This World Superbike Championship is coming to an end this weekend at Jerez, with the hot subject to be: who will become the world champion? Alvaro Bautista has pretty much a hand on the title but Toprak Razgatlioglu is no rider to discard and will for sure give his best. This round will also mark the end of an era, as Jonathan Rea says goodbye to Kawasaki, with which he won six titles.
This is it then; the final round of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has arrived and there’s plenty to be decided. However, whilst the title is mathematically still on, there’s a whole host of chapters about to be closed across the various teams, plus other breaking news. So, for the last time in 2023: the hot topics from Thursday’s interviews are below!
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): ‘It feels like the perfect book-end’
The last weekend in green for Jonathan Rea, a close to an incredible stint: “It feels really different, the whole approach to the weekend. We know it’s the final page of our huge chapter in my career and it feels like the perfect book-end here at Jerez, to finish the journey that started here in 2015 when I won my first World Championship. I’m excited to get stuck in to the weekend and try to build on the past weekends. We’ve been podium contenders from mid-season onwards. Podiums are the target but we’ll start tomorrow with Free Practice. I’m full of ambition to make myself and my team really proud. Ideally, it’d be that we go out on a huge high with a euphoric feeling. On my 2024 crew, I have total faith with those who I’ll work with and I’m quitter excited too; it’s not very long to wait now. With regulations, you have to take time to understand but what’s nice is that the Championship is working hard to make it sustainably competitive for everyone.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): ‘I think the new regulations are necessary’
He can become a double Champion this weekend and take the crown on home soil but Alvaro Bautista is staying grounded for now: “It’s always really nice to race in Spain, especially here at Jerez. The Championship is not over because mathematically it’s open. I remember in 2006 when I won the title in 125cc, I won it in Australia, so it was far from home. Last year, I won it in Indonesia which is still so far; a bit closer but still far from home! This season, if we’re able to get the title here, it’ll be amazing because I can share it with my friends and family. I think the new regulations are necessary because you have to adapt to the new times. I will try the bike with the new regulations and let’s see. Maybe not the complete bike with the new regulations but parts of them we will try on Tuesday.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): ‘Phil is always coming with me… I’ll never forget this; we are Champions together’
The title may be all but impossible but emotions are elsewhere for Toprak Razgatlioglu ahead of Jerez: “Firstly, I say I’m very excited for my last race with Yamaha after four years and also the Championship, we are still fighting but he needs just two points. I’m fighting for the win. I know Alvaro’s very strong, and Jonny is, but I’ll try to do my best again. The Teams’ Championship is very good for Yamaha and the team, but I’m always focused on the Riders’ Championship. I hope we do a very good job this weekend. I’m very happy. When I go to different brands, Phil is always coming with me because we are a good package. In 2019, he believed in me and started to work with me at Puccetti Kawasaki. Now, I’m going to different brand with him, not alone and I’ll never forget this. We are Champions together and we lose together. Next year, I will have more power and I don’t know what’s changing for me. I don’t know these two new tracks; I always like new tracks because I’m really fast to adapt.