20.02.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea returned to his second home on Monday as testing resumed ahead of the 2023 WorldSBK season opener at Phillip Island.

Four hours apiece across Monday and Tuesday, and with perfect weather conditions compared to November’s recent visit to the Australian Grand Prix Circuit, is allowing the six-time champion to thoroughly analyse recent steps made with the Ninja ZX10-RR during January’s European testing at Jerez and Portimao. With the Northern Irishman tentative in his initial reactions.

“Positive, mixed,” Rea said after day one at Phillip Island. “We had some really good feelings with the bike but some not so good that we’re trying to resolve for tomorrow. Some issues with the bumps.

“The bumps aren’t getting worse but the bike feels different compared to last year.

“Also the temperature’s a lot higher compared to last year so the grip levels are good but of course the tyres are dropping much more than in November – where there was cooler conditions, a lot of wind also – so just working through that with the crew. Will put our heads together and hopefully make a good step tonight, when we understand everything that’s going on.”

While multiple red flags for wildlife on track disputed the day’s flow, a turn four crash in the afternoon session left his Kawasaki somewhat lacking.

“Basically was a mix of things,” he explained. “I went out with a completely different wheelbase. Also a new hard front tyre that I hadn’t used yet and I was pushing hard. I set the fastest lap time of the session just before and then the next lap I went in with good power, good feeling and just overcooked it. On data was very similar, just a little bit more lean angle. One of them, you know.

“Frustrated, because I was relatively unscathed, everything was near perfect. I went with the same suit, gloves, everything but the bike not so much – I put a pretty big dent in the tank.

“Sorry for the guys for that. We went out straight away afterwards. I was quick again but just working on them key areas like I said, trying to manage them bumps a little bit better and working towards tomorrow.

“Just trying to work on the bike being a little bit more manageable, more smooth,” Rea continued on the plan of action for the final day of testing. “It’s working very well in some areas – like in T2, exit T6, the bike feels better than last year, a lot better. But just in them critical areas, sector three, I’m really suffering there. That’s a key area that we need to improve so try to do that then put some laps on the tyre. That’s going to be key to fight for the podium this weekend, to be strong at the end of the race as well. So that will be on the agenda, try and put a lot of laps on the tyres.”

With Ducati strong from second and third in Monday’s times, and Michael Rinaldi maintaining his top three position across Portimao testing, does Rea think there will be more to 2023’s title fighters than just the dominating trio of recent years?

“No idea,” the 36-year-old said, honestly. “I know I expect the two guys from last year to be right there. They’re great riders with great machines, and then it’s up to the rest to try and be there. Me included!

“Try to maximise my potential every weekend and of course, like last year, where you have other riders strong in different circuits, it’s going to be the same. Gonna be unpredictable, which is good, but hopefully I can step up and be there each weekend.”

31.01.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

WorldSBK testing got back underway at Portimao’s Algarve International Circuit on Tuesday with Aruba.it Ducati’s Michael Rinaldi topping the times in the closing minutes.

KRT’s Jonathan Rea looked to have the day in the bag before the Italian swept through thanks to a 1’39.639 on his final effort, denying the Northern Irishman by 0.061s, with the second Ducati of Alvaro Bautista a further 0.007s back in third, despite a late tipoff at turn five.

Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes had an action packed start to proceedings as both he and Honda’s Xavi Vierge brought out the red flags in the morning session due to crashes at turns 10 and 13 respectively. The pair both returning to the track as the session continued, Lowes aboard his second bike after the small off proved more destructive than expected due to limited airfencing.

Reigning champion Bautista held court with a 1’39.862, just 0.02s ahead of fellow Panigale rider Rinaldi by the halfway point of the opening day with Pata Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli and Toprak Razgatlioglu completing the top four. The pair continuing to circulate on similar pace as they concluded the day’s top five by the close of play.

Vierge regrouped to sit sixth overall, narrowly ahead of Lowes while Honda’s Iker Lecuona, GRT Yamaha’s Remy Gardner and Bonovo BMW’s Garrett Gerloff concluded the top ten.

In WorldSSP, Tarran Mackenzie took his first laps with a stock MIE Honda, before retiring for the remainder of the day ahead of a proper push on Wednesday. Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega headed the field as he had at Jerez, with 1’43.282 pace, Althea’s Federico Caricasulo and Raffaele de Rosa completed the top three, half a second behind.

