"I love it so much... it's a great show!" Quartararo, Marquez lead praise on 2022 WorldSBK title race
MotoGP™ stars gave their thoughts on the first three rounds of the 2022 WorldSBK season after some incredible moments at Aragon, Assen and Estoril
Three rounds of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship have been completed and there has been no shortage of drama. From last-lap battles to rivals colliding, the start of the 2022 season has had everything so far as Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) battle it out. After the first three rounds of WorldSBK, MotoGP™ stars gave their thoughts ahead of last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.
CHAMPIONS QUARTARARO AND MARQUEZ: Toprak’s save and respect…
Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez discussed the season so far and explained his reaction to Razgatlioglu’s incredible Estoril save. He said: “I was sitting on the sofa in my house watching the race, and straight away I stood up! When I saw the save, it was a great show, it was a really difficult save. It’s a really slow corner, uphill and also some wet patches. The way Toprak rides is riding in a different way. It’s something interesting. It’s a really nice show of what Jonathan, Alvaro and Toprak are doing in WorldSBK. I respect them a lot. I’m watching every race because they’re so interesting.”
Reigning MotoGP™ Champion Fabio Quartararo, currently top of the standings this season, explained his views on WorldSBK so far in 2022: “I’m following the Championship. I love it so much and I think it was crazy. The save from Toprak with the front, it was really crazy, and I really loved that. Hopefully it’s going like that for the whole season. I know for them, it’s going to be stressful but it’s great and I think it’s going to be super nice for all the fans I tell them to follow this Championship.”
MILLER ON REA’S STUNNING RACE 2 COMEBACK: “he threw absolutely everything at it…”
Ducati’s Jack Miller was another who reacted to the incredible Estoril Round, including Rea’s epic last lap shootout with Bautista. He said: “It’s amazing. I watched all three races last week. Every single race had a bit of something to throw at it with Jonny and Toprak’s tussle in the first one, and then Alvaro coming back past them all. It was impressive. Of course, Toprak’s save in the Superpole Race. Probably the best one I’ve seen yet. The ride from Jonny in Race 2 was amazing. The guy rode the wheels off the bike. Didn’t give up to the bitter end and prevailed. It was an amazing performance. You could see he threw absolutely everything at it, especially the last corner; trying to get the drive out of there. It was awesome to see WorldSBK in such good health and amazing to see those three boys at the front.”
ESPARGARO AND ALEX MARQUEZ: their hopes for a Spanish Champion…
Alex Marquez was another who gave his thoughts on the season so far at the Italian Grand Prix, with the Spanish rider saying: “When I’m home, I always try to see all the races. I think that the comeback of Bautista with Ducati has been really great, and he made a good move to be there and to again fight for the Championship. I think it’s really open to have another option after Toprak and Jonathan. I love to see the braking point of Toprak and also Jonathan because they’re always really late, and it’s always really nice. The Estoril races were amazing. When it’s equal like this, all the small details count. The speed Alvaro has now in this moment is just a little bit more but he has something more than Toprak and Jonathan. I think Jonathan has the experience to win the title again.”
Honda rider Pol Espargaro was another who spoke about Spain’s chances of claiming a first title since Carlos Checa with Ducati in 2011. He said: “I think the focus is very much on Toprak and Rea and I think Bautista is there, with quite a lot of silence he’s getting a lot of points and I think he’s leading the Championship. Many people, at the beginning of the year, maybe thought he was already too old, but he looks super fit, super concentrated, super focused. I think he’s in one of the best moments of his career and he’s a potential guy to win the Championship. I really like Bautista. I’m a close friend of his. It’s very interesting. I really enjoy seeing the battles between Toprak and Rea, but I think Bautista is going to be there the whole year and there are many fights that we will see.”
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