UPS AND DOWNS: Riders returning to the rostrum and Championship contenders with issues…

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship's return to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya had more of everything the 2021 season has provided: first time visitors to the rostrum, riders bouncing back and even more Championship twists and turns. Three different riders claimed victory during the Hyundai N Catalunya Round with rain impacting on Race 1, providing plenty of ups and downs.

Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) returned to the podium for Honda for the first time since the 2020 Aragon Round with third place in the Tissot Superpole Race on Sunday, ending a run of 37 races without a podium for the Spanish rider. It was a weekend Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) won't forget either as he claimed his maiden WorldSBK podium in difficult conditions during a wet Race 1, setting incredible pace on his Independent Ducati machine to finish in second place. The 22-year-old had led during Race 1 but was passed by factory Ducati rider Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) in the closing stages. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) was another who had strong form throughout the Catalunya Round as he claimed his first podium since the Superpole Race at Assen in Race 1, before backing this up with a win in Race 2.

The top two in the Championship both endured ups and downs throughout the Catalunya Round, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claiming Superpole Race glory on Sunday but not standing on either of the full-length race podiums in Catalunya. For Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), a step forward in wet conditions was dragged back by a technical gremlin in Race 1 when he was leading the race but he responded in style on Sunday to claim two second place finishes in the Superpole Race and Race 2; claiming the Championship lead from Rea by a single point.

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