WorldSBK Portimao Test – Tuesday

1 21 M. RINALDI DUCATI 1:39.639 73 1:58.985 75 291.1 1:39.335
2 65 J. REA KAWASAKI 1:39.700 53 0.061 0.061 2:01.400 61 314.0 1:39.515
3 1 A. BAUTISTA DUCATI 1:39.707 50 0.068 0.007 2:27.666 59 312.1 1:39.514
4 54 T. RAZGATLIOGLU YAMAHA 1:39.851 38 0.212 0.144 1:50.725 42 310.3 1:39.730
5 55 A. LOCATELLI YAMAHA 1:39.987 12 0.348 0.071 2:02.868 57 279.1 1:39.807
6 97 X. VIERGE HONDA 1:40.053 64 0.414 0.058 1:59.691 66 293.5 1:39.878
7 22 A.LOWES KAWASAKI 1:40.264 67 0.625 0.211 1:41.107 72 285.7 1:39.766
8 7 I. LECUONA HONDA 1:40.581 45 0.942 0.164 1:50.720 47 314.9 1:40.404
9 87 R. GARDNER YAMAHA 1:40.667 50 1.028 0.086 2:47.454 64 288.8 1:40.529
10 31 G. GERLOFF BMW 1:40.698 70 1.059 0.031 1:41.126 74 291.9 1:40.363
11 76 L. BAZ BMW 1:40.737 38 1.098 0.039 1:59.434 39 305.1 1:40.560
12 45 S. REDDING BMW 1:40.749 60 1.110 0.012 1:42.044 63 300.8 1:40.749
13 5 P. OETTL DUCATI 1:40.846 43 1.207 0.097 15:45.001 60 274.1 1:40.846
14 60 M. van der MARK BMW 1:40.875 51 1.236 0.016 1:41.480 55 301.7 1:40.584
15 9 D. PETRUCCI DUCATI 1:41.321 56 1.682 0.153 2:00.433 65 311.2 1:41.176

01.02.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista topped off European winter testing on top of the WorldSBK times as Wednesday’s action concluded at Portimao.

Bautista was back in charge almost as soon as the final day got up to speed on the Algarve. The reigning champion’s 1’39.035 record breaking effort – set on his 13th lap and before the Spaniard suffered a turn seven crash – sat over half a second faster than his teammate’s best of the previous afternoon. Both Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea and said teammate Michael Rinaldi had improved to match the leading Ducati with just a tenth separating the trio by lunch, with all three running under lap record pace.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was best of the rest in fourth, equally under the record after a handful of laps and aiming for the top three before Rinaldi denied him. The Pata Yamaha rider recording a 1’39.4 effort with fellow R1 rider Andrea Locatelli less than three tenths back.

It was a position the pair would hold till the close of play as the riders behind bickered for the remaining top ten honours. Honda’s Iker Lecuona suffered his own final sector spill before recovering to initially head teammate Xavi Vierge and second KRT man Alex Lowes before GRT Yamaha’s Remy Gardner improved to claim seventh with a 1’40.202 – four tenths up on the previous day. Tom Sykes found his mojo on his return to Kawasaki, placing the Puccetti ZX-10R in ninth, narrowly ahead of factory rider Lowes who opted not to push for a time attack as he worked through the comprehensive testing plan.

Loris Baz claimed fastest BMW honours on the Bonovo machine ahead of Michael van der Mark’s factory effort while Scott Redding faced technical issues in the morning run on his Rokit sponsored M1000RR, bringing out the red flag.

Nicolo Bulega continued the morning’s record breaking trend in WorldSSP as he set a 1’42.919 on his Aruba Panigale V2 before improving again three tenths faster as the day wound down. Althea’s Federico Caricasulo maintained his testing challenge from second with Barni’s Yari Montella completing the all-Italian and all-Ducati top three.

