WorldSBK 2025
January Jerez Check Day Two
The second day of the season-opening WorldSBK Check at Jerez this week was a moist affair that noticed nearly all of riders sit out proceedings, content material with the dry laps they banked on Wednesday.
Jonathan Rea topped the timesheets with a finest lap of 1’53.058s and accomplished 40 laps in the course of the moist session as he and his Pata Yamaha group continued their preparations for race type. The Northern Irishman was thirteenth quickest within the dry on Wednesday.
Jonathan Rea
“It’s been a optimistic take a look at and it’s good to be again – yesterday we bought off to a very good begin and wasted no time in getting up to the mark, I felt good on my Yamaha R1 from the primary laps and step-by-step we’ve simply constructed on that. Tempo was okay, we didn’t full any time assaults and labored by way of the event programme. Held up within the storage a few occasions with just a few small points however I used to be glad with the primary day! Wakened as we speak and the climate was unhealthy clearly, so we solely managed moist laps and I did get pleasure from using spherical familiarising myself extra with the R1 in these situations and truthfully, we made some actually optimistic adjustments! Massive due to the crew for his or her efforts, two days of excellent info and now we extra to Portugal in fast succession to maintain placing the bundle collectively for Australia.”
His team-mate, Andrea Locatelli, additionally ventured out on observe, setting a quickest lap of 1’55.429s regardless of a small crash within the morning.
Andrea Locatelli
“Even with the wind yesterday, we tried to trip loads within the dry situations and targeted on finishing a long term to re-establish a great feeling with my R1 after the winter. At present we didn’t do quite a lot of laps, however we tried some issues on the bike to be a bit extra prepared for Portimão subsequent week. It was useful to do a small shakedown to verify how all the pieces is working within the moist, for instance electronics and chassis set-up after yesterday and we are going to see! Now we have Portimão to work additional, full extra distance and put together for Phillip Island. The altering situations right here in Jerez have been unusual, quite a lot of wind – heat yesterday and as we speak, moist. Crucial factor is to proceed constructing the sensation with my R1 after which we may have a clearer concept, working properly in direction of our targets for the 2025 season.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Crew have been on observe on Wednesday, the primary time Remy Gardner had been on observe since Estoril final October, the Australian present process surgical procedure on some accidents and staying on the sidelines for the next restoration interval. Gardner accomplished 85 laps in complete on Wednesday, discovering a great feeling to cross the road twelfth quickest with a time of 1’40.293. On the opposite aspect of the storage, Dominique Aegerter misplaced a while resulting from a technical problem, however was nonetheless in a position to produce 68 laps in complete, sitting nineteenth on a 1’41.488 on the finish of the day. The group sat out the second day to save lots of on take a look at days for the rest of the yr.
Remy Gardner
“Total it was good to be again on the bike, and we had a productive take a look at. Sadly, we couldn’t take a look at the second day resulting from rain, lacking some useful observe time, however on the primary day we tried new issues and the suggestions was optimistic. Now let’s keep targeted and hope the climate stays clear in Portimão for the following take a look at, I’m wanting ahead to supply some extra laps there.”
Dominique Aegerter
“It was good to be again on the bike after a very long time and to check my physique. It wasn’t simple to get used to the Yamaha R1 machine after a protracted interval, however lap by lap I felt stronger and I want we may have extra laps. Sadly some technical points pressured us to lose a while, however we have been nonetheless in a position to produce some productive laps in Jerez attempting the brand new elements we now have right here. I hope the climate stays clear in Portimão and to clock many laps to prepare for the primary spherical of the season.”
