Outspoken forward of Most
The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is simply days away from the summer season break however 2024 is stealing the present on Thursday. From main rumours surrounding a number of the largest names, to pre-round type and targets for the weekend, WorldSBK’s media day had all of the juicy bits, and we’ve put them multi functional place.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Crew WorldSBK): “Toprak’s seat is the massive one to be crammed… every little thing’s ongoing, nevertheless it’s all rumours proper now”
Talking forward of the spherical about rumours linking him to a shock change from Kawasaki to Yamaha for 2024, Jonathan Rea addressed the experiences, albeit by not mentioning his present present cope with Kawasaki for subsequent 12 months: “I’m fairly excited! I really feel like I’ve some unfinished enterprise at Most as I’ve by no means gained a race right here! We’ve had some good momentum at Donington Park and Imola, so I really feel extra comfy with the bike, so let’s hope I can battle within the entrance group. Like in the previous couple of races, the goal needs to be the rostrum, to move into summer season in a wholesome situation after which we’ll be trying in direction of the final a part of the season. 400 begins makes me really feel fairly previous nevertheless it’s one thing else! At the moment of the 12 months, there’s all the time rumours and tales and I suppose Toprak’s seat is the massive one to be crammed. From my aspect, nothing actually to say on my future; I’ll sit down with my spouse, youngsters and household to grasp it. I’m positive every little thing is ongoing, nevertheless it’s all rumours proper now.”
Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew): “There was a bit little bit of a miscommunication… a possibility at Kawasaki isn’t one thing I’ve seemed into”
Talking in regards to the announcement that finally by no means got here and as a substitute having to make an announcement the next week about his future, Scott Redding addressed the new potato once more: “There was a bit little bit of a miscommunication, truly. Not an excessive amount of to say after that. I believed there would’ve been one thing. Ultimately, there was no information, so I had a bit little bit of peace and quiet for the remainder of the weekend! A chance at Kawasaki isn’t one thing I’ve seemed into as a result of it got here out of nowhere. Is it rumours once more? Is there one thing behind it? It’s not likely my enterprise. My job is to concentrate on what I’m doing right here in the intervening time. We all know this 12 months has been a bit bit harder for us, even at our sturdy circuits. I really feel like right here is someplace we are able to have a superb weekend. With the tyres, it’s new for everyone, so it may assist us a bit bit extra.”
Andrea Dosoli (Yamaha Motor Europe Street Racing Supervisor): “A protracted checklist of riders, we’re not in a rush”
Yamaha Motor Europe’s Street Racing Supervisor Andrea Dosoli spoke about Yamaha’s improve in revs, in addition to the 2024 line-up, maintaining quiet on the latter: “In regards to the RPM, the foundations gave us the chance to ask for concessions and we’ve took this chance and chosen the 250rpm. It’s one thing that our riders will use if wanted. We’re monitoring all accessible riders and it’ll take time earlier than we decide. We’ll touch upon this solely when we’ve our rider line-up outlined. It’s a protracted checklist of riders. We’re not in a rush.”
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “We’re speaking… we’ll see what’s happening”
Sticking with 2024 discuss, Michael Ruben Rinaldi didn’t say an excessive amount of, maybe alluding to a possible change: “After Imola, my focus was to get in the most effective form once more and that’s what I did. I educated within the correct manner, did a whole lot of physio, and on Monday I went to coach with a Panigale V4 R at Mugello to grasp how I used to be on the bike. Bodily, I’m higher than Imola. The information will likely be after Most. In the meanwhile, I can not say something as a result of we’re nonetheless speaking. Earlier than the following spherical in September, I’ll have an replace. We’re speaking. Our objective is to maintain racing with a superb bundle, and we’ll see what’s happening. For now, I’m centered on this weekend, and, after that, we’ll concentrate on subsequent 12 months.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “This 12 months is totally totally different!”
Toprak Razgatlioglu is trying ahead to Most, the place he’s essentially the most profitable rider: “I’m very blissful to return again to Most as a result of I get pleasure from this monitor so much. Final 12 months, I took two wins right here. This 12 months is totally totally different as a result of everybody may be very quick. It seems to be just like the climate is a bit unusual this weekend. Perhaps it rains, possibly it doesn’t. It’s not potential to say earlier than the race however Alvaro may be very sturdy right here. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to battle with him once more. Final 12 months, he was using very properly and this 12 months he’s using significantly better; I feel he’s stronger than final 12 months. I feel the 2021 stoppie was 214 or 216 metres, one thing like that! However, additionally, 200 metres is sufficient. Final 12 months, I didn’t attempt for the stoppie, possibly we’ll do it once more!”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “The Championship is lengthy… it’s not over!”
After a fall final outing at Imola, Championship chief Alvaro Bautista spoke of the dynamic forward of Most: “This Championship is so good as a result of we’ve a whole lot of factors to play for every weekend. It’s good since you assume the Championship is lengthy and, for positive, it’s not over. I’m not interested by the Championship or the factors. I’m simply making an attempt to take it race by race. I’m making an attempt to do my finest. It doesn’t matter in regards to the factors. I need to be the most effective rider I might be. The tyres are tougher than final 12 months at Most so it’s much more troublesome. We have now the identical tyres as Phillip Island however they’re totally different tracks as a result of the velocity is so excessive and also you drive the tyres so much. In these tracks the place you don’t have to cease the bike an excessive amount of and speed up from low velocity, it’s simpler to make use of the arduous compound as a result of you have got excessive nook velocity.”
Iker Lecuona (Crew HRC): “About my future… I’ll know this weekend however I can’t say!”
Aiming to bounce again, Iker Lecuona is aiming for a robust Czech Spherical, while additionally looking forward to his future: “This 12 months, we’ve struggled so much. We’ve began the weekends with a whole lot of issues on the bike, we all the time want to vary the bottom. We are able to’t discover the bottom to make use of at each monitor. We have to work much more than the opposite riders. This tells us one thing on the bike will not be appropriate. I nonetheless don’t learn about my future. I can’t say till the second we’ve every little thing closed however, from my aspect, I hope this weekend I’ll know a bit bit extra. Proper now, actually, I don’t know. I’ll know this weekend, however I can’t say! It will depend on the challenge. Subsequent week, I’ve an opportunity to go once more however with LCR this time. MotoGP is the highest, I’ve all the time mentioned this.”
Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO): “I wish to keep in WorldSBK”
A house-hero is in the home this weekend, as Oliver Konig plans to ship one thing particular: “I’m so excited as a result of it’s one among my favorite tracks. I don’t have one favorite flip or sector. I just like the braking into the primary nook. I’m not good like Toprak! His stoppie from two years in the past is famous. I like this flip. Proper now, we don’t know something 100%. We’re looking for the most effective resolution for me for 2024. I wish to keep in WorldSBK.”
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew): I’ve nonetheless obtained nothing to fret about with my future!”
Michael van der Mark is more than pleased to be again in motion: “Lastly, I’m again on the grid! I’m actually excited! I wished to return again earlier however we needed to be sensible and have a bit little bit of persistence. I wished to do a race earlier than the summer season break; I don’t assume we’ve any expectation. We simply need to do that race and get again up to the mark. Lacking 4 rounds is hard as you’ll be lacking some sharpness. I would like to remain calm, get pleasure from using the bike and go step-by-step. In the summertime break, we’ve a take a look at and we’ll be prepared for Magny-Cours. I’ve nonetheless obtained nothing to fret about with my future!”
The submit WorldSBK: Riders Handle Foolish Season Rumors At Autodrom Most appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Bike Driving, Racing & Tech Information.
