SBK | Geico US Round: Dreaming of California

For the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship it's time to fly to America for the eagerly awaited round at the legendary Laguna Seca circuit, scheduled from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 June: the production derivatives will be the only class on the track for which the spotlight will they will all be aimed at them.

The WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, located in the Californian hills just minutes from the coastal city of Monterey, is a very suggestive and challenging track due to its fast and blind corners, favored by those drivers who love intense challenges.

Given that the clear favorite remains championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK is the team in best form at this moment of the season: Van der Mark achieved a double at Donington while Alex Lowes he achieved his first success among the production derivatives last round in Brno, with his teammate acting as his squire.
It is clear that the development work carried out by Yamaha in these is starting to give the hoped for and expected results, confirming the absolute goodness of the project: if it now seems late to think about the drivers' world championship, it is not so for the constructors' championship, which Yamaha aims to snatch Kawasaki.

Kawasaki arrives at Laguna in the unusual situation of having to redeem itself after the disastrous Race 2 in Brno which saw both out of the points zone: Jonathan Rea was very angry about his retirement, which occurred following a contact with his teammate, and he will look to add more victories to the record of 61 hits he achieved in Game 1 two weeks ago.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could be another contender for the victory: after some races complicated by setup problems, he showed all his determination in Brno and managed to get on the podium.
Laguna Seca is a circuit favorable to him: thanks to the three victories he is the driver with the most successes on this track and the one with the most experience in the American championships.

Another bike that has improved compared to the beginning of the season is Aprilia: Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) had difficulties with rear grip, but in Brno with his fourth place finish he showed progress which bodes well for Laguna.

The eyes of American fans will be on their home idols, Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) and PJ Jacobsen (TripleM Honda World Superbike Team): the former returns to the track where he made his debut in WorldSBK, while Jacobsen is ready to race for the first time in seven seasons.

Below are the times for the Geico US Round, eighth stage of the Superbike World Championship, which will take place from June 22nd to 24th at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca:

FRIDAY 22 JUNE
18 – 45 FP19
21 – 30 FP22
1 – 05 FP1

Saturday June 23
18 – 15 FP18
20 – 00 Tissot-Superpole20
20 – 25 Tissot-Superpole20
23pm Race 00

Sunday June 24
19 – 30 Warm Up
23pm Race 00