WorldSBK returns to the long-lasting Phillip Island Circuit for the 2022 season finale
WorldSBK in numbers
374-377 – Within the final race of the season, Jonathan Rea will equal the file variety of begins of Troy Corser, 377, set at Portimao 11 years in the past.
200 – Rea posted his 2 hundredth podium for Kawasaki (Race 2)
68 – Ducati have collected a minimum of 68 podium finishes at Phillip Island: that’s the third highest worth in historical past for a producer on a given monitor after the 89 podiums set by themselves at Misano and the 81 at Assen.
29-30 – Alvaro Bautista wants only one podium to turn out to be the second rider in historical past with no less than 30 in a season. He stands at 29 now: Jonathan Rea recorded 34 in 2019 and 30 in 2021.
What to look out for in Phillip Island
Championship P1 – 553 factors
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Ducati – Racing)
Bautista claimed the WorldSBK title in Race 2 of the Indonesian Spherical.
Bautista made his WorldSBK debut on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in 2019. That yr, he claimed his first triple profitable all three races.
In 2020, a sixth place was his greatest lead to Race 1 and Race 2, whereas he was sixteenth within the Tissot Superpole Race.
“We come to the final race of this season. For certain, arriving with the Championship is all the time significantly better. Now I really feel far more relaxed even when earlier than the earlier spherical I didn’t suppose an excessive amount of concerning the Championship. Now it’s finished. We loved lots the second. However now I want to end the season as greatest as attainable. Phillip Island is one among my favorite tracks. I’ve all the time been actually quick there, so I hope to discover a good setup with the bike. I hope to discover a good feeling with my bike there and attempt to take pleasure in as a lot as attainable. There isn’t any actual goal by way of outcomes however I’ll attempt to give my greatest to finish the season with a superb outcome.”
Championship P2 – 487 factors
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
In 2020, Razgatlioglu received Race 1 and was second within the Tissot Superpole Race. He didn’t end Race 2 as a result of a technical difficulty.
With 487 factors and a 37-point benefit over Rea, Razgatlioglu will intention to safe his second place within the standings.
“, I’ll say this as soon as once more: I would like three wins as a result of it’s my final likelihood. Alvaro could be very sturdy at Phillip Island and Ducati could be very sturdy on the straight. I feel he’ll trip alone like at Catalunya. However anyway, we’ll maintain combating. We are going to see what occurs at Phillip Island.”
Championship P3 – 450 factors
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Group WorldSBK)
Rea’s first win at Phillip Island was in 2015. Since then, he has claimed a complete of 12 podiums and 6 victories. His final win on the circuit was within the Tissot Superpole 2020.
“We’re going to face a barely totally different Phillip Island because the earlier yr as a result of we go there in the midst of spring. Phillip Island is understood for having 4 seasons in a day in summer season. So, we by no means know what kind of climate we’re going to face. If it’s cooler, I count on the grip degree to be a lot larger, the race lap time goes to be quick. But additionally, you continue to have that difficulty with tyre consumption trigger it’s very exhausting on the tyre with a variety of power in heating the tyres within the lengthy quick corners. However it’s one among my favorite tracks.”
Championship P4 – 279 factors
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Ducati Racing)
In 2020, Rinaldi was tenth in Race 1 and ninth within the Tissot Superpole Race for the Group Goeleven squad
His greatest outcome on the Australian venue is an eighth place within the 2019 Tissot Superpole Race.
He presently is fourth within the Championship standings 171 factors behind Rea.
“I’m so glad to go to Australia as a result of it’s been since 2020 that we haven’t race there. It’s a extremely stunning monitor. I wish to end the season in one of the best ways attainable. I’ll go there and attempt to do my greatest. Sadly, the forecast says that it will probably rain. However in all circumstances, I’ll attempt to have a superb outcome to go within the winter break we a fantastic feeling.”
Championship P5 – 245 factors
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
Locatelli has by no means raced in WorldSBK on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. He claimed victory there in WorldSSP in his first race in 2020.
He stands in fifth place within the Championship standings and is 34 factors behind Rinaldi.
“Phillip Island shall be attention-grabbing. To be sincere, to start with of the yr, I stated in lots of interviews it will be good to win one race. We’ll have our final likelihood in Australia. We don’t have a variety of stress. However I wish to attempt for certain, to take pleasure in and to push exhausting. However why not, we’ll attempt till the top. To complete the season with a superb result’s attention-grabbing to begin very effectively 2023.”
Championship P6 – 234 factors
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Group WorldSBK)
In 2020, he received the Race 2 of the Australian Spherical and completed second within the Tissot Superpole Race.
“I’m trying ahead to Australia. Clearly, I’ve acquired good recollections from the final time there, we’ve missed a yr. Final time there was my first race weekend with Kawasaki. I’m excited to return. It’s a really totally different problem in comparison with final weekend at Mandalika. It’s a very totally different circuit. Clearly, we had a tricky weekend in Indonesia so I’m trying ahead to bouncing again and combating for the rostrum and ending 2022 as strongly as attainable.”
Group HRC’s Xavi Vierge will race on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the primary time with WorldSBK. He already is aware of the Australian circuit from his Moto2TM profession. His greatest outcome there was a seventh place in 2019.
Championship standings (after Race 2 – Spherical 11)
1. Alvaro Bautista (ESP) Ducati (553 factors)*
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) Yamaha (487 factors)
3. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Kawasaki (450 factors)
*clinched 2022 World Championship
The publish WorldSBK: Season Concludes This Weekend At Phillip Island appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Motorbike Using, Racing & Tech Information.