WorldSBK Portimao test – Wednesday

1 1 A. BAUTISTA DUCATI SBK 1 1:39.035 13 45 166.92
2 65 J. REA – 1 KAWASAKI SBK 2 1:39.044 22 0.009 0.009 68 166.91
3 21 M. RINALDI – 2 DUCATI SBK 3 1:39.144 23 0.109 0.100 45 166.74
4 54 TOPRAK – 2 YAMAHA SBK 4 1:39.441 12 0.406 0.297 46 166.24
5 55 LOCATELLI – 1 YAMAHA SBK 7 1:39.705 25 0.670 0.116 83 165.80
6 7 I. LECUONA – 2 HONDA SBK 8 1:39.803 18 0.768 0.098 42 165.64
7 87 R. GARDNER – 1 YAMAHA SBK 11 1:40.202 62 1.167 0.014 67 164.98
8 97 X. VIERGE – 2 HONDA SBK 12 1:40.237 32 1.202 0.035 91 164.92
9 6 T. SYKES – 2 KAWASAKI SBK 13 1:40.586 41 1.551 0.349 43 164.35
10 22 A. LOWES – 1 KAWASAKI SBK 14 1:40.599 27 1.564 0.013 56 164.33
11 76 L. BAZ – 1 BMW SBK 15 1:40.652 11 1.617 0.053 40 164.24
12 60 M. van der MARK – 2 BMW SBK 17 1:40.711 6 1.676 0.018 30 164.14
13 5 P. OETTL – 1 DUCATI SBK 18 1:40.789 20 1.754 0.078 67 164.02
14 31 G. GERTOFF – 1 BMW SBK 20 1:40.823 16 1.788 0.023 62 163.96
15 77 D. AEGERTER – 2 YAMAHA SBK 21 1:40.844 54 1.809 0.021 61 163.93
16 45 S. REDDING – 2 BMW SBK 24 1:41.002 4 1.967 0.048 19 163.67
17 34 L. BALDASSARRI YAMAHA SBK 25 1:41.218 46 2.183 0.216 69 163.32
18 28 B. RAY YAMAHA SBK 26 1:41.293 33 2.258 0.075 43 163.20
19 47 A. BASSANI – 1 DUCATI SBK 28 1:41.394 40 2.359 0.071 60 163.04
20 9 D. PETRUCCI – 3 DUCATI SBK 29 1:41.439 8 2.404 0.045 33 162.97

WorldSSP Portimao Test – Wednesday

36 11 N. BULEGA – 1 DUCATI SSP 1 1:42.636 10 3.601 0.128 19 161.07
40 64 F. CARICASULO DUCATI SSP 3 1:43.127 44 4.092 0.208 59 160.30
42 55 Y. MONTELLA – 2 DUCATI SSP 4 1:43.386 4 4.351 0.136 27 159.90
44 61 C. ONCU KAWASAKI SSP 5 1:43.583 45 4.548 0.044 53 159.59
46 3 R. de ROSA DUCATI SSP 6 1:43.628 33 4.593 0.003 62 159.52
47 62 S. MANZI YAMAHA SSP 7 1:43.771 46 4.736 0.143 73 159.30
50 94 V. DEBISE YAMAHA SSP 9 1:44.106 27 5.071 0.001 66 158.79
51 9 J. NAVARRO YAMAHA SSP 10 1:44.809 33 5.774 0.703 60 157.73
52 32 O. BAYLISS DUCATI SSP 11 1:44.978 38 5.943 0.169 81 157.47
54 22 F. FULIGNI DUCATI SSP 12 1:45.514 31 6.479 0.131 67 156.67
55 73 M. KOFLER DUCATI SSP 13 1:46.234 21 7.199 0.720 66 155.61

02.02.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea was in a confident mood as he concluded WorldSBK testing at Portimao on Wednesday.

Just 0.009s separated him from Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista at the close of the final afternoon on the Algarve, with a similarly minute margin between the pair, and Michael Rinaldi, on day one. A positive two days on track and the new electronics setup in the KRT box added to the confident manner of the six-time Superbike champion ahead of the opening round of 2023.

“Conditions are much better here than in Jerez,” Rea commented after day one and the move across the Iberian peninsula over the last two weeks. “Better temperatures straight away, like from 1030 this morning we could start. We had some big items to test, like chassis components and one was very positive. It brought some really good feelings on the edge of the tyre entering the corner. We made a really positive step with that, the other one not so positive.

“Working with electronics, we made some really good improvements there from power delivery side, the bike feels a lot more manageable than it has done around here. Quite a busy track, especially on the gas because it’s so undulating, so that was positive. We worked all day with a base rear tyre and at the end we used the softer rear, the SCX compound and I was able to be fast enough with that.”

