Jonathan Rea opens hostilities in WSBK. MotoGP has certainly started its preliminaries for the 2022 season at Sepang, but Superbike will not be left out next week at Portimao. In Portugal, Kawasaki, Ducati and Yamaha will face each other for the first time this year and the one who lost last year a crown that had been his for the last six seasons is eager to go into battle. Especially since he is betting on a Toprak Razgatlioglu whose attention is disturbed by rumors about his arrival in MotoGP…
Jonathan Rhea is eager to get to grips with his new Kawasaki facing a Toprak Razgatlioglu who masters his Yamaha that he used it to become World Champion. The Northern Irishman wants his revenge and although he will keep an eye on one Baptist returned to the Ducati, it is indeed the Turk he has in his sights: “Tis oprak the man to beat? Well, we'll see! You'd be a fool to bet against him and I definitely think he starts as the favorite," said Sale à WorldSBK.com. But he adds: “I think the rumors about his future will be an advantage for us ».
"I'm curious to see how he will behave in 2022. In WorldSBK, you never know. After Toprak, so many guys filled the podium in 2021, lots of unexpected guys and lots of race winners, it was amazing! » he adds.
Jonathan Rea: “This is change!"
"I expect the same kind of season as in 2021: rookies with more experience, factories learning more, rider changes like Bautista at Ducati, Redding at BMW and also MotoGP riders arriving at Honda ! This is change! You have to understand everyone's place and I'm sure after three or four races we will understand how the championship is going, but for me I'm just focused on myself » analyzes the teammate'Alex Lowes.
"If I can do that, then I will fight for the podiums and hopefully a little more” dit Sale. The first pre-season test in which Razgatlioglu et Sale will both be on track together will take place in three days at Portimao. The number of staff involved will be as follows:
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Team: Toprak Razgatlioglu/Andrea Locatelli
Gil Motor Sport Yamaha: Christophe Ponsson
Kawasaki Racing Team: Jonathan Rea/Alex Lowes
Aruba.it Racing Ducati: Alvaro Bautista/Michael Rinaldi
Barni Spark Racing Ducati Team: Luca Bernardi
GoEleven Ducati: Philipp Oettl
The former MotoGP rider and Dakar Rally stage winner Danilo Petrucci will also be in action to Ducati, as he now has to prepare for his trip to MotoAmerica. As was the case in Jerez, several WorldSSP drivers will be in action. Last week it was the turn of Kawasaki and MV Agusta Reparto Corse, but in Portimao, Ducati et Triumph, returning to WorldSSP, will carry out their first official test in a category that has been thoroughly revised and corrected.
Stefano manzi, former Moto2 rider and current Sky VR46 academy rider, will be alongside Hannes Soomer for the new Dynavolt Triumph team, while at Ducati, Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it), Oli Bayliss (Barni) and the former Moto3 rider Maximilian Kofler (CM Racing) will also be in action.
