WorldSSP 300 and STK1000 categories get underway this weekend.
The Motul Superbike World Championship heads to the Spanish circuit of MotorLand Aragon for the first European round of the season this weekend, a circuit Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) has dominated at in the past.
Kawasaki Racing Team duo Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes head to Spain with an impressive opening record so far for 2017, one which will be tough to keep up heading into Europe.
Rea has had a perfect start to his title defense, taking two pole positions and four victories in the opening rounds and in very different circumstances. However, the Northern Irishman has only secured one victory around MotorLand in the past, in 2015’s race one.
Despite this, his pre-season testing times were impressive and he brings a strong feeling with his ZX-10RR to Spain. Sykes has a more notable record around the tight and twisty circuit, with four pole positions and the double race win in 2014 to his name. Sykes has made some changes to his riding style which is paying off so far for 2017, so it will be interesting to see how this has altered in Spain.
Undoubtedly the favourite heading into the Pirelli Aragon Round, Davies has a stunning record around the five-kilometre circuit, taking the last three victories in dominant, track-day style as well as winning back on BMW machinery in 2013. MotorLand could be the chance for Davies to get his season well and truly underway, as he has been unable to secure that all important first win.
Despite this, teammate Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could be the dark horse in Aragon – he took the first pole position and win at the circuit’s debut to the calendar in 2011 on a Yamaha, as well as returning to the top step in 2012. Making appearances on the podium already in 2017, this could be Melandri’s chance to be back on top.
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team have had a steady start to their 2017 campaign, with some consistent results for the team who made big steps over the winter. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) will be aiming to find that something extra to get him onto the podium in Aragon, but MotorLand is a circuit he has struggled at in the past, collecting only a few top 10 finishes.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) is continuing to gel with his new team and had some misfortune in Thailand race two, unable to make the restart. The Dutchman has a mixed record around Aragon; taking two second positions in WorldSSP, but only two top eight finishes so far in his WorldSBK career.
Continuing to develop the brand new CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team have another tough learning weekend ahead of them. Securing top 10 finishes last time out in Buriram, Nicky Hayden (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) and Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) are working hard with their teams to get their machines competitive.
Hayden had a tough weekend in 2016, finishing one race in the top six and the other 23rd, however the American has a strong record on a MotoGP machine. Bradl has a similar history around MotorLand, only finishing outside of the top 10 on two occasions out of seven appearances, meaning he can take his experience forward to help develop his Honda.
Milwaukee Aprilia duo Lorenzo Savadori and Eugene Laverty will hope to put their tough opening rounds of 2017 behind them and get their season properly underway in Spain, as they both head to a track they know well. Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) and Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team) have had a steady start to the season but will be aiming to impress as the series heads into Europe, with the cooler conditions perhaps being kinder to the duo.
MV Agusta Reparto Corse with lone rider Leon Camier are another team hoping to bounce back in Europe, with a tough 2017 so far. Mechanical problems have hampered the team this season, but Camier has shown his British resilience, fighting his way through the pack in both Superpole and the races this season.
In World Supersport, the defending champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) returns from injury in the series led by Roberto Rolfo (Team Factory Vamag MV Agusta), as Anthony West (EAB West Racing Yamaha) is poised to rejoin the field alongside countrymen Aiden Wagner (Team Lorini Honda) and Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki).
In what is set to be a historic weekend, the first-ever FIM Supersport 300 World Championship round will take place, as 37 riders will take to the track for the first time. With a variety of experience all across the field and the youngest competitor is only 15 years old there will be plenty of learning to do in the series on their journey to WorldSBK.
The European Superstock 1000 Championship also gets underway and it’s set to be as unpredictable as ever. With 11 nationalities lining up, of all ages on-board six different manufacturers, it will be interesting to see which riders can make the most of large field – including Aussies Mike Jones (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team) and Glenn Scott (Agro On – Benjan Kawasaki).