The Honda HRC group has made probably the most of proceedings to guage their new Ohlins suspension bundle, switching from Showa. Xavi Vierge was supported by Honda take a look at rider Tetsuta Nagashima, and alternative rider Borja Gómez, who stood in for the injured Iker Lecuona this week. Lecuona was however on website during the take a look at, following the motion with the group within the storage. Vierge accomplished greater than 100 laps over the course of the 2 days regardless of reducing issues brief midway by way of Thursday, the Spaniard maximising observe time in numerous situations, and eager to proceed in the same vein at Portimão, the place testing will proceed on 28-29 January. It’s anticipated the Iker Lecuona will rejoin his team-mate for the Portuguese take a look at periods.
Xavi Vierge
“We’re again on observe eventually and I’m very pleased with how this take a look at has gone, it’s been very optimistic. Circumstances stayed dry on Wednesday, albeit just a little windy, and my feeling with the bike was fairly good proper from the beginning. I’m working with a brand new crew chief, and my preliminary impression is superb; he’s very skilled and I feel we will work properly collectively. As for what we’ve been doing right here, we labored to try to discover a new suspension set-up and in addition targeted on the electronics aspect of issues. Sadly, rain reduce into our observe time on Thursday, however that allowed us to make some preliminary laps within the moist with the Öhlins suspension and perceive extra in consequence. We nonetheless have work to do, however this could assist us to search out extra when it comes to traction, which has been one thing of a weak level for us. Then, as well as, we labored on completely different features to enhance my total feeling. I feel we made some good progress this week and now have quite a lot of knowledge to analyse. Subsequent up is Portimão, the place I hope we will get pleasure from some drier climate as we proceed to arrange for the beginning of the season.”
Iker Lecuona
“In early January I had a small crash whereas coaching and sadly that left me with a fractured rib and a shoulder harm. Simply earlier than coming to Jerez, the physician instructed me it might be higher to attend just a little longer earlier than using and so I’m sitting out this week’s take a look at, in settlement with the group. I’m not in excellent form however typically really feel okay and can attempt to trip subsequent week in Portugal. I’m doing my finest to get better quick, following the docs’ recommendation, and so we’ll see the way it goes.”
Ducati rookie Yari Montella impressed with the third-fastest time of the day, gaining useful expertise in moist situations, whereas team-mate Danilo Petrucci selected to sit down Thursday out after ending the dry take a look at on Wednesday in sixth place on the time-sheets.
Danilo Petrucci
“It was a partial take a look at, however optimistic total. We knew about as we speak’s moist situations, so we targeted on finishing as many laps as attainable yesterday, with out making huge adjustments to the bike, sticking to the baseline setup. We’re near the quickest occasions and know the place to enhance. Instinctively, I nonetheless make some unproductive strikes on this bike, however I’m glad to have picked up the place we left off. Final yr in Portimão, we have been on the rostrum twice. It’s at all times a singular observe, however we have to give attention to particulars, and I’ll be concentrating on bettering myself.”
Yari Montella
“These have been two necessary days, with a full day on dry situations and half a day on moist. It was helpful to higher perceive the bike and introduce myself to the brand new technicians. I’m glad: we accomplished many laps on the primary day with out vital adjustments, and though we weren’t among the many quickest, the purpose was to construct confidence. Now, the main focus is on understanding the bike totally and steadily bettering. The method at Portimão will probably be completely different: I already know what to anticipate, and we’ll push a bit tougher.”
Scott Redding, testing his Panigale V4 R within the moist for the primary time, clocked a finest lap of 1’54.893s.
Manufacturing facility Ducati riders Alvaro Bautista and Nicolo Bulega sat out Thursday however Bulega had proved quickest within the dry on Wednesday.
Nicolò Bulega
“I’m pleased with how issues went on at the present time of testing. It was important to regain the sensation we had within the November take a look at. I can say that the wind didn’t make issues simple, and generally, I needed to focus extra on correcting the trajectories than using the bike. In any case, the primary day of 2025 was very optimistic“.
Alvaro Bautista
“The optimistic information is that we may do at the very least someday in dry situations. We continued the programme we began right here at Jerez in November, however I couldn’t really feel comfy on the bike due to the sturdy wind. It’s only the primary day, and we should proceed on this path“.
