FIM CEV Repsol: Navarra preview
One of the key dates in the FIM CEV Repsol season is approaching. The sixth round of the season takes place at the Circuito de Navarra, one of the most demanding tracks of the FIM CEV Repsol Championship: as one of the most recent additions to the race calendar it is less familiar to riders and teams. All the riders of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, the Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship – both the European competitions featuring two races this weekend – will be looking to make their mark on a track which has nine left-hand curves and six right-handers.
In the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) will be full of confidence after his recent victory at Albacete. The Valencian rider continues to lead the category overall, 31 points ahead of rookie Joan Mir (SPA-Honda). The Machado-Leopard Came rider hangs on to second place in the table despite rather erratic results so far: four wins against three zeros. Despite falling in the last round, the Mallorcan rider is still in the running. And the three chasing riders – Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM), well taught by mentor Valentino Rossi; Khairul Idham Pawi (MAL-TSR Honda) and Albert Arenas (SPA-Husqvarna) – are a considerable threat, so things are still a long way from being settled.
In Moto2™ European Championship the recent brilliant performances of Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) and Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3) suggest that both will have the same objective in Navarre: to get a great result. So far this season, the seven first places have been shared between the two, and they will be looking to maintain the same level this weekend. Xavi Vierge’s successful outing in the recently held Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón – finishing in sixteenth position, within a whisker of being among the points – shows his current good form. Also riding well is Steven Odeendal (RSA-Kalex), whose consistency is his strongest asset – crucial this weekend with two races scheduled. Thrills are also on the cards in the Superstock 600 championship, with Marcos Ramírez (SPA-Yamaha) having a clear path since main rival and leader of the overall standings Abián Santana (SPA-Yamaha) is not riding at Navarre.
In the Superbike European Championship, with four wins out of six races, Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) is consolidating his leadership of the category, in which two races are scheduled this weekend. The only men able to prevent the overall leader of the results table winning have been reigning champion Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki), along with Iván Silva (SPA-BMW). With Silva – second overall and with a mathematical chance of challenging Morales (SPA-Yamaha) for the leadership – missing the Navarre event because of injury, the final outcome of the championship seems to be becoming clear. With regard to privateer riders, Pierre Texier (FRA-Kawasaki) must play his cards carefully if he wants to keep Eeki Kuparineen (FIM-BMW) – two points behind – or Axel Maurin (FRA-Kawasaki) – third overall and seven points adrift – from stealing the top slot overall.
The race schedule on Sunday is as follows:
Superbike (18 laps): 12h
Moto2™ (18 laps): 13h
Moto3™ (17 laps): 14h
Superbike (18 laps): 15h
Moto2™ (18 laps): 16h
Fans who already have an invitation or a ticket to the paddock or grandstand (on sale or at the box office) and want to join the exclusive Pit Lane Walk at the Circuito de Navarra, should go on Sunday October 4 to the meeting point next to box number 29 in the paddock.
From Spain, races can be seen live via the MotoGP Channel of Movistar+ which will broadcast all of the races scheduled in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship categories. The Energy channel of Mediaset Spain will also cover the FIM CEV Repsol, broadcasting the Moto3™ Junior World Championship race, the first of the Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship races. BT Sports (UK) and Eurosport through Eurosportplayer (France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland), will also offer coverage of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship races, with live broadcasts of each of the races scheduled for this weekend on one of their TV channels or via digital broadcast. In Italy, Sky will broadcast live the Moto3™ Junior World Championship race, as well as the two Moto2™ European Championship races.
Race highlights will have a global reach through FOX (Asia and Australia) and ESPN Deportes (Latin America).
In other countries, all the races can be seen on the Championship Youtube channel.
