WorldSBK preview: Rd3, MotorLand Aragon, Spain, March 31-April 2

The 2017 Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) heads to the Spanish circuit of MotorLand Aragon for the first European round of the season this weekend, a place where Chaz Davies (Ducati) has dominated at in the past.

But it's Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) who has enjoyed a perfect start to his title defence, taking two pole positions and four victories in the opening rounds, and in very different circumstances.

However, the Northern Irishman has only secured one victory around MotorLand – in 2015’s race one. Rea's teammate Tom Sykes has a more notable record around the tight and twisty circuit, with four pole positions and the double race win in 2014 to his name. Sykes has made some changes to his riding style which is paying off so far for 2017, so it will be interesting to see how this has altered in Spain.

Undoubtedly the favourite is Davies, who has a stunning record around the 5km circuit, taking the last three victories on his Ducati as well as winning on a BMW in 2013.

MotorLand could be the chance for Davies to get his season well and truly underway, as he has been unable to secure that all important first win. Despite this, teammate Marco Melandri could be the dark horse in Aragon, as he took the first pole position and win at the circuit’s debut to the calendar in 2011 on a Yamaha, as well as returning to the top step in 2012. Making appearances on the podium already in 2017, this could be Melandri’s chance to be back on top.

Yamaha has had a steady start to their 2017 campaign, with some consistent results for Alex Lowes and to a lesser extent Michael van der Mark. Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) will be aiming to find that something extra to get him onto the podium in Aragon, but MotorLand is a circuit he has struggled at in the past, collecting only a few top 10 finishes. With a stronger package behind him and his confidence growing, what steps can he make this weekend?

Continuing to develop the brand new CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, Honda (Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl) has another tough learning weekend ahead of it. Securing top 10 finishes last time out in Buriram, Hayden and Bradl are working hard to get their machines competitive.

Hayden had a tough weekend in 2016, finishing one race in the top six and the other 23rd; however the American has a strong record in MotoGP there. Bradl has a similar history around MotorLand, only finishing outside of the top 10 on two occasions out of seven appearances, meaning he can take his experience forward to help develop his Honda.

Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty will hope to put tough opening rounds behind him and get his season properly underway in Spain, and he will have a new teammate in Julian Simon after Lorenzo Savadori withdrew because of injury.

BMW pair Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger has had a steady start to the season but will be aiming to impress as the series heads into Europe, with the cooler conditions perhaps being kinder to the duo. Torres has a couple of top five finishes around Aragon to his name, and will hope to impress his home fans. Whilst Reiterberger had a steady debut around the circuit, meaning there will be some progress to be made for the pair.

MV Agusta's lone rider Leon Camier is hoping to bounce back in Europe, with a tough 2017 so far. Mechanical problems have hampered the team this season, but Camier has shown his British resilience, fighting his way through the pack in both Superpole and the races this season. Struggling around the Spanish circuit in the past, it will be a tough test for Camier and his Italian outfit this weekend.

In WorldSSP, reigning champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) will compete for the first time this year after recovering from injury, while Aussie Anthony West (Yamaha) is back on the grid alongside countryman Aiden Wagner (Honda) and Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki). West was a stirring third in round one at Phillip Island.

Aussies Mike Jones (Ducati) and Glenn Scott (Kawasaki) will also begin their campaigns in the opening round of the European Superstock 1000 Championship.