Andrea Iannone and Crew Pata Go Eleven introduced their new livery and proved second quickest on Wednesday however sat out the moist Thursday periods. The primary day was basic in establishing an preliminary relationship between Andrea and the brand new electronics engineer.
Andrea Iannone
“The antagonistic climate situations in Jerez prevented us from finishing the deliberate program, however we nonetheless began on the appropriate foot. For this season I hope we will be extra constant, benefiting from the expertise gained final yr. Figuring out the tracks and build up the group, particularly now with the 2 new entries, is key. In today we now have discovered to know one another and, even when there’s nonetheless quite a lot of work to do, I’m assured. It is very important at all times be optimistic. Subsequent week we will probably be again on observe in Portimão, hoping for 2 days of sunshine.”
Axel Bassani, adapting to the bimota KB998, posted the fourth-fastest time regardless of a crash on his thirteenth lap. He capitalised on the wet situations to realize extra wet-weather expertise on the bike, which has had restricted testing in such situations. His team-mate, Alex Lowes, selected to remain within the pit field on Thursday.
Alex Lowes
“It’s been good to get again on the bike. I felt higher than I anticipated right away, even when there have been some damp patches nonetheless round. I felt fairly good on the bike. After two pitlane exits we began to enter take a look at mode, as we had some new elements for the gas tank and using place. It took a couple of pitlane exits to really feel comfy with these. I did get comfy so we now have confirmed the brand new, tank, seat and using place. We made two or three good steps. We had some issues to do off the bike right here too, with new elements arriving, and so on. With the windy situations we determined simply to make use of 4 hours of testing on day one. Each time we work with the brand new bike it’s important. The runs we did have been fairly constant. There’s nonetheless a great deal of issues to do and however I feel it was a great day of testing at Jerez.”
Pere Riba – Crew Chief for Alex Lowes
“The plan was to do one full day of testing in dry situations as a result of we’re taking care to observe the foundations about what number of testing days you possibly can have. On day one with Alex we made a half a day on observe as a result of it was actually, actually windy. With the objects we wished to check we needed to be clear and take a great understanding of the choices and instructions we must always take. We labored with Alex in lots of small areas and it was superb. We didn’t have to make use of any delicate tyres, we simply targeted on the work and the plan we wished. Someday earlier than Alex began we used our new take a look at riders Xavi Fores and Xavi Artigas. Florian Marino did an ideal job throughout all the event of this new bike, so I wish to say thanks to him. It was raining on the ultimate day of this Jerez take a look at so we determined to not do any laps with Alex, however we did some laps with Fores to gather some info. All his feedback have been very clear. This has been a fairly optimistic take a look at, even when the climate has not been so good, and now we’re wanting ahead to going to Portimao.”
Axel Bassani
“Now we have had two good days of testing, even when we did solely a half day on observe every time. We didn’t do quite a lot of laps however we took quite a lot of knowledge, and that is necessary. It was particularly necessary as day two was the primary time I had ridden in moist situations on the bimota. The primary day within the dry was good, though it was troublesome as a result of there was quite a lot of wind. The bottom of the bike was not unhealthy and the lap time was not so quick, but additionally not sluggish. For us, every single day is necessary in order that we will perceive what we have to do and what we now have to enhance. On the rear, I shouldn’t have the sensation I need but, so we’re working to search out enhancements in that space. The group now has some knowledge to work with for the following take a look at in Portimao.”
