WorldSBK Estoril Preview: Can Rea, Razgatlioglu bounce back?
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 7:01 am
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Here are the five key storylines to follow ahead of round three of the 2022 WorldSBK championship at Estoril, Portugal.
Following an exciting opening round in Aragon, Assen played host to one of the most drama-filled WorldSBK weekends we’ve seen in a long time.
Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu coming-together in race two led to both riders crashing out, which in-turn handed Alvaro Bautista the chance to claim his third win of the season.
So what does that mean for Estoril which makes its third appearance in as many years on the Superbike calendar?
Here are the top five storylines to follow…
Will Honda continue to be best of the rest?
Iker Lecuona’s podium in race two at Assen was just Honda’s fourth since the Japanese manufacturer returned to WorldSBK as a full factory outfit.
And while the 2022 rookie was fortuitous given the events that unfolded between Rea and Razgatlioglu at the front, it’s a result that highlights the impressive pace he’s shown throughout testing and round one.
Lecuona has been both fast and consistent, the latter was a major problem during his time in MotoGP, but with Honda and its 2022 CBR1000RR-R having made significant improvements compared to 2020 and 21, Lecuona fighting for top five results in Estoril would not be a surprise despite this weekend marking his first-ever visit to the Portuguese circuit.
Can Redding, BMW find pace after Portimao test?
Without doubt the biggest disappointment of the season so far, Redding together with BMW has proved to be a combination that’s well off the pace.
Just one point was scored in Aragon, and although Assen was much better, Redding was still a long way from the podium
Race runs along with improving the base setting were at the forefront of Redding’s testing plan earlier this week, which comes after the team spent considerable time reducing how much power was available to Redding aboard his M 1000 RR.
Estoril marks a venue that’s been both kind and frustrating for Redding - took victory in race one last season, before crashing out in race two following a lengthy battle with Rea.
Bautista ‘very charged up’ as he leads the championship for the second time
Would Bautista have won race two in Assen without contact between Rea and Razgatlioglu? That’s a question we’ll never know the answer to, however, what is for definite is that Bautista leads the championship standings by 18 points.
While some feared that Bautista might never find the form of 2019 again after his return to Ducati was announced, those concerns are no longer valid after winning three of the first six races.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Bautista said: "We are all very charged up for this race. After the round in the Netherlands, where the feeling with the bike was really excellent, there is a great desire to get back on track and try to get that feeling back right away.
"The Estoril circuit is a bit of a special track: lots of very demanding braking areas, several stop and go corners, and a long last corner.
"I've done some good results in the past even though I've never ridden on this circuit with the Ducati. As always we'll try to get the most out of every race."
Here are the five key storylines to follow ahead of round three of the 2022 WorldSBK championship at Estoril, Portugal.
Following an exciting opening round in Aragon, Assen played host to one of the most drama-filled WorldSBK weekends we’ve seen in a long time.
Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu coming-together in race two led to both riders crashing out, which in-turn handed Alvaro Bautista the chance to claim his third win of the season.
So what does that mean for Estoril which makes its third appearance in as many years on the Superbike calendar?
Here are the top five storylines to follow…
Will Honda continue to be best of the rest?
Iker Lecuona’s podium in race two at Assen was just Honda’s fourth since the Japanese manufacturer returned to WorldSBK as a full factory outfit.
And while the 2022 rookie was fortuitous given the events that unfolded between Rea and Razgatlioglu at the front, it’s a result that highlights the impressive pace he’s shown throughout testing and round one.
Lecuona has been both fast and consistent, the latter was a major problem during his time in MotoGP, but with Honda and its 2022 CBR1000RR-R having made significant improvements compared to 2020 and 21, Lecuona fighting for top five results in Estoril would not be a surprise despite this weekend marking his first-ever visit to the Portuguese circuit.
Can Redding, BMW find pace after Portimao test?
Without doubt the biggest disappointment of the season so far, Redding together with BMW has proved to be a combination that’s well off the pace.
Just one point was scored in Aragon, and although Assen was much better, Redding was still a long way from the podium
Race runs along with improving the base setting were at the forefront of Redding’s testing plan earlier this week, which comes after the team spent considerable time reducing how much power was available to Redding aboard his M 1000 RR.
Estoril marks a venue that’s been both kind and frustrating for Redding - took victory in race one last season, before crashing out in race two following a lengthy battle with Rea.
Bautista ‘very charged up’ as he leads the championship for the second time
Would Bautista have won race two in Assen without contact between Rea and Razgatlioglu? That’s a question we’ll never know the answer to, however, what is for definite is that Bautista leads the championship standings by 18 points.
While some feared that Bautista might never find the form of 2019 again after his return to Ducati was announced, those concerns are no longer valid after winning three of the first six races.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Bautista said: "We are all very charged up for this race. After the round in the Netherlands, where the feeling with the bike was really excellent, there is a great desire to get back on track and try to get that feeling back right away.
"The Estoril circuit is a bit of a special track: lots of very demanding braking areas, several stop and go corners, and a long last corner.
"I've done some good results in the past even though I've never ridden on this circuit with the Ducati. As always we'll try to get the most out of every race."
