Is the 2021 World Superbike season a forgone conclusion? Will Johnny Rea make it seven out of seven? Will the Ducati boys put a stop to him? Perhaps it’s the year of the Yamaha or maybe it’s high-time Honda pulled their finger out? All will be revealed in the fullness of time. We can’t wait to find out who’ll win the 2021 WSBK championship, but until then, all we can do is speculate. So that’s exactly what we’ll do…
Let’s start with the current king of the Superbike class, Jonathon Rea. Judging the lad by his form over the past seven years, only a fool would bet against him. He won eleven races last year and won the championship with 55 points to spare. The bloke was in a league of his own. Now, with a new (hopefully improved) Kawasaki ZX-10RR there’s every possibility that his domination will continue 2021 WSBK. That said, on paper, his results did take a bit of a hit at the end of last season. He’ll be hoping what ever has caused that has been nipped in the bud.
Because if he hasn’t, Yamaha mounted Toprak Razgatlıoğlu might take advantage, just like he did at the end of 2020. Razgatlıoğlu finished the season in fourth place, but he had a stonking start, and an even stonking-er finish to the year. We know he’s got the speed to win races, but he’s going to have to do more than win a few rounds if he wants to lift the 2021 WSBK championship trophy.
But the biggest fight for the title came from the Aruba.it Ducati Pairing of Scott Redding and Chaz Davis. They finished second and third overall last year. Davis will still have the odd podium finish I suspect, but I can’t see him taking the title. Likewise for Michael Rinaldi, who replaces Davis in the Aruba.it team. Rinaldi will be fast, but not fast enough.
Redding though, who stays with Aruba.it racing, I reckon has a serious chance. 2020 was his first year in WSBK but he still managed five wins over the course of the year. And second in the championship. In fact it was only his second year on a superbike, after competing in the GP paddock for the majority of his career. I expect Redding is the name that Rea is the most concerned about as we approach the first round of 2021 WSBK.
Rea’s Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes is capable of winning races, and so too is BMW man Michael van der Mark, so you can’t completely write them off. That said, both would have to seriously up their consistency game to stand a chance of winning the 2021 WSBK Championship.
What about Honda with the new Fireblade, I hear you ask? In Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam, they’ve got two of the best and most experienced riders on the grid, but the results last year didn’t reflect that. With only one podium finish between them last year (a third for Bautista at Aragon), Honda’s new team boss Leon Camier will be hoping to turn HRC’s fortunes round in 2021. But he’ll have his work cut out.
So in summation, I’d have to put my money on Jonathon Rea to take the title once again in the 2021 WSBK Championship. But if I’m being honest, I’d sooner see someone else don the WSBK crown. I’ve got nothing against JR, but seeing him win time after time is getting a bit boring. And besides, if he’s that good, why isn’t he in MotoGP? That’s a topic for another day, though.
Who’s your money on?
Don’t talk crap,you want Rea to get beaten because you do not like him.
Why is it not boring watching Lewis Hamilton win the formula one so many times?Why would Rea go to Moto GP to ride a bike that is not competitive?Rea is raking the money in where he is,it would be foolish to leave the superbikes.
Lastly no one ever mentions that Rea is on the bike with the lowest rpm on the grid.The Ducati is a lot faster on the straight,and has faster acceleration coming out off slow corners.
Delete my last post?James
No.
You are a very funny guy,not much to say though!!
Why would J Rea move to Moto GP to ride a bike that can not compete for the Championship.Another thing saying it’s boring watching J Rea win wsbk title time after time.No one says it’s boring watching Lewis Hamilton win so many titles in Formula One.The editor clearly has bias against J Rea.If he thinks Rea is not capable enough to go to Moto GP,it makes the rest of the riders in WSBK look like fools.Rea hasn’t got the fastest bike on the grid,thanks to the rpm his bike has compared to the rest of the grid.
Lots of people say it’s boring watching Lewis Hamilton win all those F1 races, myself included. But anyway that’s different – F1 is the pinnacle of the sport, you can’t go any higher up than that, so you can’t really blame LH. WSBK isn’t the pinnacle of motorcycle sport – that’s my point.
Watching formula one is like watching paint dry.When it is on tv in my local bar it is just ignored.Formula one has been with bbc, itv and sky.That proves it is not very popular.Top off the pack,I would say bottom.
People like you hate to see J Rea winning,even the commentator,s are biased,it’s as plain as day. It’s ok for the car formula one driver to win all the time,and Iewis Hamilton fan base want to see him winning more championships.Formula one is like watching paint dry!,,Why the big difference.james
This is going to be a great year, provided The Rona doesn’t fuck it all up. I see quite the battle between Redding and Rea. Curious how good the new Kaw will be
I know consistency wasn’t their strong point, but Garrett Gerloff, Rinaldi, Lowes, VDM, Toprak, and Bautista (if he could stay onboard), all showed us what they’re capable of, and showed us their potential by taking it to Johnny & scott throughout the season. However I don’t believe anybody can hold the consistency that Rea has.
No doubt that Rea is the king, proved 7-times over, but there’s something about what goes on behind the visor, his mental capabilities that separates him from the rest of the lads out there.
I imagine Rea like Dovi, but after taking a couple grams from your local craig on the corner, you know the one I’m on about.
Scott Redding, got to back the boy from my home town 🙂
It’s going to be a brilliant season in WSBK, with everything you’ve mentioned as well as Jonas folger having a proper go at it and Andrea Locatelli, who’s off a ridiculous season in supersport. Then who knows what Tito Rabat will do on a superbike. Just so much going on, can’t wait!
Van Der mark has gone to Bmw.