World Superbikes return at Jerez as champion Jonathan Rea targets unprecedented sixth successive title

The Ulster star began the curtailed 2020 season on a winning note with victory in the Superpole race at Phillip Island in Australia in March and is fourth in the championship standings ahead of the long-awaited second round, 19 points behind Kawasaki new boy Alex Lowes.

Rea is already the most successful rider ever in World Superbikes but the 33-year-old, who recently penned a new multi-year agreement with the Kawasaki Racing Team, believes he still has more left in the tank after dominating the championship since 2015 following his move to Kawasaki from Ten Kate Honda.

In June, Rea was second quickest during the first test at Misano in Italy after lockdown restrictions were eased. He headed the times at Catalunya in Barcelona in a further test in July, turning the tables on Aruba.it Ducati rider Scott Redding. The Spanish circuit in Montmeló will host a World Superbike round for the first time from September 18-20.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s resumption at Jerez, where the first two rounds of the MotoGP Championship have been held in scorching temperatures over the past two weekends, Rea said: “I’m very excited to go racing again after this long break in the calendar. Over the last few weeks I have been able to familiarise myself with our ZX-10RR and enjoy the buzz of riding again.

“Both Misano and Montmeló tests have been positive. We were able to achieve what we wanted which was to be competitive in both our single lap pace and long run pace. Jerez is a great circuit and one I enjoy,” added Rea.

“I believe the work and conclusions we have arrived at during testing will help this weekend in the hot conditions when the grip level is not at the optimum. It will be strange not to have the SBK atmosphere with fans in the grandstand and a packed paddock show, but I’m looking forward to whatever is in store.”

Fellow Northern Ireland man Eugene Laverty is also gearing up for an important weekend as he bids to secure his seat in the factory BMW Motorrad squad in 2021. Team manager Shaun Muir swooped to sign Pata Yamaha’s Michael van der Mark in an early deal for next season, leaving one spot available in the team.

Laverty will now fight for his place alongside Dutchman Van der Mark with old rival Tom Sykes, who beat the Toome rider to the title in 2013.

Young prospect Eunan McGlinchey is also preparing himself for a huge moment in his burgeoning career as the Aghadowey man revs up for his debut on the world stage in the Supersport 300 class.

McGlinchey has stepped into to the World Superbike paddock with the Cork-based Team 109 and is relishing the opportunity to one day follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Rea and Laverty in the headline class.

The first race on Saturday is at 13:00 BST with the Superpole race on Sunday (10:00 BST) followed by race two at 13:00 BST.

Following confirmation that the British, Dutch and Qatari rounds of the World Superbike Championship have been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the revised calendar currently features six rounds. The Argentinean and Italian rounds at the San Juan Villicum and Misano circuits in October and November respectively are yet to be confirmed.