Latest news with #WorldSuperbikes
Belfast Telegraph
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Jonathan Rea issues update on next move in World Superbikes and says he feels heat ahead of milestone race in Hungary
The Balaton Park circuit is a new venue for World Superbikes and is set to mark a special milestone, hosting the Championship's 1000th race. Rea, who was 16th in free practice on the Pata Maxus Yamaha on Friday, has been linked with several teams, including a Ducati ride with Barni Racing. The six-time world champion could be in line to replace Danilo Petrucci in the Italian team, who is being tipped to join the factory BMW squad as a replacement for MotoGP-bound Toprak Razgatlioglu. Rea is in the final year of his two-year contract with Yamaha and a move to a different manufacturer for 2026 appears to be on the cards for the Ulsterman, who has struggled to challenge at the front on the R1 since making the move from Kawasaki. Speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian round, Rea said it was a case of 'wait and see' regarding his next move. 'Let's wait and see, focus on the weekend, try to do a really good job,' said the 38-year-old. 'I'm sure we'll understand more in the summer break, or later. I have some options, let's say, but it's taking the right one and for me to understand what's best for me.' Rea missed the first three rounds of the 2025 Championship following a crash during a test at Phillip Island in Australia at the end of February. He is languishing in 18th position in the standings ahead of Saturday's opening race (1.00pm) and finished 13th in his maiden season as a Yamaha rider in 2024, earning a best result of third in the Superpole race at Donington Park. The stage is set for the 1000th World Superbike race this weekend and Rea said he was 'proud' to be part of the celebrations. 'I'm super excited and very proud to be part of this huge milestone,' said Rea. 'World Superbike is my life. It's given me an incredible life, and I feel like part of this family,' he said. 'It'll be nice to celebrate that milestone with everyone here.' Briton Sam Lowes topped the practice times on Friday on the Marc VDS Ducati by 0.215 secs from reigning champion Razgatlioglu. Italy's Nicolo Bulega ( Ducati), who trails title leader Razgatlioglu by only four points after the Turkish rider moved to the Championship summit with a treble at Donington Park, was eighth, one second off the top spot. Razgatlioglu, who won the 800th and 900th races in World Superbikes, said he 'felt some pressure' to claim the series' 1000th victory on Sunday. 'I feel some pressure this weekend to win Race 1000,' he said. 'I think it could be a good circuit for me.' Saturday's Superpole race is at 10.00am followed by Race Two at 1.00pm. Meanwhile, injured Glenn Irwin is hoping to make his return to the British Superbike Championship in August. Irwin is targeting the Cadwell Park round from August 23-25 but hopes Thruxton from August 8-10 could be a possibility. The Carrickfergus man has been out of action following a heavy spill in qualifying at Snetterton in June at Round Three, suffering injuries to his hip socket and pelvis and undergoing surgery. Former BSB champion Scott Redding was brought into the Hager PBM Ducati team as a replacement at Knockhill in Scotland in July. It has since been confirmed that Redding will race for the team for the remainder of the season, with the English rider and the MGM Bonovo Racing World Superbike team going their separate ways. Jordan Bird, joint owner of the PBM Ducati squad, said: 'Glenn's recovery has been going brilliantly; he is showing the strength and the resilience we all knew he had. 'We are really looking forward to getting him back as soon as he is fully fit and ready to be fighting at the front again.' On Friday, Championship leader Bradley Ray was fastest in free practice by 0.247 secs on the Raceways Yamaha from Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) and Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Yamaha). Honda Racing's Andrew Irwin was eighth with Scott Swann 14th on the Send My Bag/IWR Honda. The first BSB race of the weekend is on Saturday at 4.00pm.
