Redding eyes maiden WorldSBK win, Davies chasing form

Scott Redding is setting his sights on the top spot when the 2020 WorldSBK season resumes this weekend in Jerez, five months after his debut in Australia.

The ex-MotoGP rider and 2019 British Superbike Champion made an eye-catching WorldSBK bow at Phillip Island with a brace of podium finishes, while he topped all three practice sessions and qualified on the front row.

Since then Redding has been the rider to beat in testing, but the Briton says it is in the heat of battle he still needs to improve. With heat itself very much a factor this weekend, Redding nonetheless has high hopes of getting good results on a strong Ducati track.

"I can't wait to get back on track after this long stop. We had the opportunity to resume the activity with 4 days of testing which were very important but we know that the race weekend is something else entirely. Finally, the season starts again.

“It will be a very difficult weekend because of the weather conditions we will find in Jerez but we had the time to prepare ourselves physically and mentally. I want to wish the team good luck and I will do everything I can to fight for victory in every race".

By contrast to Redding, Chaz Davies’ season got off to a disappointing start in Australia in what appeared to be a return to the indifferent form that blighted his 2019 campaign.

"It's good to be back on track again. It will all be very different but I think the world has changed too in the last few months. For sure, as we have seen in MotoGP, the temperature will be a predominant factor for everyone. It will be a tough challenge from all points of view: for the riders, for the tyres, for the setup.

“For this reason, it will be very important to work very well from Friday morning. I feel good physically, I have worked a lot and I can't wait to get back on my Panigale V4 R also in light of the Misano and Barcelona tests which gave positive indications".