Team HRC prepares for the last dance at Jerez
With eleven Superbike World Championship rounds now done and dusted, Team HRC gears up for the 2023 season finale, taking place this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto in Spain.
Factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge were last on track just over three weeks ago for the Portuguese round at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão. Scoring a best result of fifth and ninth respectively in the weekend’s races, Lecuona and Vierge are both keen to round out the year on a high.
The WorldSBK championship did not visit Jerez during the 2022 season, which means that Lecuona and Vierge have not raced with the Superbike at this particular Spanish track. They did, however, complete two constructive test sessions at the circuit last winter, in the run-up to the 2023 season and so have data with which to start work when they head out for free practice on Friday.
The Jerez de la Frontera circuit is located in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia. The track opened in 1985 and staged its first international motorcycle events the following year. The circuit was renamed in 2018 to honour the late Ángel Nieto. The Superbikes first raced at Jerez in 1990, and then every year between 2013 and 2021. The circuit returns to the calendar this year as a replacement for the cancelled Argentinian round. The track currently measures 4.423 km in length and features eight right-hand turns and five left-handers.
Weekend schedule (CEST Friday and Saturday – CET Sunday):
Friday
10.30 – 11.15 – SBK Free Practice 1
14.00 – 14.45 – SBK Free Practice 2
Saturday
9.00 – 9.30 – SBK Free Practice 3
11.10 – 11.25 – Superpole
14.00 – SBK Race 1
Sunday
9.00 – 9.15 – SBK Warm-up
11.00 – Superpole race
14.00 – SBK Race 2
Xavi Vierge 97
“It’s really special to end the season at Jerez, a track that I like and that of course is another “home circuit”, something that always gives you a little more motivation. I simply love the layout of the Jerez track so we will prepare as best we can, working well in the garage, and try to enjoy this last round of the season”.
Iker Lecuona 7
“I have never raced at Jerez with the Superbike, but we tested here over the winter so I already know how the bike behaves at this track and we have many references we can count on. We have made some changes to the bike over the season so it will be interesting to compare the feeling from then to now. Of course, the target is to end the racing season on a high.”
Location Information
Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto Carretera Jerez-Arcos, km 10 – Apdo de Correos 35 11592 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) – Spain circuitodejerez.com
| POLE POSITION | RIGHT |
| LENGTH | 4.423 Km |
| CORNERS | 13 |
| RIGHT CORNERS | 8 |
| LEFT CORNERS | 5 |
Records
| Pole Record | 1'38.247 (162,07 Km/h) J.Rea (Kawasaki ZX-10RR, 2019) |
| Race Record | 1'39.004 (160,83 Km/h) A.Bautista (Ducati Panigale V4 R, 2019) |
| All Time Record | 1'38.247 (162,07 Km/h) J.Rea (Kawasaki ZX-10RR, 2019) |
| 2023 Race 1 Winner | A.Bautista (Ducati Panigale V4 R) |
| 2023 Superpole Race Winner | A.Bautista (Ducati Panigale V4 R) |
| 2023 Race 2 Winner | A.Bautista (Ducati Panigale V4 R) |
