WSBK – Statements and Analysis of the Superbike in Jerez – Analysis of the World Superbike in Jerez

Jerez Superbike Statements and Analysis

WSBK - Statements and Analysis of the Superbike in Jerez - Analysis of the World Superbike in Jerez

The fourteenth and final round of the World SBK 2013 took place yesterday in Jerez, Spain. To complete our live reports, here are the statements of the Superbike riders as well as the Site analysis of the two Spanish races.

Analysis of the World Superbike in Jerez

Tom Sykes was smiling even bigger than usual last night in Jerez: beaten by half a point last year by Max Biaggi, the big favorite for the 2013 title – and "true champion 2012"according to some observers … and actors including Melandri Himself! – finally had his revenge…

It was by finishing third in the first race this Sunday in Jerez that the Kawasaki rider secured the title of World Superbike champion. To crown his superb season, the Kawasaki rider naturally wanted to win the second round, but the devil of Laverty prevented him from doing so..

Second in the second round behind his Irish comrade therefore, Tom took care to set the best time of the race, his 13th this season! From the Laguna Seca event, moreover, the English Ninja had seized the honorary title of "fastest driver in the race" by Pirelli.

Author of nine Superpoles last year, "Supersykes" has remained ultra-dominant this season in terms of qualifying since he collected eight additional poles. Another impressive statistic tends to prove that he fully deserved to be crowned in WSBK: the number of laps completed in the lead of the race…

Already last year, Major Tom had beaten his opponents in this little game by completing 204 laps in first place, against 69 each for Biaggi and Checa, 37 for Laverty and Rea, 36 for Melandri, etc. But Sykes’ too slow end-of-run unfortunately prevented it – for him, not for Biaggi! – to conclude.

In 2013, the n ° 66 ZX-10R beat the other Superbikes on no less than 255 laps! Laverty’s # 58 RSV4 completed 119 laps in the lead, Davies‘s # 19 S1000RR 76, Guintoli’s # 50 RSV4 39, Melandri’s # 33 S10000RR 23, Rea’s # 65 CBR1000RR and ZX-10R from Baz 11 each, RSV4 n ° 34 from Giugliano 5, GSX-R 1000 n ° 16 and n ° 2 from Cluzel and Camier respectively 3 and 1.

Tom Sykes, 2013 world champion

Much more enduring this year, Sykes and his Kawa ‘won nine races, against four in 2012. By adding the four 2nd places, the five 3rd places and the other results (four Top 5 and only two whites), the duo totaled 447 points, 23 more than the Laverty dolphin !

Just last night, the native – and still living – of Huddersfield admitted to having trouble realizing that his name was at the top of the final standings. This first place was nevertheless materialized by the n ° 1 who already adorned his Kawasaki during the 2013 champions photo session. !

Alongside the new Superbike boss took place another Englishman, Sam Lowes, titled in the Supersport category two weeks ago at Magny-Cours, but also the French Sylvain Barrier (Superstock 1000), the Italian Franco Morbidelli (Superstock 600) and New Zealander Jake Lewis (European Junior Cup).

Naturally, the objectives were mainly on Sykes: the one who had never been titled – not even at home in Great Britain – is only the second Kawasaki rider in history to be crowned in World Superbike, 20 years old. after Scott Russel on ZX-7RR !

Across the Channel, where fans of the discipline are extremely numerous, since 2007 and the second James Toseland title (on the Fireblade of the Ten Kate team after the one in 2004 on Ducati 999), we have been waiting for the return of a compatriot to the throne. global.

We imagine that the official sticker kits offered for a week by Kawasaki in England – but also in France, n ° 66 from Sykes or n ° 76 from Baz of your choice! – should tear off like weeds from Ninja owners.

"We will already be racing in WSBK with headlight stickers to look as much as possible with the stock Ninja ZX-10R available at all Kawasaki dealers.", commented on their exit Tom Sykes, perfect little VRP of the Greens."Now the transformation is complete with this awesome sticker kit".

Shark preferred to wait for the title to be definitively sealed before drawing his "Speed-R Sykes Replica", road copy of the Race-R Pro that Sykes uses on the track."With chrome surfaces, it also uses the Japanese ideograms worn by the English pilot", details the French brand.

The opportunity to learn – for the rare Site readers who, as everyone knows, know all Kanji by heart – that "these mean Success, Courage, Belief, Ambition and many other meanings specific to the character of this talented pilot…"

Here again, the commercial success of this special series is guaranteed in England. In France, on the other hand, fans of Sylvain Guintoli and Loris Baz will only be able to wear the replica of the helmet of their idol … if it wins the world title in 2014 ?! Case to follow…

Aprilia retains its "manufacturer" title

If on the eve of this fourteenth and final round of the World Superbike 2013, the title "driver" was promised to Tom Sykes, the title "manufacturer" was intended for Aprilia: by landing in Jerez with a lead of 35 points on Kawasaki, Noale’s firm could content itself with ensuring…

Instead, its driver Eugene Laverty decided to put on a show on the track – Melandri still got it down from being overtaken from the outside on the last corner of the first race! – and maximum service in the championship: after the Superpole on Saturday, the Irishman won both races on Sunday !

By pocketing Laverty’s first 25 points, the RSV4 thus remained the queen of the World Superbike (it was already in 2010 and 2012) despite its failure in the "pilot" championship. Site readers recall that Ducati doubled the bet in the same way in 2009, against Yamaha (and Spies)…

Looking at the summary table for the 2013 season, Aprilia’s supremacy is beyond doubt: her Lions (Laverty, Guintoli but also Giugliano!) Only missed two podiums in 27 races, accumulating 550 points against 501 for the drivers. Kawasaki and 443 for BMW riders.

In the second half of the table, we note that Suzuki took advantage of Leon Camier’s return to beat Honda in the final sprint: 243 to 236! The absence of Jonathan Rea was cruelly felt at the end of the season with the Tokyo Reds … Starting tomorrow, during the first "autumn" tests in 2014, JR will try to get things back in hand.

For the Bologna Reds this time, it was the continued lack of performance of the 1199 Panigale – in the current Superbike configuration – which led to their downfall. Credited with only 185 points, Ducati finished last in the standings, Yamaha having only taken part in two events this year via two different teams..

At Aprilia of course, we are delighted with this new world crown, to be affixed as it should on the fuel tanks of future motorcycles of the brand! "The "constructor" crown is extremely precious", insisted last night the replacement of Luigi Dall’Igna, Romano Albesiano, whom Site had crossed .

For the new head of Aprilia’s competition department, this title is "a testament to the design excellence of our RSV4 design that has dominated debates on the track for years. This product is 100% Italian pride".

"The performance and consistency of all our riders, Laverty and Guintoli within the factory team and those of the satellite teams Althea and Red Devils, led Aprilia to dominate the standings from the first to the last race.", emphasizes Romano Albesiano.

Conversely, the RSV4 Factory allowed Eugene and Sylvain to fight for the "driver" title until the penultimate race. Hyper constant but not sharp enough in fighting and injured at the end of the season, "Guinters" fails 45 points behind the leader, and 22 behind his teammate.

Second in the general classification therefore, Eugene Laverty was not sufficiently consistent (five draws) to steal his title from Sykes. We note however that in the table of "medals" (ranking by number of victories, then 2nd and 3rd places), "Youdjine" appears in first place !

The n ° 58 is therefore presented as the most "bankable" rider on the field, an enviable status while the 2014 handlebars – in World Superbike but also some in MotoGP! – are slow to be allocated … Business to follow on the Site: stay connected !

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