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 might be desirous to bounce again from his crash final day out at Imola.

Chasing onerous might 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 yr we had some superb outcomes – particularly Race 2. However, you already know, this yr may be very tough and everybody may be very sturdy. We’ll attempt to do our greatest and win like in Imola. Normally, I like this circuit – particularly onerous braking into the primary nook. We have to win once more however we are going to see. I feel it’s good for the R1 WorldSBK, as a result of some sectors you alter course rather a lot and that is good as a result of the Yamaha is working effectively for that and has at all times been sturdy within the corners. The lengthy straight is a bit tough however we maintain preventing!”

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

Andrea Locatelli

“Most is an ‘old style’ circuit, not simple however we get pleasure from some good outcomes there! To do a superb lap, you arrive into the braking zone at greater than 280kph, in fifth gear, earlier than onerous braking into the primary chicane. It is rather tight and actually sluggish in first gear. You must discover a good braking marker, particularly from the primary lap of the race. The entire chicane was re-laid for 2022, and it was a giant enchancment I feel – I prefer it. The actually flowing a part of the monitor begins at Flip 15, and it is very important take care along with your race line to go the shortest approach round, holding good pace. Then it’s important to focus to have the ability to go in direction of Flip 18 at full gasoline. When you exit 18 and 19 very effectively, you may overtake in Flip 20. Actually, it is without doubt one of the greatest factors to overhaul! The monitor isn’t so vast, so there will not be numerous factors the place you may cross. You’ll be able to ‘strive’ to overhaul almost anyplace you need, in fact, however it isn’t really easy! I really feel actually good after the Imola weekend and I feel we are able to begin very effectively once more this week in Most.”

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Crew WorldSBK) presently 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 might be motivated to mark this achievement with a powerful efficiency and probably safe his first win at Most.

Jonathan Rea

“Most is a comparatively new monitor to the calendar and now we have been there twice now, so we don’t have a large quantity of information in comparison with another circuits. It’s a tricky monitor to grasp because it has somewhat little bit of the whole lot. There are stop-start sections, flowing sections and plenty of adjustments of course. It’s actually vital to have the bike effectively set-up there. That might be our prime give attention to Friday morning, working in direction of the longer races. Hopefully we are going to get some constant climate and discover a good feeling. It’s a monitor that I’ve struggled at up to now; struggled with the character of the place somewhat bit. The previous couple of races have been constructive for us, battling for podiums by this center a part of the yr and at all times racing inside the highest 5. That would be the key, to maintain that pattern going by preventing for podiums. It is going to be a pleasant spherical to try 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 recommend the Northern Irishman could also be on a Yamaha subsequent yr, 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 onerous 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 success at Autodrom Most within the latest previous, together with struggling an sickness final yr 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 sizzling weekend at Imola final day out however I felt that I rode very well. Contemplating the circumstances – shedding the most effective lap in qualifying after which crashing within the remaining race, which was held in fairly excessive situations – I felt I used to be using the bike effectively. I used to be fairly assured so I’ll take that confidence into Most. Final yr 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 course and a few fairly quick corners as effectively. It’s not the simplest monitor however we are going to work onerous on Friday to get a superb set-up. Our pace has been fairly good all yr, 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 staff 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 received a race in Most, will try 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’s discuss that Redding may be heading for KRT.

Scott Redding

“For me, Most is an effective monitor. I like going there. Final yr, we had a superb consequence there with BMW. I look ahead to going there. It’s a unique form of circuit to what we’re used to. And hopefully we are able to attempt to get ourselves again inside the highest 5, prime six. That might be the purpose and maintain engaged on the undertaking and get as shut as we are able to.”

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

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 received’t be simple as I missed numerous races so for positive the pace received’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 a minimum of have a race underneath 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 out at Imola.

Xavi Vierge

“Most is one other “particular” monitor, let’s say, one which poses a number of challenges, particularly for us however a minimum of the grip is sweet and that’s one thing that often helps us. We even have the expertise of final yr’s occasion so we are able to made use of the info to adapt and try 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 now we have already fought for this yr.”

Iker Lecuona

“We’re coming from what was a reasonably 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 yr’s Most spherical was simply so so, and the monitor itself isn’t amongst my favorites, however we are going to begin with an open thoughts, realizing that if we work effectively we are able to 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 trip there throughout his WorldSSP campaigns, and Gardner’s final time at Autodrom Most goes again to 2015, that means the Aussie may want a little bit of familiarisation time.

Dominique Aegerter

“I can not wait to trip once more, for positive we’ll face a difficult circuit. The primary chicane may be very sluggish, however general I just like the format and the monitor, having each good and never so good reminiscences there. We loved a bit of coaching with customary bikes within the Yamaha Racing Expertise in Mugello final week and I’m now desirous to be again on the Superbike machine and aiming to be extra aggressive. Actually the final two rounds have been not so good as we anticipated and we weren’t the place we ought 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 received’t be my first time on the Autodrom Most, however the final time was eight years in the past! I may be in bother relating to remembering the format general, however I bear in mind I loved the format rather a lot. So, I feel we are able to have a superb weekend there and I’m wanting ahead to using as soon as once more, hoping to be in fine condition for the race weekend.”

Most is undoubtedly thought of some of the demanding tracks for tyres as a result of format, on an analogous footing to the rigours of Phillip Island. Because of this 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 completely different construction with the goal of bettering 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 essentially 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 affords a superb compromise between excessive efficiency and low put on. For Superpole and Superpole Race the riders will be capable of use the usual SC0 which, just for this event, will substitute the generally used SCQ.

On the entrance the gentle SC0 has been discarded as a result of it isn’t appropriate for this monitor. Pirelli will rely as a substitute on the 2 customary options, specifically the medium SC1 and the onerous SC2. Every rider has 8 tyres accessible of each choices.

Giorgio Barbier – Pirelli

“Though completely 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 when it comes to tyres. Within the final couple of years, Most has undergone modernisation works which have made it a safer and a extra fashionable circuit, but it surely nonetheless stays a circuit with a basic and quick format like Phillip Island: old-style circuits that at all times supply spectacular racing. Given their particularity, it’s higher to give attention to rear improvement options particularly designed to supply a extra strong construction and better efficiency consistency. It’s due to this fact no coincidence that the reference options we carry 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 may actually grow to be a legitimate possibility additionally for subsequent yr’s Australian spherical. The usual SC0 might be entrusted with the function of qualifying and Superpole Race tyre which on the opposite tracks is typical of the SCQ.”

This occasion might 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 might be racing on the circuit for the primary time. The German rider, presently in third place with 184 factors, brings his expertise and ability to the monitor as he seems to make his mark within the Championship battle.

The Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Crew can 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 as a result of shoulder surgical procedure however countrymen Tom Edwards and Luke Energy might be on the grid and dealing onerous to progress up the order.

World Supersport Championship Factors

---

WorldSSP300

Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha), presently in second place, might be fueled by the frustration of his late penalty that denied him victory within the recond race at Imola. With 99 factors to his title, 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, received’t be a straightforward 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, might be decided to defend his place and prolong his benefit.

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

World Supersport 300 Championship Factors

---

WorldSBK Most Schedule
(AEST)

---