Vierge and Lecuona ready for their final WorldSBK Round with Honda HRC
Honda HRC is ready for the second of two consecutive WorldSBK rounds, a race weekend that will also bring the 2025 championship season to a close. On track at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto in Spain, the factory Honda HRC team aims to round out the year in the best possible way with riders Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona, both of whom will line up in factory Honda colours for the last time.
The two riders enjoy racing at the Jerez track and know that it can be favourable for them, with the pair having scored a best of fifth (Iker) and seventh (Xavi) at the 2024 edition. Vierge also completed a constructive test session at the circuit just last month.
Last on track just a few days ago, for the eleventh round at Portugal’s Estoril Circuit, Vierge and Lecuona had a positive weekend overall, with Xavi placing P6 in Race 2 and Iker showing strong top ten pace despite his weekend being conditioned by two crashes. The two factory riders will be doing all they can to finish the season strong at what is a home track for them both.
Spain’s Circuito de Jerez opened in 1985 and staged its first international motorcycle events the following year. WorldSBK was staged at the track for the first time in 1990 and has been a regular visitor to the Andalusian circuit since 2013. Renamed in 2018 in tribute to the late Ángel Nieto, this technical track currently measures 4.423 km in length and features eight right turns and five left turns.
Weekend schedule (CET):
10.35 – 11.20 – SBK Free Practice 1
15.00 – 15.45 – SBK Free Practice 2
Saturday
9.15 – 9.35 – SBK Free Practice 3
11.00 – 11.15 – Superpole
14.00 – SBK Race 1
Sunday
9.15 – 9.25 – SBK Warm-up
11.00 – Superpole race
14.00 – SBK Race 2
Xavi Vierge 97
"We move on to Jerez now, after a super solid weekend in Estoril where we were really close to the podium battle in every race. We’ll try to keep the momentum going and bring the same good energy and determination. The test we completed at Jerez last month was very positive and promising, so we’re confident that we can continue performing as we did in Estoril, or even better. Weather conditions should be very good, hot and sunny as they were during the test, so hopefully we will find the same sensations we had one month ago. It will be my last round with the team and with Honda after four years together, and of course that adds some extra feelings and motivation to do our very best.”
Iker Lecuona 7
“After Estoril, we head to Jerez with some answers and, of course, some goals. I know I already have good speed and that I can ride without pain in my arm, but I’m also aware that I haven’t yet regained full strength after the long break. So, the first goal is to manage the situation better and try to avoid crashing - also because I don’t have many leather suits left! Joking aside, I couldn’t take part in the September test, but I know it went well, and the team has a lot of useful information, so we’ll try to work in the best possible way from Friday onwards. I really want to finish these four years together in the best possible way.”
Location Information
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto – Spain Located in the heart of Andalusia, the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto is a landmark venue in Spanish motorsport. It first hosted a WorldSBK round in 1990 and returned to the calendar in 2013, becoming a regular feature in the following… read more.
| POLE POSITION | RIGHT |
| LENGTH | 4.423 Km |
| CORNERS | 13 |
| RIGHT CORNERS | 8 |
| LEFT CORNERS | 5 |
Records
| Pole Record | 1'37.596 (163,150 Km/h) N.Bulega (Ducati Panigale V4 R, 2024) |
| Race Record | 1'38.528 (161,607 Km/h) N.Bulega (Ducati Panigale V4 R, SPRC, 2024) |
| All Time Record | 1'37.596 (163,150 Km/h) N.Bulega (Ducati Panigale V4 R, 2024) |
| 2024 Race 1 Winner | N.Bulega (Ducati Panigale V4 R) |
| 2024 Superpole Race Winner | N.Bulega (Ducati Panigale V4 R) |
| 2024 Race 2 Winner | T.Razgatlioglu (BMW M 1000 RR) |