While the KRT squad had a raft of items to test from Kawasaki, a new electronics crew was bedding in. Christophe Lambert taking up the overseeing position of Electronics and Data Engineering Co-ordinator while Sander Donkers replaced Davide Gentile on Rea’s side of the garage.

“Good!” Rea confirmed, when asked how the change in personnel was going. “If anything just a bit slower than normal, just understanding them guys getting up to speed first with the different system. Although it’s Magneti Marelli and they have good experience, our software is quite different. It’s been designed by Kawasaki. But a really big positive is I feel the changes Sanders is making. I really feel the changes from a power point of view, negative torque, engine brake, so that’s really positive, so we can make steps. Compared to last year, improvements or feedback was small, and it’s hard to feel so maybe he just has bigger changes you know, and then I can feel it but we’ll get into a good way.

“We have more of an understanding, I would say good understanding already,” he continued at the end of day two. “Still, of course work in progress. With the new electronic influence in the garage, there should be, well, I would like to think that we’ll have some electronic updates throughout the year but basically what we’ve decided now, we will start the year with and work from there.

“From technical side and testing side, today we had some development tyres from Pirelli to test in the rear – last week in Jerez I did the front tyres, this week it was two different options of SCX I guess for the future. The track was strange shape because I was much better with hotter compound tyres here than soft, every time we put a soft tyre in, trying to make a time attack, the lap time wasn’t coming. The nature of the track and also the temperature the track, the tyre was just moving, flexing a lot. We tried, especially from a chassis point of view, we tried a couple of new items this test that influenced the bike in a really positive direction. So I feel just with that we have made a step.

“I know it’s clear that looking from the others, everyone’s fast. Especially both the factory Ducati guys have been lap-after-lap very competitive. You never really know until the lights go out but I think we’ve had a decent winter, albeit short. So quite happy with the two day’s work.”

While the size of the Algarve International Circuit meant there was little opportunity to check out his rivals in action, Rea has a handy partner in crime within the team.

“Alex [Lowes] is a good teammate because he’s competitive so you can always pick up something but this test wasn’t really that, we never really got to the really nitty gritty performance side,” he admitted. “I think from a clicker point of view, or spring rates, we’ve changed nothing. It’s just been hard test items back to backing. It’s very hard as well because sometimes you get a positive feeling with a setup change but you’re with an old tyre, then you have to recheck it with a new tyre again and so we consumed tyres, but also we have to understand if the changes we make are good with a new tyre or they’re good with an old tyre, you know, so just covering all bases.

“There’s only so much you can do, there has to be a point where you draw a line under everything and go racing. It’s a shame because what we really needed was really hot off-season testing. Would have been nice to put everything in flight boxes and go to Australia or go to South Africa or somewhere that we know it’s going to be hot. That’s the area that threw up a few curveballs for us last year.

“Phillip Island test is always the best test because it’s so easy to make a mistake now, at this time of year. You’re in cold conditions, sometimes it’s raining, Jerez last year was wet. So it’s important to arrive there healthy at least and then work from there. It’s two good days, although its split in sessions but everyone, they think about race runs there because you can’t just smash a tyre for 20 laps at Phillip Island. So it’s more about trying to find the correct setup for the track and to go racing.”

07.12.2022 |
WorldSBK Staff |
WorldSBK

Guim Roda is targeting improvements for 2023 after Kawasaki lost out again to both Ducati and Yamaha in the 2022 WorldSBK fight.

KRT riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes completed the season third and sixth respectively in the WorldSBK standings with 34 podiums between the two but only six wins. The manufacturer battle also finding them in third position, for the second time in a row.

“It’s the season where Rea’s fought the most, that’s for sure,” Roda reflected after the final round in Australia, which saw the six-time champion take a victory in race one and two further podiums. “Unfortunately, he could not get the title back but I think it’s the season he really tried harder and we should be able to give him a better package to be more comfortable to fight with the others.”

While Rea was consistently part of the ‘Big Three’ battle across the season, teammate Lowes saw his pedigree increase after an injury-plagued start to his career in green.

“Basically, for Lowes, 2020 was a Covid year and only had eight rounds; not a lot of time to learn how to ride the bike,” Roda confirmed. “It was difficult in three months for him to understand. He struggled last year with injuries, so he was getting a big penalty for that. This third season he could start to work a bit more to understand how to manage the bike and stay strong enough.

