WorldSBK preseason tests: when are they, where are they and who is attending?

[rennie]

The first wheels of the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship are nearing to being turned as the Jerez test dawns on the 20^th and 21^st of January. However, with more time before the season starts at the end of April, there’s an array of private tests that are scheduled. With new riders in the Championship and a whole host of new machinery and refreshed line-ups, testing has never been more important, as yet another blistering WorldSBK Championship gets ready to kick off.

The first test of 2021 is held at Jerez on the aforementioned dates, organised by the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK squad. Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes are present, whilst the factory ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati squad will be in action for the first time since the Estoril test with 2020 runner-up Scott Redding and new recruit, Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Team HRC are also there, watched on by new team manager Leon Camier, with Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam on track. Independent riders include Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) who gets a first outing with his new team, Chaz Davies (Team GOELEVEN), Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) and Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Kawasaki).

February sees no scheduled tests so far, whilst on the 4^th and 5^th of March, the Portimao circuit will once again play host to crucial preseason track time. Again, organised by KRT, Rea and Lowes are joined by Isaac Viñales and Loris Cresson from the Jerez test. However, new additions include the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and their new M 1000 RR in the hands of 2013 World Champion Tom Sykes and new signing Michael van der Mark. The BMW satellite teams of RC Squadra Corse and Bonovo Action are also present, with Eugene Laverty and Jonas Folger respectively. It’ll be the first test of the year for Christophe Ponsson and the Gil Motorsport Yamaha. On the 9^th and the 10^th of March, a private test by HRC will take place at Jerez.

March 15^th and 16^th sees more tests, this time at Misano. PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team will be in action with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli, whilst the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team take to the track with Garrett Gerloff and Japanese rookie Kohta Nozane. Redding and Rinaldi fly the factory Ducati flag again whilst Tito Rabat will also be in attendance for Barni; Chaz Davies and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) complete the line-up – the first 2021 test for Mahias.

One of the main tests comes from Estoril on the 24^th and 25^th of March. Apart from Ducati’s factory team, all other factory efforts will be in attendance. The Independent teams joining the factory squads are GRT Yamaha with Gerloff and Nozane, ORELAC Racing VerdNatura with Viñales, Bonovo Action with Folger, RC Squadra Corse with Laverty, Christophe Ponsson and Gil Motorsport as well as GMT94 Yamaha’s World Supersport effort with Jules Cluzel and Federico Caricasulo.

A Dorna-organised test will be the Official preseason test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati team in attendance alongside KRT and Team HRC. Tito Rabat, Chaz Davies, Jonas Folger, Lucas Mahias and Isaac Viñales will also be there. Just less than two weeks later and there’s another private test at MotorLand Aragon; Pata Yamaha, ARUBA.IT Ducati and KRT are all there, alongside GRT Yamaha, Barni Ducati and GOELEVEN Ducati.

Find below for a full list of when the tests are and where they are at:

Jerez test: 20^th – 21^st January

Portimao test: 4^th – 5^th March

Jerez test: 9^th – 10^th March (Honda only)

Misano test: 15^th – 16^th March

Estoril test: 24^th – 25^th March

Official Preseason Test at Barcelona: March 31^st – 1^st April

MotorLand Aragon test: April 12^th – 13^th

Enjoy all of the action from the preseason, past years and all of the 2021 campaign with the WorldSBK VideoPass!^[1]

References

1. ^{^} WorldSBK VideoPass! (secure.worldsbk.com)

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