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UPS AND DOWNS: Incredible battles and costly crashes in Argentina

Monday, 18 October 2021 06:37 GMT

The return to Argentina did not disappoint with plenty of action throughout the weekend

After missing out on a trip to Argentina in 2020, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned in style to the Circuito San Juan Villicum for the Motul Argentinean Round with plenty of action across all the weekend’s races. There were sensational battles throughout the weekend but also some costly crashes that put riders on the backfoot during the three days out on track.

The on-track action throughout the 2021 campaign kept on giving during Race 2 in Argentina as the top three in the Championship, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), looked to claim a crucial victory.

In the end, Redding won out in Race 2 after the battle before he was able to pull away from Rea and Razgatlioglu in the second half of the race, leaving the duo fighting it out over second place where Rea finished and Razgatlioglu completed the podium. All three riders had their moments of leading the race, while rookie Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) looked to get involved after an impressive weekend for the 22-year-old.

Rea and Redding both had their down moments too in a rollercoaster weekend for the pair. Rea was on the backfoot following a Free Practice 2 crash that cost him around 30 minutes of the 45-minute session, crucial to understand tyres and bike setup given it is held at the same time as racing begins. Rea was able to bounce back to claim three podium finishes in Argentina. For Redding, it was a Race 1 crash on the opening lap at Turn 1 that cost him dearly despite starting from pole position, but he was able to fight back through the field for ninth place in that race before second in the Tissot Superpole Race and a win in Race 2.

In WorldSSP, the title was decided in favour of Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) with one round to spare after an incredible rookie campaign from the Swiss rider. Race 2 on Sunday in WorldSSP was a dramatic affair from the off with Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Racing) down at Turn 1 after contact with Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) while Odendaal, the only rider who could stop Aegerter, also crashed later on in the race. Aegerter came home third and Odendaal did not score points, ensuring the title headed back to Switzerland.

Watch more incredible moments from the Argentinean Round and more in 2021 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!