Jonathan Rea before the start of the WorldSBK race in Kyalami – when the Northern Irishman was still driving for Ten Kate Honda, the Superbike World Championship was a guest on the track in South Africa. In the second race he took second place behind Leon Haslam on a Suzuki. For more information on this time, see our constantly growing, richly illustrated history (© WorldSBK).

The Binder brothers and Steven Odendaal train together

While MotoGP stars train together with WorldSBK and WSSP colleagues in Europe, the South Americans are no exception. With Steven Odendaal, this nation has a particularly hot iron in the fire in the WorldSSP 600 for 2021. The newcomer to the two-time world championship team Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha is currently practicing together with the Binder brothers on their home track. The three drivers competing in completely different classes have rented the track in splendid conditions and are now training there together.

Aerial view of the Kyalami track, on which Ducati and Loris Capirossi made a sensational debut in MotoGP in 2003. Despite a one-year lead of all opponents, the brand from Borgo Panigale landed the first podium with the “hobbit-size” Italian in the first race of the season with third place. It took KTM a full 3 years until it finally worked through Pol Espargaró in the rain in Valencia.

The co-favorite for the WSSP title in 2021 for his test

Odendaal on training in his home country: „A great opportunity to prepare for the 2021 season which is very important to me. The South African weather never disappoints with a track temperature of around 35 degrees Celsius. Having a MotoGP race winner like Brad Binder and his brother Darryn as training partners also means unique preparation for this year’s title hunt, as we were able to push each other on the track. Now I am confident and ready to test with my new team. A quick thank you to Toby Venter, Kyalami Circuit CEO, for the opportunity to practice on a world-class circuit that we hope to see again on the WorldSBK calendar in the near future.“

Steven Odendaal on the near-series Yamaha R6, which was fitted with slick tires, during the test on his home track (© WorldSBK).

The hope of a home race – what are the chances?

It is understandable when Odendaal and the Binder Brothers want a Grand Prix in their home country. But due to the all-dominating pandemic and the list of other interested parties, the chance that their wish will come true is minimal. If you look at Dorna’s often alienating policy for new venues, the probability is close to zero. With their choice of routes, which are mostly in countries ravaged by corruption and organized crime, the company itself often got into a wrong light. Examples such as Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Hungary, to name just a few questionable patterns.

Our photo from the Chang Circuit from 2019 – currently the track for October is still included in the MotoGP calendar. But even some journalists, who initially believed that it would be carried out and sold it to their readers at face value, sometimes deviated from their original assessment.

About current events in scandal-ridden countries
It is already well known that countries with events currently on the calendar such as Austria, the Czech Republic or Thailand are highly corrupt, especially in politics. Qatar was repeatedly in the headlines with thousands of deaths in the construction sites of their stadiums for the Football World Cup. There were moreover reports of the slave-like treatment of temporary workers from Third World countries. In this country, where you can’t get there without a flight, things should, of all things start next month! Fausto Gresini’s death showed again that the pandemic does not stop at motorsport either. Against this background, the start of the World Cup in Losail is simply frightening. Below is the provisional calendar, which in its current form is more reminiscent of a cross-off list. We had already emphasized in the first version of November 6, 2020, that events overseas are nonsensical.

The WorldSBK provisional calendar

Assen has already been postponed to July and the overseas races are waiting as further candidates. Double races are more likely to be expected again than events in front of spectators. This is precisely why many European events also remain as wobbly candidates. Tickets are currently almost not available for any race, which underlines this claim and also applies to MotoGP.