Johnny Rea says that it will be key to avoid any kind of mistake during the SBK triple-header and he has good reason, seeing as Toprak Razgatlioglu currently leads the way in the standings and wants to keep it that way until the very end. The Turk will only let up once he’s secured the title trophy. Or maybe not even then.

In the meantime, the Pata Yamaha with Brixx ace needs to tackle the Barcelona 'test', a track at which number 54 struggled quite a bit in 2020, an injury ruling him out of the fight on the Sunday: "Barcelona was not easy last year, but for me, everything is different this year. My team, the bike and everything works together very well, and even from the test at the start of this year, I feel stronger at every track”.

Kenan Sofuoglu’s pupil once again has clear ideas: "I always say, I am not looking at the championship but I know every race I need good points. I only focus on the next session, the next race and try for the win. We will work and prepare with my team the best we can on Friday, to make a race simulation and find the set-up, then we will see”.

Locatelli aims to do a good job

Andrea is solid and already mature. The Italian rookie has competed at the Catalunya Circuit on many occasions, in Moto3, Moto2 and with the 600: "I have really good memories in Barcelona, because it was where we won the FIM Supersport World Championship last year! I know the track so well and we had a good test there at the start of the season, so I know already where the reference is for the superbike."

Loka knows it’ll be a real battle, once again: "It won’t be easy because the top riders are very fast, but I think we will arrive in Barcelona a little bit more ready than before, and maybe we can stay closer to the front. We will see, and of course we will try for the maximum".

Translated by Heather Watson

WoldSBK, Razgatlioglu heads to Barcelona to conquer the Kawasaki fort