WSBK preview: Jerez
A return to the legendary Spanish track for the first time since 1990, way back when Raymond Roche took the double and Rob Phillis was Australia's big title hopeThe final round of the 2013 Superbike World Championship will take place at Jerez, Spain from October 18-20. The last time Jerez hosted a WSBK round was way back in 1990, when it was the season opener (see videos below).
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team, pictured)) enters the final showdown in a confident mood after his double win at Magny-Cours saw the Brit extend his lead to a comfortable 37 and 38pts respectively over the two remaining title contenders, Aprilia Racing Team pair Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli. With such a considerable margin over the rivals, one of the permutations – and the one most likely -- is that Sykes could be crowned world champion after race one, which would be a just result after the Brit fell agonisingly short of winning the championship in 2012.
Meanwhile, BMW Motorrad GoldBet line-up will expand this weekend, as regular riders Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies will be joined by Frenchman Sylvain Barrier, who is set to make his long-awaited WSBK debut after retaining the title in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup in front of his home crowd at Magny-Cours.
Local rider Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) is targeting a strong result at Jerez, a track he knows well and where he won during his best ever 250cc world championship season (2003) and in 2010, first race victory of his title-winning season in Moto2.
Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) is down to race despite not being 100 per cent after the injuries suffered at Nurburgring and Istanbul Park. The former British superbike champion will undergo further checks at Jerez prior to the round, before a final decision on his participation to the event. Loris Baz is also in a similar situation: eager to jump on his Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R after sitting out the last three rounds.
Javier Fores will replace fellow Spaniard Carlos Checa for the last outing of what has been a difficult season for Team Ducati Alstare. The 28-year-old from Llombai has previously raced in WSBK when he stepped in for injured James Toseland to race with BMW Motorrad Italia for the last three rounds in 2011.
Recently crowned Australian FX Superbike champion Broc Parkes will make his comeback to the series by tackling the event aboard the Yamaha Austria Racing Team YZF-R1. YART normally competes in world endurance, but could be also eyeing a full-time WSBK berth in the future when the new EVO rules are adopted.
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