Tyre life to show essential as WorldSBK heads to Most

2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
Spherical Eight – Most

Main the cost into the Czech Republic is Alvaro Bautista and the championship chief can be desperate to bounce again from his crash final day trip at Imola.

Chasing arduous can be Toprak Razgatlioglu, the Turk trails the Spaniard by 70 factors. Taking a look at his earlier performances on the Autodrom Most, the place he clinched a victory and a number of podium finishes, and his stable efficiency at Imola, he’s a powerful contender for fulfillment.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

“I prefer it, the Most circuit! Additionally final 12 months we had some superb outcomes – particularly Race 2. However, you realize, this 12 months may be very troublesome and everybody may be very sturdy. We’ll attempt to do our greatest and win like in Imola. Typically, I like this circuit – particularly arduous braking into the primary nook. We have to win once more however we’ll see. I feel it’s good for the R1 WorldSBK, as a result of some sectors you alter path so much and that is good as a result of the Yamaha is working properly for that and has at all times been sturdy within the corners. The lengthy straight is a bit troublesome however we hold preventing!”

Toprak’s Pata Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli holds the third place with 208 factors.

Andrea Locatelli

“Most is an ‘old-fashioned’ circuit, not simple however we get pleasure from some good outcomes there! To do a great lap, you arrive into the braking zone at greater than 280kph, in fifth gear, earlier than arduous braking into the primary chicane. It is extremely tight and actually sluggish in first gear. It’s a must to discover a good braking marker, particularly from the primary lap of the race. The entire chicane was re-laid for 2022, and it was an enormous enchancment I feel – I prefer it. The actually flowing a part of the monitor begins at Flip 15, and you will need to take care along with your race line to go the shortest means round, holding good velocity. Then you need to focus to have the ability to go in direction of Flip 18 at full gasoline. For those who exit 18 and 19 very properly, you may overtake in Flip 20. Actually, it is among the greatest factors to overhaul! The monitor shouldn’t be so vast, so there usually are not lots of factors the place you may cross. You’ll be able to ‘strive’ to overhaul almost anyplace you need, in fact, however it’s not really easy! I really feel actually good after the Imola weekend and I feel we will begin very properly once more this week in Most.”

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Crew WorldSBK) at the moment sits in fourth place with 201 factors, simply six-points behind Locatelli. With the milestone of creating his four-hundredth race begin on the Autodrom Most, he can be motivated to mark this achievement with a powerful efficiency and doubtlessly safe his first win at Most.

Jonathan Rea

“Most is a comparatively new monitor to the calendar and we have now been there twice now, so we don’t have an enormous quantity of information in comparison with another circuits. It’s a tricky monitor to grasp because it has just a little little bit of every thing. There are stop-start sections, flowing sections and plenty of adjustments of path. It’s actually vital to have the bike properly set-up there. That can be our prime deal with Friday morning, working in direction of the longer races. Hopefully we’ll get some constant climate and discover a good feeling. It’s a monitor that I’ve struggled at previously; struggled with the character of the place just a little bit. The previous few races have been constructive for us, battling for podiums by means of this center a part of the 12 months and at all times racing inside the highest 5. That would be the key, to maintain that pattern going by preventing for podiums. Will probably be a pleasant spherical to attempt to get just a few good outcomes at earlier than the summer season break. It’s at all times higher to enter the break with a constructive feeling.”

Rumours within the lead as much as this weekend counsel the Northern Irishman could also be on a Yamaha subsequent 12 months, that may be some wrench as he has been with Kawasaki since 2015 and has introduced house six World Superbike Championships throughout his tenure. One can think about that he may very well be ripe for a change, however it’s arduous to fathom that he would transfer with out taking the likes of Fabien Foret and Pere Riba together with him…

Rea’s KRT team-mate Alex Lowes has discovered little luck at Autodrom Most within the current previous, together with struggling an sickness final 12 months that compelled him to withdraw from the ultimate race of the weekend. This season he heads to Most preventing match and able to compete for podium locations.

