WSBK 2020 Round 9 - Magny-Cours France Oct 2-4

[Map8]

Pirelli French Round
Circuit Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours




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Championship Standings AFTER Round 4

Pos.	Rider	Manufacturer	Points
1	J. REA	KAWASAKI	290
2.	S. REDDING	DUCATI	239
3.	C. DAVIES	DUCATI	188
4.	M. VAN DER MARK	YAMAHA	178
5.	T. RAZGATLIOGLU	YAMAHA	157
6.	A. LOWES	KAWASAKI	145
7.	M. RUBEN RINALDI	DUCATI	144
8.	A. BAUTISTA	HONDA	94
9.	L. BAZ	YAMAHA	91
10.	L. HASLAM	HONDA	88

Pirelli French Round info from WorldSBK.com

[Map8]

62 max points on offer during a WSBK weekend. Rea has a 51 point lead over Redding. Possible to wrap up championship #6 on Sunday unless Redding steps it up. Gerloff brimming with confidence will be looking to make a statement.

[kelsodeez]

Such a cool track. I'm excited for this one #GoRedding #AnybodyButRea

[budman]

Love to see another Garrett podium. That is all I want.

A win.. damn that would be dramatically outstanding.

Rea is the man.. I expect 3 podiums from him. I think he may be a bit careful to make sure he does not throw it down the road and that may open up the opportunity for others.

Should be good!

[Map8]

NOTES:

Cool with strong possibility of rain this weekend, also known as French weather.

Toprak got his first wins here last year nabbing both full race and SuperPole race victories. Haslam had a win locked up until he made a mistake exiting the chicane. Yamahas were fast last year as well. Bautista has the Honda working well. Between the weather the competition, Rea's title chase may not get wrapped up this weekend.


WSBK silly season updates:

Xavi Forés will not return Puccetti Kawasaki in 2021. Plenty of moves left to happen in the WSBK paddock as three manufacturers and some prime private teams have open seats.

Kawasaki: Rea and Lowes both under contract for 2021.


Honda: HRC says they are happy with Leon Haslam but still in discussion. Bautista has a two-year deal. There have been rumors about Crutchlow or Davies but those appear to be result of bored journalist speculation.


Ducati: Redding is under contract for next year. Second factory could be Davies, Rinaldi or maybe someone moving from the MotoGP paddock.


BMW: Sykes and van der Mark for 2021


Yamaha: Only Toprak has a contract for 2021. The second factory/Crescent seat is still open. Both GRT Junior seats are open. Gerloff has made strong case for staying with one of the two Yamaha teams. No one seems to think Caricasulo will stay. Names mentioned to fill these three seats include: Loris Baz, Davies, Cameron Beaubier, Andrea Locatelli, someone from MotoGP, Folger.



GoEleven Ducati: Ducati has made this team more of a satellite team and may elect to keep Rinaldi there for another season with lots of factory support.

Barni Ducati: That seat appears cursed this year. Hope things get better as the team is solid.


Ten Kate Yamaha: Baz could stay. They put a solid bike on the grid. Its a desirable option for plenty of riders.


Puccetti Kawasaki: Open with the departure of Forés. Toprak had great results on this bike. The right rider could do well here.


No real news about the rest of the private teams.

[Map8]

NOTES:

Cool with strong possibility of rain this weekend, also known as French weather.

Toprak got his first wins here last year nabbing both full race and SuperPole race victories. Haslam had a win locked up until he made a mistake exiting the chicane. Yamahas were fast last year as well. Bautista has the Honda working well. Between the weather the competition, Rea's title chase may not get wrapped up this weekend.


WSBK silly season updates:

Xavi Forés will not return Puccetti Kawasaki in 2021. Plenty of moves left to happen in the WSBK paddock as three manufacturers and some prime private teams have open seats.

Kawasaki: Rea and Lowes both under contract for 2021.


Honda: HRC says they are happy with Leon Haslam but still in discussion. Bautista has a two-year deal. There have been rumors about Crutchlow or Davies but those appear to be result of bored journalist speculation.


Ducati: Redding is under contract for next year. Second factory could be Davies, Rinaldi or maybe someone moving from the MotoGP paddock.


BMW: Sykes and van der Mark for 2021


Yamaha: Only Toprak has a contract for 2021. The second factory/Crescent seat is still open. Both GRT Junior seats are open. Gerloff has made strong case for staying with one of the two Yamaha teams. No one seems to think Caricasulo will stay. Names mentioned to fill these three seats include: Loris Baz, Davies, Cameron Beaubier, Andrea Locatelli, someone from MotoGP, Folger.



GoEleven Ducati: Ducati has made this team more of a satellite team and may elect to keep Rinaldi there for another season with lots of factory support.

Barni Ducati: That seat appears cursed this year. Hope things get better as the team is solid.


Ten Kate Yamaha: Baz could stay. They put a solid bike on the grid. Its a desirable option for plenty of riders.


Puccetti Kawasaki: Open with the departure of Forés. Toprak had great results on this bike. The right rider could do well here.


No real news about the rest of the private teams.

[WorldSBK]

"The official seat seems either the most likely 2021 property of new WorldSSP champion Andrea Locatelli or the recent first time WorldSBK podium rider, Garrett Gerloff.

Which one is the big question, as either could be a good choice for the future, but Gerloff would be the one who would make most sense under Yamaha’s ‘graduation’ system, where successful riders move up the ladder from class-to-higher-class."

Source : https://www.bikesportnews.com/news/n...n-2021-line-up

[firstbuell]

GO Gerloff !!

[scootergmc]

And the commentator talk this morning is whether Cam finally wants to make the SBK jump...

Meanwhile, boring crashy rain practice.

[Map8]

Good to see Gerloff get comfortable so quickly in the bad conditions. I'm sure its his first time at Magny-Cours.

Going to be a fun weekend.

[Map8]

Toprak likes this track but isn't a big fan of the rain. Solution: float above the track surface.

[budman]

Originally Posted by Map8

Good to see Gerloff get comfortable so quickly in the bad conditions. I'm sure its his first time at Magny-Cours.

Going to be a fun weekend.

Indeed he looks solid.

Wet weekend should provide some interesting racing.

[peterhively]

Cold and wet, Gerloff starts in P5, gooooo Gerloff!!!!

[Lucky Jones]

Well, wet conditions certainly make rider skill sets apparent. Some good racing for a while up front, and the battle for 5th was engaging right until the end.

[budman]

Good race... in tough conditions.

Great to see some Yamaha boys battling near the front.