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Race 1000 in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is getting closer and closer. It’s scheduled for the Tissot Superpole Race at the brand new Balaton Park on Sunday and, ahead of that, we’re looking back at key moments, incredible memories and previous milestone races in the Championship’s history. Part 1 looked at the first 100 races, while part 2 featured the following 150. Races 251-500 were covered in part three while this article will look at races 501 to 750.

SIX HUNDRED RACES AND COUNTING: the USA hosts the 600^th WorldSBK battle

Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, USA, was the venue for the Championship’s 600^th race with four different manufacturers in the top four. Spanish star Carlos Checa claimed victory on his Ducati ahead of BMW’s Marco Melandri, with just 2.3 seconds separating the pair at the line. Max Biaggi for Aprilia completed the podium while a certain Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), then racing for Honda, was fourth – Rea and Biaggi were just two tenths apart at the end of the 21-lap race.

A TITLE FIGHT FOR THE AGES: Sykes takes the 2013 crown at Jerez

Tom Sykes was victorious in the 2013 title fight by 23 points over Eugene Laverty, but the #66 had to fight hard for that crown. It was decided in the penultimate race of the season, with Sykes needing to not lose 12 points to Laverty. The Brit settled for third, knowing that it would be enough even if Laverty won the race – which he did, but not after an amazing final lap fight with Marco Melandri. The Irishman was trailing heading into the final corner but swept around the outside of Melandri to take victory by just a couple of tenths – but it wasn’t enough to deny Sykes his first and only crown.

RIVALRIES IGNITE: Davies vs Rea hits a new high in Malaysia

Sepang in 2015 had plenty of talking points, but none more so than Rea’s rivalry with Chaz Davies. The pair had been fighting all year long, with a flashpoint at Aragon earlier in the year, but Sepang is where it ramped up. Davies led on the final lap, but Rea was close behind and took a wider line through the final right hander of the Sepang circuit, giving him a better run onto the back straight. He got ahead heading into the final corner, but Davies fought back, diving up the inside. The pair made contact, and both stayed up, as Davies claimed a famous victory.

THE REA ERA STARTS WITH A TITLE: the #65 becomes the #1

While Rea and Davies were fighting on track in Malaysia, it was soon time to crown that year’s Champion. Rea, in his first year with Kawasaki, wrapped the title up with two rounds to spare after he finished fourth in Race 1 at Jerez, despite Davies finishing second. It was Rea’s first title but far from his last, with the Northern Irishman going on to claim six titles in a row between 2015 and 2020.

ANOTHER MILESTONE REACHED: Aragon welcomes WorldSBK for Race 700

Heading into 2016, and another landmark was reached in WorldSBK. The 700^th race took place in Race 2 at the classic MotorLand Aragon. It was won by Davies who took victory by more than six seconds ahead of Sykes, while Rea completed the podium – nine seconds back from his long-term rival.

NICKY HAYDEN TAKES HIS ONLY WIN: a wet-weather masterclass in Malaysia

The late, great Nicky Hayden moved to WorldSBK for 2016 with Honda and he is still their last race winner. In Malaysia in 2016, the ‘Kentucky Kid’ stunned in Race 2 as rain poured on the Sepang circuit as he battled with Rea for victory. With 12 laps to go, the #69 started building a gap to his rivals and he controlled the race to take his only victory in WorldSBK.

RACE 750: Thailand delivers a thriller

Buriram was the host of WorldSBK’s 750^th race and it was a spectacle in Thailand. A whole host of riders were in contention for victory after a stunning scrap at the front of the field. Victory went to Davies, following on from his win in the 700^th race, while Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes were on the rostrum.

RACES 501-750 IN NUMBERS

Champions: Biaggi (2012), Sykes (2013), Guintoli (2014), Rea (2015, 2016, 2017)
Number of race winners: 18 (top three: Rea, 55; Sykes, 33; Davies, 28)
Number of podium finishers: 38 (top three: Rea, 114; Sykes, 100; Davies, 70)
Number of riders with fastest laps: 26 (top three: Rea, 42; Sykes, 37; Checa, 29).
Number of circuits raced at: 25 (top three: Phillip Island, Magny-Cours, 20; Donington, Assen, Imola, Portimao, 18; Aragon, Misano, 12)

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