“He’s showing the potential to stay in this fourth position behind the top three,” he continued on the Englishman’s progress after a double podium to conclude the year. “I think he was more consistent than others but unfortunately two or three more podiums from Rinaldi and Locatelli made the difference. In terms of average and consistency, race by race, I think he’s the fourth guy in the championship right now. We are sure we will give him better tools next year, and he will understand how to ride much better and he will be closer to the top three.

“We struggled a little bit more than the others when the track surface was not grippy enough and this happens in summertime with hot conditions,” the KRT boss acknowledged. “We need to improve this area especially. Other than that, of course, engine power is a thing we should improve.

“We have to understand how to cut this gap to be more competitive, especially compared to Bautista and his characteristics and ways to extract the maximum from the Ducati. Of course, BMW, Honda and Yamaha are working hard with their bikes. We need to work hard and react a little bit.”

20.11.2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista signed off his 2022 season with further success as he claimed victory in the final race at Phillip Island.

The race was red flagged with five laps to go, Kawasaki completing the podium with Jonathan Rea heading teammate Alex Lowes in second and third.

While the Supersport class got away with a dry race, light rain briefly returned and dark clouds threatened as the Superbike grid lined up for race two. Eugene Laverty preparing for the final 22 laps off his 16-year World Championship career from 14th with Bautista taking charge on pole.

The WorldSBK Champion grabbed the holeshot as the lights went out. Rea and Scott Redding sitting second and third before the duo bettered the Spaniard out front. Andrea Locatelli circulated fourth on the Pata Yamaha as Garrett Gerloff ended his time with the Iwata firm in the gravel on the opening lap.

Laverty launched to eighth as the Northern Irishman pushed hard for his final showing. Michael Rinaldi just ahead on the Aruba Ducati as Toprak Razgatlioglu and Lowes bettered Locatelli in the top five.

Redding split the KRT duo as lap three unfolded. Bautista leading the Pata pair closely behind as the top six gapped the rest by a second. Axel Bassani, Philipp Oettl and Loris Baz bettered Laverty as the race continued. Michael van der Mark the next to dispatched his Bonovo rival on the second factory BMW as the number 50 dropped to 12th.

Bautista captured Lowes on lap five before making a move stick on Redding for second. The Brit running wide at turn four as Razgatlioglu and countryman Lowes quickly capitalised to demote him to fifth with Locatelli doing likewise next time around.

Rea held just two tenths from the Panigale as lap six counted down. The Ducati powering down the straight to take control before pulling the same gap himself by the final sector. Razgatlioglu the next to challenge the six-time champion with Rea defending hard as lap eight began.

Bassani and Rinaldi were locked in an inter-Ducati fight for seventh as the race neared half distance. Honda’s Tetsuta Nagashima entering the top ten as his substitute duties drew to a close demoting van der Mark out in the process and into the path of the two Bonovo counterparts.

Ra and Razgatlioglu picked up the pace in the second half. The pair suffering moments as they looked to hunt down the Ducati ahead with just a second covering the top four with ten laps to go.

Lowes was hassling the Yamaha as the race counted down. Razgatlioglu gaining ground on the brakes before the Kawasaki made the move stick down the start/finish straight. Rea looking to emulate on the leader with eight to go.

Seven to go and Bassani slipped back to eleventh as Nagashima and Baz advanced. Disaster striking Laverty as a tangle with Xavi Fores on the Barni Ducati cut his final race short with five to go, bringing out the red flag.

Two-thirds distance complete, Bautista claimed the victory from Rea and Lowes to secure the triple crown for the Ducati outfit, with Razgatlioglu, Locatelli and Redding rounding out the top six. Rinaldi, Oettl, Nagashima and Baz concluded the top ten while Bassani, van der Mark, Lucas Mahias, Oliver Konig and Tati Mercado claimed the final points of the season.

Click here for times

06.10.2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

KRT’s Alex Lowes is set for his favourite circuit on the WorldSBK calendar as the action arrives on the Algarve this weekend.

Portimao heralds the final race weekend in Europe before Argentina, Indonesia and Australia beckon, with Lowes excited for the prospect following recent testing progress. A strong Barcelona round was backed up with two days of testing at Catalunya and Motorland Aragon, with the Brit confident he can be in the fight and repeat his podium visit from last time out.

“Portimao is one of my favourite tracks and events in general,” Lowes confirmed from the Algarve. “It’s going to end the European season for us and normally it’s a good track for me and the Ninja ZX-10RR.

