FIM CEV Repsol: Barcelona weekend preview
Just a week before the Gran Premi Monster Energy MotoGP™ de Catalunya, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will be the stage this coming weekend of the fourth round of the FIM CEV Repsol. Raúl Fernández (Angel Nieto Team) in Moto3™, Jesko Raffin (Swiss Innovative Investors Junior) in Moto2™, Matteo Pataca (SIC 58 Squadra Corse) in the European Talent Cup, Ivo Lopez (Eni-Motor7-Pequeno Motos) in Superstock 600 and Joan Sardanyons in the European Kawasaki Z Cup all arrive as leaders of their respective categories in Barcelona.
The riders will face a refurbished circuit after work was done over the winter, resurfacing the track and extending the run-off for turn 13. The FIM CEV Repsol will now use turn 13 and the descent to the final turn will be straight, avoiding the chicane that was used until now.
In Moto3™, Raul Fernandez arrives in Barcelona as clear leader after achieving three podiums in the four races so far this season and accumulating 78 points against the 58 of Manuel Pagliani (Leopard Junior) in second position. Aleix Viu (Marinelli Sniper Team) has climbed up the general classification after getting his first victory in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship in the last round at Le Mans when only the Moto3™ race of the FIM CEV Repsol was run in parallel with the MotoGP™ World Championship. The Marinelli Sniper Team rider is third but only one point clear of Yuki Kunii (Asia Talent Team) in fourth.
The battle is tighter in Moto2™, where Jesko Raffin leads the classification. The Swiss Innovative Investors Junior rider has won the last two races and has not failed to make the podium since his return to the Moto2™ European Championship. However, Augusto Fernández (Easyrace), only ten points behind the leader, is a constant threat. Dimas Ekky (Astra Honda Racing Team) is third but trails the leader by 30 points. Ivo Lopez (ENI-Motor7-Pequeño Motos), who achieved a resounding victory in Estoril on his Yamaha R6, is the leader in Superstock 600 and is just one point behind Dimas Ekky, although he will not be racing in Barcelona.
In the ETC, the first three riders are separated by only three points. Matteo Pataca has just a single point advantage over Francisco Gómez (Larresport Bradol) while Barry Baltus (Reale Avintia Academy) is third, two points behind. However, Barry Baltus moved to Moto3™ in the last round at Le Mans and will no longer ride in the ETC. So far this season no rider in the very competitive ETC has repeated victory: Barry Baltus won the inaugural race in Estoril, Julián Giral (Talent Team Estrella Galicia 0.0) was victor in Portugal, Francisco Gómez took the first race in Valencia and Matteo Pataca the second.
Joan Sardanyons is the leader of the EKZC, followed by Abian Angel Santana (Bermodel Racing) and Javier Valera (Racing for Albacete), from the first race held in Valencia.
The fourth round of the FIM CEV Repsol at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will feature two races in both the Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories, and one each in the ETC and the EKZC.
Sunday’s race schedule is as follows (local time):
Moto3™ Race 1 (16 laps): 11.00h
Moto2™ Race 1 (17 laps): 12.00h
ETC (15 laps): 13.00h
Moto3™ Race 2 (16 laps): 14.00h
Moto2™ Race 2 (17 laps): 15.00h
European Kawasaki Z Cup™ (16 laps): 16.00h
As usual, entrance to the paddock will be free over the weekend. In addition, on Sunday morning, FIM CEV Repsol fans who go to the main paddock access of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will be able to take part in the Pit Lane Walk. Only firstcomers will get a pass, with a maximum of two passes per person. The Pit Lane Walk will take place at 10.15 am and start from the outside of the control tower.
The FIM CEV Repsol’s TV presence continues to grow in both Europe and the rest of the world. In Spain, Movistar MotoGP broadcasts live all of the scheduled races of the Moto3™ JWC, Moto2™ EC and ETC, as does BT Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Italy, Sky will broadcast live the Moto3™ JWC and the Moto2™ EC races.
Eurosport, through Eurosportplayer (France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Romania), will also offer live coverage of all of the Moto3™ JWC, Moto2™ EC and ETC races. In Portugal, Sport TV consolidates its commitment to motorcycling by broadcasting live or recorded versions of all the races scheduled throughout the season. Hungarian fans will be able to enjoy the ETC thanks to a recorded broadcast of the race on the Spiler TV channel.
Fans in Latin America, the United States, Canada and France will be able to watch recorded versions of all the races through Motosport TV, while their OTT will broadcast the races live. Band Sports television extends its coverage of the FIM CEV Repsol by showing recorded versions of the Moto3™ JWC and Moto2™ EC. Also joining TV coverage of the championship, the Edgesport Channel will air live all the Moto3™ JWC, Moto2™ EC and ETC races, as well as being available 24/7 on various platforms with coverage in Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands, Slovakia, Czech Republic, the Solomon Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.
In addition, in those countries without television coverage, all races will be broadcast live on the championship’s YouTube channel.