Marcel Duinker – Crew Chief for Axel Bassani
“Our expertise with the brand new bike and Axel continues to be fairly new. This was solely the third day with Axel on the brand new bike. Initially, I have to give quite a lot of credit score to Bimota, Kawasaki and the group for all of the progress they’ve produced from the earlier take a look at on the finish of November. All the fabric we requested was prepared for us to check right here. We had fairly an environment friendly 4 hours of testing on day one and as we speak was our first time with the bike within the moist. We gathered very useful info. The situations in November at Jerez and the situations we had at this take a look at have been very completely different. We moved from excessive grip to decrease grip situations, so in fact the bike was behaving otherwise. This isn’t a damaging; we simply discovered loads that we are going to carry to the following take a look at. The climate was a bit inconsistent however we gathered very useful info. I’m wanting ahead to Portimao – and in three weeks we are going to already be on the opposite aspect of the planet. Issues are shifting!”
After a morning crash, sole Kawasaki rider Garrett Gerloff completed the day in tenth place, with a finest lap of 1’56.893s.
Garrett Gerloff
“Day One was actually optimistic, despite the fact that we didn’t have most superb using situations due to how a lot wind there was. We did full some good testing and we have been in a position to set some sturdy lap occasions. I feel it’s optimistic to go away Jerez with that. The climate on day two wasn’t nice, however we did a couple of laps within the rain. I didn’t have quite a lot of time to trip as I had a reasonably large highside crash within the final nook, taking a huge impact on my proper hip. So, we determined it was higher to attend till Portimao and do extra testing there. I’m wanting ahead to it.”
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Crew have been on observe on Wednesday with Tarran Mackenzie attending to work on organising the 2025 Honda CBR1000RR-R. Rainfall on and off all through Thursday morning noticed the group in the end determined to financial institution this second day in order to make use of it at a later date.
Tarran Mackenzie
“We accomplished our first take a look at of the season in Jerez as we speak and even when it was nice to be again in motion once more, the session left us wanting extra. The bike’s modified with respect to what we have been utilizing on the finish of final yr, with quite a lot of new objects together with a brand new tank, seat, and electronics. Which means quite a lot of arrange work, and it’s why I didn’t instantly have the sensation I used to be on the lookout for. I used to be assured that we may use day two to get used to all the pieces however, sadly, moist climate has prevented us from doing that as we speak. That’s simply the way in which it goes generally I suppose; it’s just a little irritating however hopefully the climate picks up at Portimão and we will get on the market and actually benefit from the observe time.”
Whereas Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew) didn’t make an look regardless of his acumen in wet situations, ROKiT BMW as an alternative featured take a look at drivers Markus Reiterberger and Sylvain Guintoli every operating completely different setups with the intention to accumulate as a lot knowledge as attainable on BMW’s new M 1000 RR. The pair had a really full -and very wet- day on the workplace, cumulatively recording 175 laps between the 2 of them; Reiterberger with 83 and Guintoli with 92. Toprak Razgatlioglu sat out each days after sustaining a finger harm whereas using enduro earlier within the month.
The testing motion now shifts to Portimao subsequent week, with your entire WorldSBK grid gathering on Tuesday twenty eighth and Wednesday twenty ninth January.
The opening spherical of the 2025 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship will get underway at Phillip Island on February 21. Organisers have confirmed that the season opener will feature mandatory pit stops due to tyre wear issues on the notoriously abrasive Phillip Island track surface.
