WorldSBK: Kawasaki, BMW and Honda set to test at Jerez

Forced to surrender to Toprak Razgatlioglu this season, Johnny Rea has immediately collected his thoughts and planned how to take back the SBK title as soon as possible. The Northern Irishman has already amassed six titles, but he is no less hungry - he is the Cannibal after all, so don't expect to see him hibernating this winter.

Far from it! The Kawasaki rider, together with the whole KRT Provec team, is ready for two fundamental days of testing, on 15 and 16 December, in Andalusia. Despite not featuring on the 2022 calendar, the Jerez de la Frontera track has been booked by the green team, which will also ‘host’ BMW and Honda.

An updated Ninja, but in what way?

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Before getting on a plane to Spain, Pere Ribe revealed that the factory Kawasaki team will have many new things to test at Jerez, so many that they can’t remember them all. As we know, the Ninja used this year by Rea, Alex Lowes, Isaac Vinales, Lucas Mahias, replacement Tito Rabat, and Loris Cresson featured various updates, visible in aesthetic terms, under the fairings and frame.

The cut in engine revs proved problematic for Provec KRT, Orelac, Puccetti and Pedercini in that it was announced by the organising body just before the championship got underway. The technicians and riders reacted, but still struggled more than expected. The crashes Johnny Rea suffered this season exceeded the total number he experienced across all previous seasons with the Akashi manufacturer.

And this is why the Jerez test is so important. The six-time champion and his English team-mate want to spend a relaxed Christmas, safe in the knowledge that, at least in terms of sensation and data collected in the field, the improvement in bike performance will allow them to stick with the R1 and the Panigale V4 R without any problems. But it’s not just Yamaha and Ducati of course...

Four BMWs at Jerez

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The factory BMW team, SMR Racing, will also be on track at Jerez. Michael Van Der Mark stays put, the Dutchman having powered the German four-cylinder to victory at Portimao, the manufacturer’s first win since Chaz Davies’ success in 2013.

The number 60 rider is flanked by Scott Redding, the Englishman already in action with the M1000 RR. Leaving Aruba Ducati seems to have motivated Scott, who is intent on doing better than Van Der Mark. Translated into results, Redding wants to win at least one race, or possibly enough to score the title win.

In the Bonovo Action garage, there’s BMW test rider Eugene Laverty and Frenchman Loris Baz. And we should keep an eye on this pair because if they’re spending money in Munich, this only shows how important SBK is to them.

Three Hondas, all official - Rabat the main test rider?

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The new HRC riders were confirmed some time ago, with both Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge arriving from the world championship paddock. The first leaves MotoGP - although we have the feeling he’ll be back there before long - and the second Moto2. The two Spaniards will make up the factory team, which starts over and is ready to retaliate.

Tati Mercado and Hafizh Syahrin will compete for MIE Moriwaki, an independent team linked to Honda. Great, but who is the test rider? We think it could be Tito Rabat but nothing has been confirmed as yet.

What is clear is that the Tokyo manufacturer has decided to launch an attack, given the disappointing results of the last two seasons. Will the updated CBR RR-R Fireblade finally be a weapon with which to fight for the title? The riders ready to race it hope this is the case, their rivals a little less so.

Translated by Heather Watson

FIM Awards, Toprak Razgatlioglu: “This year we've improved at every race”