RACING: WorldSBK preview, Aragon, Spain

Three different winners from four races have treated devotees to a sensational 2018 Superbike World Championship so far, and the action continues at MotorLand Aragon in Spain this weekend (April 13-15) for round three action.

In 2017, eventual world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) shared the victories, and this year it will be another tough slog around the 5.07km circuit with riders like Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Pata Yamaha pair Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes, Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati), Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) also in the mix.

“Aragon is a great circuit and one that I really enjoy riding at, although at this time of the year the conditions are generally quite cool," said Rea.

"Last season was interesting riding against the Ducatis, to see how the bikes had strengths in different areas. This season we will have to understand how our bike behaves and how competitive we can be - but I am optimistic.

"Step-by-step I’m starting to feel better with the bike and understand what is required to be fast this season. It’s important to be strong at Motorland, and with Assen coming right after, it could be the most important phase of the championship. Being back in Europe everything is more familiar and ‘normal’, so I am excited to see what this weekend brings.”

Meanwhile, Savadori will have a new teammate this weekend – and probably for the next few rounds – in the form of former Ducati factory rider Davide Guigliano, who is deputizing for the injured Eugene Laverty who broke his pelvis at round two in Thailand.

Making his return to the WorldSBK title in 2018, Loris Baz (Gulf Althea BMW) has been taking his time to adjust back to the Pirelli tyres as well as get used to his German machine. The Frenchman sits in ninth in the standings, and will be hoping to make it into the top six as he returns to Europe – visiting MotorLand with MotoGP he has the experience in both series.

Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) is another rider who could spring a surprise at Aragon.

Rea currently leads the standings on 69 points from Melandri (67), Fores (60), Davies (48), Lowes (48) and van der Mark (45).

Yamaha pair Randy Krummenacher and world champion Lucas Mahias are co-leaders in WorldSSP, while West is in 10th position after he failed to finish the Philip Island season opener with a mechanical problem.

Aussies will be in action at Aragon in world supersport – Kawasaki pair Anthony West and Lachlan Epis – and Tom Edwards (Kawasaki) in supersport 300.