Jerez WorldSBK Check Occasions
Day Two – January 23 (WET)
| Pos | Rider | Bike | Time/Hole | Pace |
| 1 | J Rea | Yam | 1m53.058 | 253,3 |
| 2 | X Vierge | Hon | +0.608 | 257,9 |
| 3 | Y Montella | Duc | +0.920 | 254,0 |
| 4 | A Bassani | Bim | +1.368 | 256,5 |
| 5 | S Redding | Duc | +1.835 | 260,4 |
| 6 | S Guintoli | BMW | +1.910 | 260,5 |
| 7 | X Forés | Bim | +2.154 | 252,1 |
| 8 | M Reiterberger | BMW | +2.163 | 254,1 |
| 9 | A Locatelli | Yam | +2.371 | 256,5 |
| 10 | F Alt | Hon | +2.836 | 255,2 |
| 11 | G Gerloff | Kaw | +3.835 | 256,1 |
| 12 | B Gómez | Hon | +5.414 | 249,2 |
Jerez WorldSBK Check Occasions
Day One – January 22 (DRY)
| Pos | Rider | Bike | Time | Pace |
| 1 | N. Bulega | DUC | 1m38.731 | 268.7 |
| 2 | A. Iannone | DUC | 1m39.181 | 272.0 |
| 3 | S. Redding | DUC | 1m39.280 | 269.3 |
| 4 | G. Gerloff | KAW | 1m39.332 | 267.3 |
| 5 | A. Bassani | BIM | 1m39.463 | 268.7 |
| 6 | D. Petrucci | DUC | 1m39.548 | 274.1 |
| 7 | X. Vierge | HON | 1m39.916 | 267.3 |
| 8 | A. Bautista | DUC | 1m40.135 | 270.7 |
| 9 | S. Lowes | DUC | 1m40.207 | 269.3 |
| 10 | A. Lowes | BIM | 1m40.270 | 267.3 |
| 11 | M. VD Mark | BMW | 1m40.285 | 266.7 |
| 12 | R. Gardner | YAM | 1m40.293 | 264.7 |
| 13 | J. Rea | YAM | 1m40.368 | 263.4 |
| 14 | R. Vickers | DUC | 1m40.586 | 268.7 |
| 15 | A. Locatelli | YAM | 1m40.989 | 263.4 |
| 16 | M. Reiterberger | BMW | 1m41.276 | 262.1 |
| 17 | B. Sofuoglu | YAM | 1m41.296 | 260.9 |
| 18 | Y. Montella | DUC | 1m41.308 | 268.0 |
| 19 | D. Aergerter | YAM | 1m41.488 | 261.5 |
| 20 | T. Nagashima | HON | 1m41.498 | 260.9 |
| 21 | B. Gómez | HON | 1m41.525 | 261.5 |
| 22 | T. Rabat | YAM | 1m41.591 | 264.7 |
| 23 | T. Mackenzie | HON | 1m41.715 | 261.5 |
| 24 | X. Forés | BIM | 1m41.926 | 260.7 |
| 25 | F. Alt | HON | 1m42.182 | 262.8 |
| 26 | R. Ramos | KAW | 1m42.438 | 254.7 |
| 27 | S. Guintoli | BMW | 1m42.787 | 265.3 |
| 28 | M. Schrötter | DUC | 1m43.289 | 235.3 |
| 29 | Okay. Toba | HON | 1m43.504 | 230.8 |
| 30 | J. Alcoba | KAW | 1m43.811 | 234.8 |
| 31 | O. Vostalek | DUC | 1m44.079 | 230.8 |
| 32 | QJ Proto | QJ | 1m44.344 | 229.5 |
| 33 | C. Perolari | HON | 1m44.416 | 230.3 |
| 34 | QJ Moto | QJ | 1m44.435 | 228.3 |
| 35 | M. Dunlop | DUC | 1m48.440 | 226.4 |
| 36 | A. Carrasco | HON | 1m48.582 | 223.6 |
Compiled with the help of Dorna
2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship Calendar
| Date | Circuit | WorldSBK | WorldSSP | SSP300 | WCR |
| 21-23 Feb | Phillip Island | X | X | ||
| 28-30 Mar | Portimao | X | X | X | |
| 11-12 Apr | Assen | X | X | X | X |
| 2-4 Could | Cremona | X | X | X | |
| 16-18 Could | Most | X | X | X | |
| 13-15 Jun | Misano | X | X | X | |
| 11-13 Jul | Donington | X | X | X | |
| 25-27 Jul | Balaton Park | X | X | X | |
| 5-7 Sep | Magny-Cours | X | X | X | X |
| 26-28 Sep | Aragon | X | X | X | |
| 10-12 Oct | Estoril | X | X | X | |
| 17-19 Oct | Jerez | X | X | X | X |
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