catalunya

While wet conditions may have affected the second consecutive WorldSBK test at Jerez, Toprak Razgatlioglu was able to make significant progress in an area that has previously been a struggle.

Winner of 14 WorldSBK races in 2022 which was one more than his title-winning season, Toprak Razgatlioglu was ‘outstanding all year’ according to his Pata Yamaha Team Principal, Paul Denning.

New WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista has pointed to his prior experience in MotoGP as the leading reason for why he conserved tyre life better than his rivals in 2022.

WorldSBK series leader Alvaro Bautista jokes ‘I need that Yamaha don’t help Toprak Razgatlioglu’ as conversations with Ducati Corse General Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, are taking place after each race in order to improve the Panigale V4 R for 2023.

With his chances of retaining the WorldSBK Championship on the rocks, Toprak Razgatlioglu has brought up the idea of technical issues potentially being the most likely way for the Yamaha rider to claw his way closer to Alvaro Bautista. 

After a disappointing Catalunya WorldSBK round, Scott Redding is looking to bounce back with a podium challenge at Portimao.

Without a WorldSBK victory since round three of the season in Estoril, Jonathan Rea’s hopes of becoming a seven-time Superbike champion appear to be getting smaller with each race that goes by.

Peter Hickman had stood by his comments made after race one of the 2022 British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park last weekend, which suggested his clash with title contender Jason O’Halloran was a racing incident.

Reigning World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu lost points to both Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea during a tough weekend in Catalunya.

Alvaro Bautista increases his lead in the WorldSBK championship standings to 59 points after completing his first treble of the 2022 season in Catalunya.

Results from Race 2, round eight of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Results from the Superpole Race, round eight of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Alvaro Bautista dominated the first WorldSBK race of the Catalan weekend, while Toprak Razgatlioglu suffered an unexpected drop after pushing his rear tyre ‘too much’ to try and keep pace with the Ducati rider.

Results from Race 1, round eight of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Results from Free Practice 2, round eight of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea has claimed the ‘atmosphere has soured’ with Alvaro Bautista following their fallout at Magny-Cours.

Results from Free Practice 1, round eight of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

After making two costly mistakes at Magny-Cours, six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea is looking to ‘rebound’ and add ‘consistency’ in Catalunya, while Toprak Razgatlioglu expects a tough round due to Ducati’s top speed advantage.

Outside the top seven for the past four races, KTM worked on past, present and future parts during Monday’s Catalunya MotoGP test.

Disappointed not to get Marc Marquez’s development parts for the Catalunya MotoGP race weekend, Pol Espargaro tried new chassis, swingarm, aero and more at the post-race test.

Jorge Martin, Johann Zarco and Joan Mir were all promoted one surprise place by Aleix Espargaro’s last-lap error in the Catalunya MotoGP.

The ultimate 2022 MotoGP bike would probably blend the straight-line performance of the Ducati with the cornering ability of the Yamaha.

Leaving MotoGP at the end of this season, question marks have naturally been raised over Suzuki’s commitment to technical development during the remaining races for the GSX-RR.

Fabio Quartararo followed up his Catalunya MotoGP victory by being fastest in Monday’s post-race test.