“I’m aiming to continue my strong form and be fighting for the podium places again.

“We’ve made some improvements with our base set up lately, especially with the rear of the bike, which has given me even greater confidence. I can’t wait to try out the set-up changes next weekend at Portimao.”

06.10.2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea heads back to where it all began as WorldSBK prepares for Portimao this weekend.

The scene of his debut in the Superbike class back in 2008, Rea has 13 victories at the Algarve venue already under his belt with Assen the only circuit to see him score higher.

Two days of testing since Barcelona a fortnight ago – at both Catalunya and Motorland Aragon – has the team well prepared for the rollercoaster 4.6km layout as the 2022 WorldSBK Championship looks to bid farewell to Europe, with Rea aiming to bridge the gap in the title fight before he takes off for faraway shores.

“Portimao is a great circuit, and one which has a lot of special memories for me,” Rea reflected ahead of round nine. “I had my first ever WorldSBK race there in 2008.

“The circuit itself is very challenging. It has a lot of different characteristics, from slow corners to fast ones, blind entries and apexes, so there is a lot of rider input required.

“We have enjoyed some success there. After Barcelona, where we were able to extract the full potential from our Ninja ZX-10RR, I expect to go to Portugal and keep working with my team to create a good race package.

“The race in Portugal is also cool because I have a lot of travelling support from Northern Ireland there. It is a great circuit for viewing as well. The target is to have a really good weekend. I really want to get back to winning ways after this mid part of the season, where I have had a bit of a win drought.

“Our team has had two good days of testing recently; one at Barcelona following the race and one at Motorland. We have a lot more information now and I am excited to put that to good use in Portugal.”

06.10.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie |
WorldSBK

Former WorldSBK king Jonathan Rea and Axel Bassani had a crowd-pleasing fight last time out in Barcelona and while it looked like hard work for the KRT man, it gave him more insights into Ducati’s world – and that of title-rival Alvaro Bautista – to compare to the work he knows with Kawasaki for the remainder of the season.

“For example, when they change gear, the first exits of the corner, I’m there and I can be there,” Rea told bikesportnews.com on the Sunday at Catalunya. “It’s more about balance and electronics.

“But as soon as they change gear and then the straight, like for example, I could ride on to him – It’s funny, if you have an on-board camera, you’ll see in the last corner I can come like this, but as soon as they change gear, I just keep my position. Same with nine to ten.

“Pere [Riba] gave me a really good bike at the stop. So, I was not frustrated with this, and of course he [Axel] was riding his own race, but there was one point he wasn’t going forward, and I was trying to show, ‘hey I’m here.’ But as soon as I went through, I went a little bit wide and he stuffed me again. Like, [Iker] Lecuona and Alex [Lowes] are going, I want to go with them! But, he was fighting his race. He was doing a good job.

“I don’t know where he finished, but for me, it was just a little bit frustrating because I couldn’t just pass in the straight. I had to really stress the tyre in acceleration. That was not my plan. The plan was to preserve the tyre, but when you’re stuck and you can’t pass in the straight, you have to use the tyre. You have to push the tyre to get there.

‘So, I was like, ‘I need to pass but I don’t want to use the tyre. I have to go’. So, it was a little bit like that. But I also I feel with the speed, I can be there. If we do another superpole, I’m sure I’m at the front. But, with the race, with Alvaro’s pace, I feel I’m not going to win. So, it was more about understanding where I could be. We had two strategies. Try to go with Alvaro, like Toprak [Razgatlioglu] did – in the end, this was the wrong strategy. Or be the tortoise and the hare. So, I thought my Saturday is more the tortoise.”

From what Rea had understood before he even came to Catalunya, knowing it was going to be tough, has Bautista’s advantage much more to do with the speed or that his rival’s bike uses the tyre better?

“Both,” he said. “For example, Friday morning I was behind Alvaro. Just taking his slip stream I was two-tenths quicker in sector one. Just with the slipstream. And that’s one acceleration. So, you count all accelerations at full gas in the circuit, it adds up in the laps. So, that’s the quantity of risk you have to take to be with him.

“Of course, he’s riding really strong as well. You have to manage everything. In a crucial circuit like this, where the tyre consumption is a lot, being 20 kilos less than me is also very good for the tyre. So, I think they have a better package than us here.”