth in Race 2 in Estoril and is the best Italian in the standings – could it be a strong outside bet a good result?
Back home and eager to strike back after a bitter disappointment in Estoril Race 2, Scott Redding’s Ducati factory team (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi will aim to use all of them. their pre-season testing at Misano to make that count. coming racing action. Redding, who crashed in the heat of battle with his title rival with seven laps to go for Estoril in Race 2, has never raced a WorldSBK motorcycle in Misano, so it will be a journey of discovery this week. -end; his teammate Rinaldi has the experience of WorldSBK and the warmth of the local supporters who cheer him on. After a mixed Estoril, will it be a Misano masterclass?
The all-new BMW M 1000 RR has yet to conquer, but Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has been active so far this year and has also been a pleasant surprise in the top six on occasion. . Continuing his adaptation to the bike of his Yamaha of previous years, he has so far had the advantage over his teammate Tom Sykes. Sykes himself returns to Misano, happy territory for BMW, after giving them their first podium in 2019 when they returned as a factory effort for the championship. Van der Mark and Sykes both have good records in the Adriatic, something they hope to strengthen in the races to come.
This is another new experience for the HRC team and the Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR-R SP, as this is the first time the bike and the factory team have visited Misano. After a catastrophic start to the weekend in Estoril with three crashes on Friday, Alvaro Bautista managed to rekindle good feelings with the bike throughout the races by coming back from 18th place on the grid for a treble of the top ten. He won his first first class MotoGP â„¢ at Misano in a showdown on the last lap in 2012 and won a WorldSBK race for Ducati in 2019. For Leon Haslam (Team HRC) he is hoping for a return to the company. match in the top ten after two relatively modest first rounds.
Still enjoying the support of the Ducatisti and Italian passion, Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) returns to Misano aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, with the aim of capitalizing on his first podium of 2021 from last time in Misano. He is locked into the fight though, with Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) taking it from him as they fight to be the best independent. Even though Gerloff seemed to have a faster pace, the mistakes cost him dearly. They are not only fighting for the best Independent but for the overall title, Gerloff in particular showing a sparkling pace in the first two laps. A fit rider is Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse), who has really shown Estoril good potential. Having never taken the BMW to Misano, it will be a new experience and a new learning curve this weekend in Italy.
Leading the rest of the battles for the Independents and mainly the rookies, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) aims high and wants to shine at home, while after two top ten, Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) also hopes to continue to find out in WorldSBK on a circuit he knows well. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) had a superb round for Gaerne Estoril and hopes to emulate him at Misano, a circuit where he has a good record with WorldSSP podiums. Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) tested in Misano and was quietly impressive in the first two rounds, while behind him are Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing), Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) and Christophe Ponsson ( Alstare Yamaha). Loris Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and his teammate Samuele Cavalieri aim to score points for the first time in 2021.
Championship ranking (after race 2, round 2)
1. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Kawasaki (110 points)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) Yamaha (75 points)
3. Scott Redding (GBR) Ducati (72 points)
