Get ready for WSB action
Normally famed for its February start, World Superbike 2021 has been delayed by Covid but on May 2123, 216 days after last season ended, the 2021 campaign will finally begin as the action kicks off at Aragon. Last week saw Kawasaki, Yamaha and BMW out at Aragon while Ducati ventured to Navarra. With racing just around the corner, riders are upping the ante in their interviews. “Kawasaki like to use qualifying tyres to be on top,” Scott Redding said from Navarra, referring to his rivals at Aragon. “When we were there, the conditions were not great and we were on record pace. I’m not bothered at all [by Jonathan Rea smashing the Aragon pole record]. I’m much more confident and settled than last year.”
Ducati’s Navarra laps could prove crucial as the bumpy circuit will come directly after the Most track in the Czech Republic, another new venue, for Rounds 6 and 7. Chaz Davies rode at both Aragon and Navarra for GoEleven, while at Navarra Tito Rabat was far more confident in his Barni Ducati following his Jerez MotoGP outing.
In Aragon, the BMW of Eugene Laverty made a long-awaited debut for RC Squadra Corse, while Toprak Razgatlioglu was back after a month off due to a positive Covid test. Ever-secretive Honda did their Aragon test on Thursday and Friday… after the others had gone home. HRC must confirm a final chassis direction for the Fireblade. The firm
‘I’m much more confident than I was last year’
are extremely strict with protocols and sticking to a direction once committed. HRC’s philosophy is: establish a base package and never venture far – like moving furniture around a room but not being able to re-paint the walls. They don’t just bolt on a new part – everything must go through a process, making committing to a base setup their most important decision of the year.