Le Championnat du Monde eni FIM Superbike reprend cette semaine à Jerez, où aura lieu la dixième manche de la saison. Le WSBK se rend en Andalousie pour la deuxième année consécutive et la troisième fois de son histoire après une première visite en 1990.
Le tracé du circuit de Jerez associe plusieurs types de virages pris à différentes vitesses à plusieurs courtes lignes droites, une combinaison qui propose un intéressant challenge aux pilotes mais aussi un maximum de spectacle pour le public.
Dernière manche de la saison en 2013, l'épreuve de Jerez sera cette fois-ci la 10e des 12 manches du calendrier 2014 mais sera à nouveau décisive dans la lutte pour le titre mondial. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) arrivera en Andalousie en confiance et avec d'excellents souvenirs de l'an dernier puisqu'il avait décroché à Jerez son premier titre de Champion du Monde Superbike.
Le Britannique mène actuellement le classement général avec 44 points d'avance sur Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), qui devra finir devant son rival dès que possible pour conserver ses chances de remporter le titre mondial cette année. Sykes et Guintoli seront tous les deux très motivés ce week-end puisqu'ils n'ont jamais gagné à Jerez, les deux épreuves de 2013 ayant été remportées par Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki).
Laverty et son coéquipier Alex Lowes avaient d'ailleurs affiché un excellent rythme lors d'un test privé qu'ils avaient fait à Jerez en avril dernier tandis que Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) demeure lui aussi en lice pour le titre mondial, du moins mathématiquement, malgré ses 64 points de retard sur Sykes.
Huit points derrière Rea et à 28 points de la seconde place, Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) peut lui aussi espérer décrocher un titre d'ici la fin de la saison mais cherchera surtout à remporter sa première victoire de l'année, après avoir accumulé huit podiums dont sept secondes places.
En grande forme avant la trêve estivale, Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) s'était imposé dans la première course de Laguna Seca avant de chuter dans la seconde mais espèrera retrouver le rythme qui lui permettait d'être un candidat permanent au podium.
L'ancien Champion du Monde 250cc avait souffert l'an dernier à Jerez après s'être blessé à la cheville mais avait tout de même manqué la victoire de justesse dans la première course et avait été battu par Laverty dans le dernier virage. L'Italien, qui courait alors pour BMW, avait ensuite déclaré forfait pour la seconde épreuve afin de ne pas risquer d'aggraver sa blessure.
Davide Giugliano et Chaz Davies du Ducati Superbike Team devraient quant à eux trouver un terrain favorable à la 1199 Panigale R à Jerez. Les deux pilotes avaient fini dans le Top 10 l'an dernier mais n'avaient pas pu se battre pour le podium, qui constituera leur objectf pour l'épreuve de cette année.
Absent aux Etats-Unis en raison de la blessure qu'il s'était faite une semaine plus tôt à Portimão, Claudio Corti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) sera de retour en piste à Jerez, où il a déjà couru en MotoGP et en Moto2.
Le Team Hero EBR sera de nouveau en quête de ses premiers points avec Geoff May et Aaron Yates, prêts à relever un nouveau défi en Andalousie.
Opéré de la main droite au mois de juillet, David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team – EVO) espèrera briller à domicile et au moins défendre ses 37 points d'avance sur Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Team Ducati) en tête de la catégorie EVO. Sur le papier, le circuit de Jerez devrait être un terrain équitable pour toutes les machines de la catégorie EVO. Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) sera quoi qu'il arrive de retour en piste après sa lourde chute à Laguna Seca, avec l'objectif de finir devant ses adversaires directs.
The eni FIM Superbike World Championship returns to Jerez for the tenth round of the season. This is the second year in a row that the series heads to the Andalusian circuit, and the third time overall after a trip down to the south of Spain in 1990.
The track layout consists of a great mix of low, mid-speed and fast corners which, combined with relatively short straights, make the Spanish venue an exciting and challenging one that brings out the best in the riders and provides great racing.
Despite not being the circuit to host the season finale this year, as in 2013, the Spanish Round will once again play a key role in the title race. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) heads to Jerez in a confident mood with excellent memories from last season, having proudly raised his first World Superbike Championship trophy at the end of a stellar year.
The 29 year old Briton currently sits on top of the standings with a significant 44 point lead over Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who needs to make up some ground in order to keep his title hopes alive. Both riders are looking forward to step atop the podium for the first time at Jerez, as Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) won both of last year’s encounters on factory Aprilia machinery.
