Locatelli cements his place as 2021’s top rookie in Argentina
After taking the 2020 WorldSSP crown in commanding fashion, Locatelli moved straight into the factory Yamaha outfit in WorldSBK
When the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship headed back to South America and Argentina for the Motul Argentinean Round at the Circuito San Juan Villicum, a key milestone was in reach for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) as he was in a position to ensure he would finish as the top rookie in the Championship standings for 2021.
Locatelli headed into the Argentinean Round with an 80-point advantage in the standings over his nearest rookie rival, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), and knew his position as 2021’s top rookie would be secure if he ended the Argentinean Round at least 63 points clear of Bassani in the standings.
Bassani continued to impress in Argentina, extending his run of top-ten finishes in WorldSBK to 11 races, starting from his stunning second place in Catalunya Race 1, and also started a run of three consecutive top-five finishes and closing the gap to Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) in the Championship standings.
22-year-old Bassani was able to finish ahead of Locatelli in every race in Argentina but Locatelli was able to keep the advantage after Argentina at 71 points in the Championship standings with 62 available in the season-ending Indonesian Round meaning Locatelli, who moved into WorldSBK after claiming an incredible record-breaking WorldSSP title in 2020, will finish the year as WorldSBK’s leading rookie regardless of results in Indonesia.
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