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SBK Catalonia 2021: Schedules, favorites and where to watch the races live
SBK Catalonia 2021: Schedules, favorites and where to watch the races live

Video: SBK Catalonia 2021: Schedules, favorites and where to watch the races live

Video: SBK Catalonia 2021: Schedules, favorites and where to watch the races live
Video: WorldSBK Season Review 2021 2024, March
Anonim

The Superbike World Championship is entering its final stretch with swords raised. The one that is probably being the most exciting season in recent years comes to the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, an appointment that can be key to see how the candidates have taken the outcome of Magny-Cours.

There, Toprak Razgatlioglu earned his first world-wide treble, but Kawasaki and Jonathan Rea managed to snatch it from him in the offices recurring his triumph in the Superpole Race. Even so, Razgatlioglu continues to be the leader of the world championship, but with only seven points of advantage over the reigning champion.

Montmeló, a golden opportunity for Álvaro Bautista

Razgatlioglu France Sbk 2021
Razgatlioglu France Sbk 2021

In Barcelona-Catalunya from the start there will be a small advantage for Rea. Not only because his team is practically local, since the structure is based in Catalonia, but because last year he was able to complete the weekend without problems, and even won a race. And it is that Montmeló has just returned to Superbikes.

In Razgatlioglu's case, last season was very different. He was able to deputize the race on Saturday, in which he finished sixth, but missed the rest of the weekend. In other words, his experience in Barcelona-Catalunya is very scarce. In that section, Rea will take to the track with more confidence from the beginning.

Van Der Mark France Sbk 2021
Van Der Mark France Sbk 2021

But if we look at the dynamics of the season, it is clear that it is Razgatlioglu who arrives on a roll. In recent events he has kept Rea at bay, clearly showing that he is the dominant driver right now. We will see how it affects him that Kawasaki has changed the reigning good vibes for a more edgy atmosphere.

Also, the Yamaha was not bad last year in Barcelona, despite Razgatlioglu's problems. Michael van der Mark won the Superpole Race and both he and Garrett Gerloff were on the podium in the second long race, the one on Sunday. The precedents are encouraging.

Rea France Sbk 2021
Rea France Sbk 2021

The most curious thing about this event is that it may not be just a matter of two. Scott Redding, who had a catastrophic weekend at Magny-Cours, should be back in contention for the victories at Montmeló. The Ducati Panigale V4 R runs well on the Catalan track, as Chaz Davies demonstrated by winning Sunday's long race last year.

Although after what happened in France Redding's title options seem to have definitely vanished, a good role in Barcelona could make them come back. Perhaps the fight between Razgatlioglu and Rea now becomes more tense, and there it is the third in contention who has options to fish.

Redding France Sbk 2021
Redding France Sbk 2021

But you don't just have to look at Ducati, because if in any circuit Álvaro Bautista has to make a good result, it is here. Montmeló, along with MotorLand, was the best circuit for the Honda CBR1000RR-R in 2020, so much so that Bautista fought to win the Superpole Race until he crashed. It's the best chance to get at least another podium at HRC.

As for BMW, it is a complete unknown how the new BMW M 1000 RR will adapt to the Spanish circuit. As we said, van der Mark won here last season and is good at the track, but everything indicates that, if Honda confirms the step forward in Barcelona, they could be the worst brand on the grid, at least for one round.

Sunday schedules change to not coincide with MotoGP

Razgatlioglu Rea France Sbk 2021
Razgatlioglu Rea France Sbk 2021

Going to the way to follow the races, DAZN continues to be the holder of the broadcasting rights of the World Superbike Championship. But there are other alternatives. Starting with Movistar +, which broadcasts all DAZN content. Eurosport will always broadcast the races live on its online platform, although it will sometimes be delayed on analogue channels.

RTVE also owns part of the rights, but they will only broadcast some live sessions. LaLigaSporstsTV, TV3 and the Superbikes videopass are other options to follow the races online. Sunday schedules change to not coincide with MotoGP and the weather could make the races even more difficult at Montmeló.

SBK Catalonia 2021 schedules

    Friday 17th

    • FP1 SBK: 10:30 (DAZN)
    • FP2 SBK: 15:00 (DAZN)

    Saturday 18th

    • FP3 SBK: 9:00 (DAZN)
    • Superpole SBK: 11:10 (DAZN)
    • SSP300 first race: 12:45 (DAZN, Esport 3, Teledeporte)
    • First SBK race: 14:00 (DAZN, Esport 3, Teledeporte)
    • First SSP race: 15:15 (DAZN, Esport 3, Teledeporte)

    Sunday 19

    • WUP SBK: 9:00 (DAZN)
    • Superpole Race SBK: 11:00 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)
    • Second SSP race: 12:30 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)
    • Second race SSP300: 13:45 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)
    • Second SBK race: 15:15 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)

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