News

Two rounds down, but this weekend’s Pirelli Aragon Round of the Superbike World Championship is the first true test of what we can expect from the rest of the season.

Phillip Island will always throw up unexpected results and the heat and humidity of Thailand presents a very different challenge for riders compared to races in the European heartland of the series. The weather in Aragon will be more comparable to what we will experience through the season, and the track layout will also be more similar to the majority of the calendar.

The racing has been cut-throat so far in 2016 and it’s unlikely that we’ll see that start to change. However, a clearer picture of the strengths of all bikes will start to develop over the next two rounds.

There is a reason that Aragon is a very popular track for testing. The contrasts of the layout are clear - fast and slow corners, high top speeds and heavy braking - and they will challenge each bike and reveal a lot about their characters.

In Thailand, Tom Sykes revealed a lot about his character and his potential for 2016. It’s very easy to read too much into one race or one round of a championship, particularly at this early stage of the year, but Sykes looked much more competitive. The former World Champion showed true grit to hold off Jonathan Rea in Race 2 and take the 25 points. Having had a strong bike at the end of the race, it showed that Sykes was able to adapt his style.

Questions about his adaptability have plagued the Englishman in recent years but he felt that he turned a corner in Thailand.

“We were much closer to where we need to be in Australia and Thailand compared to 2015,” said Sykes. “On paper we should be very strong in Spain because we have done a lot of tests there and had good results in the past. Considering our form and set-up on the latest Ninja ZX-10R only gives me confidence. I am looking forward to getting started on Friday. The best thing about the race win we took in Thailand is that I was able to adapt during the race. To change my style and still win was very pleasing. It has given me extra confidence and the plan is to build on this.”

The dynamic within the Kawasaki garage will be very interesting to follow this weekend. In Thailand, Rea was magnanimous in defeat saying that Sykes deserved his win, but if he is beaten again this weekend the cat could be amongst the pigeons in the Kawasaki pitbox. For Rea, the Thai defeat was important and illustrated again his need to stay strong throughout the season.

“We increased our championship lead from Phillip Island which was good but I just wanted to win the race,” said Rea. “To get beaten is really great for my motivation.”

Motivation isn’t an issue for Chaz Davies, but top speed is still the biggest concern for the Welshman. Ducati will bring a new exhaust to Aragon this weekend having tested it at Valencia prior to the race, and although the team has not confirmed the improvements that the new exhaust will offer, the goal will have been to find top speed after being outgunned by Kawasaki in both rounds this year.

Davies, a former double winner at Aragon, gave Ducati the first win for the Panigale R last year. It’s a track that suits him and having been on the back foot for most of the weekend in Thailand, the Welshman is looking forward to this weekend.

“In Thailand we had to play defense a bit; however, considering the issues we faced, we did a good job and collected important points,” said Davies. “We're ready to bounce back in Aragon, which is one of my favorite tracks and triggers some great memories, especially my first win with Ducati. The circuit suits my style and I was often able to ride at my best there. I also can't wait to try the latest upgrades, which theoretically should mark another step in the right direction. So, I approach this round with confidence, even though the competition is always strong.”

Stronger competition has been an issue for teams this year. The improved fortunes of Honda mean the Japanese manufacturer has come out fighting in 2016, with three podiums and a pole position. Michael van der Mark has been the star so far but his teammate Nicky Hayden, has shown promising pace and is still at the beginning of his career; looking to adapt to his new paddock and keep progressing.

The American, who is the 2006 MotoGP champion, said in Thailand that he had been hamstrung in both rounds by not having a trouble free run through practice and races. Just being able to learn the bike and understand how it changes is key for the American, but his pace has been impressive at times in both Phillip Island and Thailand.

Alex Lowes is another rider who has had promising pace but been thwarted by bad luck and a lack of track time. The Englishman suffered two mechanical failures last time out, in qualifying and the second race, but the promise of the Yamaha is clear for all to see. Sylvain Guintoli has been able to consistently grind out results and the Frenchman sits fifth in the standings and has topped sessions.

Each team and rider still has some questions hanging over their heads, but Aragón will start to put light on these as we head onto European soil.