CZECH CLASSICS FOR FREE: three thrilling duels from the Czech Republic
Last lap brilliance and heavyweight clashes, the Czech Republic has given us it all…
The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns this weekend for round six of the season and after three years away, the paddock arrives in the Czech Republic. Whilst the country has hosted 22 races in WorldSBK, they all came at Brno, whilst the Autodrom Most serves as a new battleground this weekend. Fast and flowing and unique in nature, the Championship should see close racing in abundance this weekend, but to rekindles the special memories from the central European nation, we’ve gone through the archives to find three brilliant battles from the previous Czech Round, and you can watch them for free.
2007, Brno, Race 1: Toseland vs Biaggi
Max Biaggi was a rookie in 2007 and he came into the WorldSBK paddock as a four-time 250cc World Champion and multiple MotoGP™ race winner and rode for the Alstare Suzuki team, whilst James Toseland was enjoying his second season on a Honda in a bid to reclaim the title he last won back in 2004. In a race where the lead was fought for in the closing laps, it would be Toseland who conquered Brno specialist Biaggi by just over two tenths of a second.
2009, Brno, Race 2: Spies vs Biaggi vs Fabrizio
In his rookie season, Ben Spies was taking the WorldSBK Championship by storm and after a DNF in Race 1, he was out to make amends in Race 2. However, it wasn’t so easy as Max Biaggi on his Aprilia and Michel Fabrizio – a Brno specialist too – on his Ducati made Spies work hard. Come the final lap and despite throwing everything he had at Spies to get back in touch, Biaggi and Fabrizio couldn’t conquer Spies, who took victory, leaving Brno just seven points behind Championship leader Haga.
2011, Brno, Race 1: Melandri vs Biaggi vs Checa
A race that saw the three Championship contenders do battle, it would be a grandstand finish come the final lap. With the three ex-MotoGP™ stars taking each other on and the unpredictability rising, it really was anyone’s race. With just over two laps to go, Melandri made his customary block-pass move at the Turn 11-12 esses, taking the lead and resisting Biaggi and Checa’s pressure all the way until the end, Melandri took a stunning victory, re-igniting his Championship chances.
Will we see another classic this weekend, this time from Most? Watch it LIVE and uninterrupted with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