Laverty and his current teammate Alex Lowes showed great speed aboard their respective bikes in the three-day private test last April at Jerez, likewise Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) who, despite the 64 point gap to the top, is still mathematically in contention for the ultimate prize and is also well positioned for the runner-up spot.
It is the same situation for Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) as he is only 8 points behind Rea and 28 points away from second place. The young Frenchman is still looking for his first win of the year after claiming eight podium finishes (seven of which were second places).
Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) hopes the summer break will not affect his momentum, as the experienced Italian rider came out victorious in Race 1 at Laguna Seca last month before crashing out while in the lead of the second encounter in the USA.
The former 250cc World Champion had a difficult time last year at Jerez dealing with an ankle injury sustained in a domestic accident. Melandri was close to winning the first race before Laverty made a spectacular pass on the outside at the final turn. The then BMW rider opted to sit out the second race due to the pain coming from his ankle joint.
Ducati Superbike Team’s Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies are aiming high at Jerez, a track that should suit the improved 1199 Panigale R well. Both riders scored top-10 finishes last year at the Spanish track on different machinery, but were not in contention for the podium.
After missing out the US Round due to the injuries suffered a week before at Portimão, Claudio Corti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will return to action at Jerez, where he has previously raced in both the MotoGP and Moto2 championships.
Team Hero EBR and their riding duo of Geoff May and Aaron Yates are looking forward to another new challenge, hoping to make a step forward and score their first championship points.
Despite the recent right-hand surgery he underwent at the end of July, David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team – EVO) will take part in his home round to defend his 37 point lead from Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Team Ducati) in the EVO class. On paper the circuit characteristics may further level an already well balanced EVO field, meaning the battle for top honours of the category should be as close as ever.
Joining the fight once again will be Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia - EVO) as the Frenchman has recovered well from the heavy crash he had at Laguna Seca.
The track layout consists of a great mix of low, mid-speed and fast corners which, combined with relatively short straights, make the Spanish venue an exciting and challenging one that brings out the best in the riders and provides great racing.
Despite not being the circuit to host the season finale this year, as in 2013, the Spanish Round will once again play a key role in the title race. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) heads to Jerez in a confident mood with excellent memories from last season, having proudly raised his first World Superbike Championship trophy at the end of a stellar year.
The 29 year old Briton currently sits on top of the standings with a significant 44 point lead over Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who needs to make up some ground in order to keep his title hopes alive. Both riders are looking forward to step atop the podium for the first time at Jerez, as Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) won both of last year’s encounters on factory Aprilia machinery.
Laverty and his current teammate Alex Lowes showed great speed aboard their respective bikes in the three-day private test last April at Jerez, likewise Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) who, despite the 64 point gap to the top, is still mathematically in contention for the ultimate prize and is also well positioned for the runner-up spot.
It is the same situation for Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) as he is only 8 points behind Rea and 28 points away from second place. The young Frenchman is still looking for his first win of the year after claiming eight podium finishes (seven of which were second places).
Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) hopes the summer break will not affect his momentum, as the experienced Italian rider came out victorious in Race 1 at Laguna Seca last month before crashing out while in the lead of the second encounter in the USA.
The former 250cc World Champion had a difficult time last year at Jerez dealing with an ankle injury sustained in a domestic accident. Melandri was close to winning the first race before Laverty made a spectacular pass on the outside at the final turn. The then BMW rider opted to sit out the second race due to the pain coming from his ankle joint.
Ducati Superbike Team’s Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies are aiming high at Jerez, a track that should suit the improved 1199 Panigale R well. Both riders scored top-10 finishes last year at the Spanish track on different machinery, but were not in contention for the podium.
After missing out the US Round due to the injuries suffered a week before at Portimão, Claudio Corti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will return to action at Jerez, where he has previously raced in both the MotoGP and Moto2 championships.
Team Hero EBR and their riding duo of Geoff May and Aaron Yates are looking forward to another new challenge, hoping to make a step forward and score their first championship points.
Despite the recent right-hand surgery he underwent at the end of July, David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team – EVO) will take part in his home round to defend his 37 point lead from Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Team Ducati) in the EVO class. On paper the circuit characteristics may further level an already well balanced EVO field, meaning the battle for top honours of the category should be as close as ever.
Joining the fight once again will be Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia - EVO) as the Frenchman has recovered well from the heavy crash he had at Laguna Seca.