Alex Lowes

“I’m actually wanting ahead to this one, which is the final spherical till September. We had a scorching weekend at Imola final day trip however I felt that I rode very well. Contemplating the circumstances – shedding one of the best lap in qualifying after which crashing within the ultimate race, which was held in fairly excessive circumstances – I felt I used to be driving the bike properly. I used to be fairly assured so I’ll take that confidence into Most. Final 12 months I used to be fairly ailing throughout race weekend and didn’t get to complete it. I’m additionally wanting ahead to getting again to Most as I fairly prefer it. There are many adjustments of path and a few fairly quick corners as properly. It’s not the best monitor however we’ll work arduous on Friday to get a great set-up. Our velocity has been fairly good all 12 months, it’s simply our tempo on used tyres that we have to work on. I’m feeling good and looking out ahead to getting again with the crew and attempting to problem for the podiums earlier than we go into the summer season break.”

Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew), who has already gained a race in Most, will attempt for a stable efficiency to solidify his place inside BMW for subsequent season. Nonetheless, it’s but to be confirmed if he’ll proceed with the German producer as on the again of the Rea to Yamaha hearsay, there may be speak that Redding is perhaps heading for KRT.

Scott Redding

“For me, Most is an effective monitor. I like going there. Final 12 months, we had a great outcome there with BMW. I stay up for going there. It’s a special sort of circuit to what we’re used to. And hopefully we will attempt to get ourselves again inside the highest 5, prime six. That will be the purpose and hold engaged on the mission and get as shut as we will.”

Crew-mate Michael van der Mark will make his return to motion topic to passing a medical test.

Michael van der Mark

“I’m actually blissful to be again once more. It has been a very long time and I’m wanting ahead to this race. It gained’t be simple as I missed lots of races so for certain the velocity gained’t be there from the beginning, however I’m wanting ahead to being again on the bike and to be again working with the boys, and to not less than have a race below my belt earlier than the summer season break. Now, I’m feeling 100 per cent match once more so I can’t wait to be again out and to get pleasure from this weekend earlier than the break.”

HRC riders arrive at Most after a difficult weekend final day trip at Imola.

Xavi Vierge

“Most is one other “particular” monitor, let’s say, one which poses a number of challenges, particularly for us however not less than the grip is sweet and that’s one thing that normally helps us. We even have the expertise of final 12 months’s occasion so we will made use of the info to adapt and attempt to be quicker in comparison with the final two rounds. The goal is to be again battling for the positions we all know are inside our attain and that we have now already fought for this 12 months.”

Iker Lecuona

“We’re coming from what was a fairly powerful Imola weekend, although issues went higher on Sunday which meant I rounded out the day with a greater feeling and temper. And one week’s relaxation following a really busy interval has additionally helped me to return to Most recharged and able to get again to work. Final 12 months’s Most spherical was simply so so, and the monitor itself shouldn’t be amongst my favorites, however we’ll begin with an open thoughts, understanding that if we work properly we will overcome any problem.”

The GYTR GRT Yamaha pairing of Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner will benefit from the Czech soil for the primary time on their Yamaha R1 machines, with each having little information of the monitor. Aegerter had the prospect to experience there throughout his WorldSSP campaigns, and Gardner’s final time at Autodrom Most goes again to 2015, that means the Aussie would possibly want a little bit of familiarisation time.

Dominique Aegerter

“I can not wait to experience once more, for certain we’ll face a difficult circuit. The primary chicane may be very sluggish, however total I just like the structure and the monitor, having each good and never so good recollections there. We loved a bit of coaching with commonplace bikes within the Yamaha Racing Expertise in Mugello final week and I’m now desperate to be again on the Superbike machine and aiming to be extra aggressive. Actually the final two rounds have been inferior to we anticipated and we weren’t the place we needs to be, it’s time to reverse the pattern. I hope I’ll really feel good with my arm which obtained operated on forward of the Misano spherical, and is getting higher every day.”

Remy Gardner

“It gained’t be my first time on the Autodrom Most, however the final time was eight years in the past! I is perhaps in bother with regards to remembering the structure total, however I bear in mind I loved the structure quite a bit. So, I feel we will have a great weekend there and I’m wanting ahead to driving as soon as once more, hoping to be in good condition for the race weekend.”

Most is undoubtedly thought of some of the demanding tracks for tyres because of the structure, on an identical footing to the rigours of Phillip Island. For that reason Pirelli has determined to depend on rear improvement options in medium compound to deal with this eighth spherical of the FIM Superbike World Championship.