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rea 16th and 18th in Cremona Superbike races
Jonathan Rea's struggles on his return to action after injury continued as the Northern Ireland rider finished 16th and 18th in Sunday's races at the World Superbikes round in six-time world champion was 19th in his first race of the season on Saturday after missing the opening three rounds of the campaign because of foot fractures sustained when crashing during testing at Phillip Island in subsequently had surgery in Belfast and had continued his recuperation at home before returning to action in Northern Ireland man finished 19.2 seconds behind Nicolo Bulega in Sunday morning's superpole race as the Italian Ducati rider repeated his race one victory over Toprak Razgatlioglu with Alvaro Bautista again completing the podium top three were unchanged in race two as Bulega secured a dominant 1.826-second victory after moving ahead of Turkey's defending world champion Razgatlioglu on lap four. Rea was in a points position early on in race two as he was in 14th spot but was down to 16th by lap four and lost further ground over the remaining 19 laps as he finished 44 seconds off the pace in weekend clean sweep in Italy was his seventh victory in the 12 races that have taken place so far during the 2025 Ducati rider extended his world championship lead over Razgatlioglu to 34 points with third-placed Bautista already 73 points off the Petrucci finished fourth in race two with Great Britain's Sam Lowes securing a battling fifth spot in race two as he held off Iker Lecuona despite suffering badly with Pata Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli was eighth in race two.
Belfast Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Jonathan Rea endures tough day on return to action: ‘I don't feel amazing'
Rea has been out of action since injuring his left foot in a crash in testing at Phillip Island in Australia at the end of February. He was given the all-clear to race this weekend by the WSBK Medical Director but the record-breaking six-time world champion said it was a challenging comeback after such a long period out of the saddle. Rea set his fastest lap in 1'30.547, which was 1.3 seconds down on pacesetter and championship leader Nicolo Bulega ( Ducati). 'It's been a difficult day but firstly, my foot feels fine riding,' Rea said. 'I had a couple of areas where my foot was in the wrong position and when I ride with my big toe on the foot peg it feels quite painful but generally it's fine. 'Of course, it's been a long time off the bike and physically, I didn't feel amazing. 'However, I expected that to an extent and need some race fitness back. 'The R1 is quite different to when I last rode it and we worked through FP1 and FP2 with the same tyre set-ups to find the rhythm and still I didn't feel fully comfortable. 'We made some changes but nothing has really ticked the box yet to let me stop the bike in the way I really want to, so that's the focus for tonight to give me more confidence to reach the apex. 'We'll try to make a step tomorrow but – even if it's really tough – it's great to be back with the team and re-starting the journey to being fully competitive.' Rea is competing at Cremona for the first time after he was ruled out of last year's inaugural round at the new WSBK venue because of injury. Italian Bulega led the times by 0.307s from BMW's Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is also making his debut at Cremona this weekend after he, too, missed the 2024 race through injury. Bulega finished second in the standings in a sensational rookie season in World Superbikes last year and currently leads Razgatlioglu by 21 points going into the fourth round. The first race today is scheduled for 1300 BST with tomorrow's races at 1000 BST and 1300 BST.
BBC News
21-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
World Superbike debut for former British star Ryan Vickers
Thetford's Ryan Vickers will make his World Superbike debut this weekend as the first round of the championship takes place in Phillip Island, 26-year-old joined Motocorsa Racing in October after finishing fifth in the British Superbike Championship in 2024."I've been lucky enough to ride the track and do some testing. It's a super-fast track and suits my riding style – so I'm really happy so far," Vickers said."What a place to make my debut in World Superbikes." Thetford to Australia - via Italy The move to World Superbikes has also meant Vickers has had to leave the family has been replaced by an apartment in Italy, to be closer to his Motocorsa base."Before this I lived at home with my mum and dad – the same house all my life," he said."It happened so fast. At the start of October I didn't know I was moving anywhere – by the end of the month I was moving into my apartment in Italy."I've got a great relationship with the team... I've been putting a lot of work in with learning Italian and they've been learning English." Slow and steady wins the race While the target for every rider is to become a champion in their class, Vickers is aware that it might take time to compete at the front of the grid."There's no expectations - only to progress in whatever way that is. The team want me to learn and absorb things. It's not like by round six I need to be on the podium," he said."I'll only be setting targets once we find out where we are. We'll just start the race this weekend and see where we are." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
