Big names set for NW’s Meet the Stars event
Rea feeling positive after laying early title marker
RECORD-BREAKING five-time champion Jonathan Rea topped the time sheets on the final day of testing at Phillip Island ahead of the opening round of the 2020 World Superbike Championship.
All eyes will now be on the first three races of the 13-round series this weekend as the Ulsterman launches his quest for a sixth consecutive title.
Kawasaki ace Rea edged out Loris Baz (Yamaha) by 0.076 seconds to top the standings despite a small crash at Honda Hairpin, from which he and the machine escaped unscathed.
Rea wasn’t the only one to crash, with his new team-mate Alex Lowes barrel-rolling out of the action unhurt. Scott Redding, meanwhile, had a speedy escape at Turn 10, while Alvaro Bautista was also in the gravel.
“All in all, it has been a positive test, even though some of the sessions have been hindered by the weather,” said Rea.
“Looking at the time sheets, there are 10 riders within a second of each other. We have done race distances on all the tyres we use and I feel fast and consistent with them all, but you never really know until the race.
“This track is unique, and you tend to run into issues near the end of the race, so it is about making a consistent rhythm, and I feel we have a machine that is user-friendly going into Friday’s opening practice sessions.”
Eugene Laverty will make his race debut for the factory BMW Motorrad WSBK Team this weekend coming off the back of ninth position after the two-day test.
The Ulsterman commented: “I’m a typical rider, I always want more time, an extra day to be ready, but it has been a good couple of test days.
“It is not all about one fast lap, so we’ve worked towards race preparation because you have to concentrate on 20 laps. The plan for this weekend is to fight for podium positions because the bike is capable at this track. I’m confident that over the long distance we will be there.”
On the evidence so far, who can challenge Rea for the Championship this season?
Toprak Razgatlioglu has been extremely fast throughout winter testing and the young Turkish rider has beaten Rea fair and square on a couple of occasions.
Ex-champion Tom Sykes has a year under his belt with the BMW and was third fastest in the Phillip Island test, while Baz is an independent rider and was an impressive second fastest over the two days.
Leon Haslam (HRC Honda) and BSB champion Redding (Ducati) were fifth and sixth fastest — less than half a second behind Rea — in testing and will be chasing podiums this weekend.
Rookie of the class Redding comes with confidence and high expectations and has MotoGP experience around the Australian track, with the carrot of returning to MotoGP if he can secure the title for Ducati.
He confidently said: “I aim to beat Rea. I was born to fight, I had to do it in BSB and it will be the same here. There are a lot of good riders in World Superbikes, so if there is going to be a battle I’m ready to get involved.”
However, consistency will be the key over 39 races and Rea has proven that he is the most consistent rider in the Championship — it will be an enthralling season.
Meanwhile, eight-time TT-winning passenger and threetime Manx Grand Prix solo winner Dan Sayle has announced his retirement from all forms of motorcycle sport with immediate effect.
The 38-year-old was TT race-winning passenger for Dave Molyneux (four times), Klaus Klaffenbock (three) and Tim Reeves (one), which put him in joint second place on the all-time passenger-winning list alongside Rick Long, second only to Tom Birchall with 10 wins.
The legacy of injuries from an accident at Ballaspur during the 2018 Lightweight Classic TT meant he is no longer able to compete at the level he had become accustomed to, so he has decided to call time on an illustrious career.
Prize guys: Jeremy McWilliams, Glenn Irwin and Lee Johnston
THE biggest race launch of the year, the spectacular Meet the Stars of the 2020 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200, will take place on Wednesday, March 18 in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.
It is a night not to be missed as fans get the chance to meet the riders who will be in action on the north coast during the May 10-16 race week.
This year’s launch line-up currently includes Glenn Irwin, Davey Todd, Dean Harrison, Lee Johnston, Adam McLean, Alastair Seeley and James Ellison. More riders will be announced over the next two weeks.
An evening of fun and chat will be hosted by broadcasters Claire McCollum and Stephen Watson, with racing pundit Liam Beckett and Adrian Logan adding some experienced insight — and tall tales — to the mix.
Race fans will also have lots of opportunities to meet their favourite riders for selfies and autographs during the evening.
Admission is by ticket only which can be purchased from https://www.northwest200.org/ meet-the-stars-of-the-fonacabnorthwest200/ at a cost of £5 each.