The Pirelli SC1 in specification C0567 will make its debut in competitors, it has the identical compound as that of the A1126, as used at Phillip Island, however encompasses a totally different construction with the goal of enhancing efficiency and consistency at excessive working-ranges each in comparison with the usual SC1 and to the A1126 specification. The latter made its debut in 2022 at Mandalika and was then probably the most used answer at Phillip Island in each 2022 and 2023. In comparison with the usual answer, the A1126 has a extra strong construction additionally designed for prime temperatures. It gives a great compromise between excessive efficiency and low put on. For Superpole and Superpole Race the riders will have the ability to use the usual SC0 which, just for this event, will substitute the generally used SCQ.

On the entrance the delicate SC0 has been discarded as a result of it’s not appropriate for this monitor. Pirelli will rely as a substitute on the 2 commonplace options, specifically the medium SC1 and the arduous SC2. Every rider has 8 tyres accessible of each choices.

Giorgio Barbier – Pirelli

“Though totally different from one another, Most and Phillip Island have some similarities which make them the 2 most demanding tracks for tyres on the calendar and, in some methods, they’re one another’s testing floor by way of tyres. Within the final couple of years, Most has undergone modernisation works which have made it a safer and a extra fashionable circuit, nevertheless it nonetheless stays a circuit with a basic and quick structure like Phillip Island: old-style circuits that at all times provide spectacular racing. Given their particularity, it’s higher to deal with rear improvement options particularly designed to supply a extra strong construction and larger efficiency consistency. It’s subsequently no coincidence that the reference options we deliver to Most are the event SC1 A1126 for Superbike and the A1128 for Supersport, each of which have already been efficiently used within the final two rounds held at Phillip Island. The brand new improvement SC1 C0567 has as a substitute been designed to supply even higher efficiency than the A1126 and, ought to or not it’s confirmed, it might actually grow to be a legitimate possibility additionally for subsequent 12 months’s Australian spherical. The usual SC0 can be entrusted with the function of qualifying and Superpole Race tyre which on the opposite tracks is typical of the SCQ.”

This occasion can be adopted by a six-week summer season break for the championship,

World Superbike Championship Factors

WorldSSP

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Crew) maintains his lead because the frontrunner. The Italian rider, who has been in distinctive kind all through the season, goals to increase his benefit at Most. Nonetheless, Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha), showcased his prowess on the earlier spherical in Imola with two wins, recovering 14 factors to Bulega and proving his dedication to shut the hole.

In the meantime, Autodrom Most presents a brand new problem for Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), who can be racing on the circuit for the primary time. The German rider, at the moment in third place with 184 factors, brings his expertise and ability to the monitor as he appears to be like to make his mark within the Championship battle.

The Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Crew may have a brand new line-up on the WorldSSP grid from Most onwards, as 2019 Moto3 Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta steps in for Andrea Mantovani.

Oli Bayliss will miss this spherical on account of shoulder surgical procedure however countrymen Tom Edwards and Luke Energy can be on the grid and dealing arduous to progress up the order.

World Supersport Championship Factors

WorldSSP300

Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha), at the moment in second place, can be fueled by the frustration of his late penalty that denied him victory within the recond race at Imola. With 99 factors to his identify, Vannucci goals to capitalize on his sturdy kind and problem Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) for the firs place within the standings.

Nonetheless, Geiger, the present Championship chief with 116 factors, gained’t be a simple goal to topple. The German rider has showcased exceptional consistency all through the season, sustaining a gradual grip on the highest spot. Geiger, conscious of Vannucci’s risk, can be decided to defend his place and lengthen his benefit.

With only a slim factors distinction between them, Petr Svoboda (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) stays inside putting distance of the Championship lead. With 95 factors to his identify, the Czech rider understands the importance of a powerful efficiency on house turf as he appears to be like to make his mark and shut the hole on the Championship frontrunners.

World Supersport 300 Championship Factors

WorldSBK Most Schedule
(AEST)

2023 FIM Superbike World Championship Calendar
Date	Circuit	WSBK	WSSP600	WSSP300
24-26 Feb	Phillip Island	X	X
3-5 Mar	Mandalika	X	X
21-23 Apr	Assen	X	X	X
5-7 Might	Catalunya	X	X	X
2-4 Jun	Misano	X	X	X
30 Jun-02 Jul	Donington Park	X	X
14-16 Jul	Imola	X	X	X
28-30 Jul	Autodrom Most	X	X	X
8-10 Sep	Magny-Cours	X	X	X
22-24 Sep	Aragón	X	X	X
29-Sep-01 Oct	Algarve	X	X	X