Having completed the penultimate WorldSBK round at Estoril just a few days ago, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team is already on site at the Jerez Circuit in Spain, keen to round out the 2024 season on a positive note. 

The latest Portuguese round was not an easy one and was further complicated by the variable weather conditions, with a wet Friday and Saturday followed by a dry Sunday. With little useful track time in which to effectively prepare for the races, Toba and Pawi could only do so much in the races. As the 2024 season draws to a close, the two riders are eager to finish with strong race results at the Spanish track of Jerez, a track they both know well. 

Known as the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto since 2018, this track has staged international race events for several decades. Opened in 1985, it was not until 1990 that the facility first hosted the Superbikes, with the championship then a regular visitor between 2013 and 2021. The Andalusian circuit returned to the calendar in 2023, staging the season finale just as it will this season. Measuring 4.423 km in length, the track incorporates thirteen corners, of which five left-handers and eight right. 

Kaito Toba 

“It’ll be my first time at Jerez with the Honda CBR600RR. I’ve raced there multiple times in the past, so I know the track well, but it’ll be interesting to see how we can adapt this bike to the track. This is already the last race weekend of the year and I’m very thankful for all the work that Honda and the team have put into this project. We’ll give it our all for during this final round of 2024.” 

Khairul Idham Pawi 

“We saw some improvement at Estoril and were able to close the gap to the front a little, so I’d like to try to do more in that respect at Jerez, doing as well as we can in these last two races of the season. I know the circuit well from my years in Moto2 and Moto3 so hopefully the track knowledge can be of benefit when we start work on Friday. Let’s see if we can end the year with a good result.”  

Track Information: 

Country: Spain
Name: Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto
Length: 4.423 km
Pole position: right 

Turns: 5 left, 8 right
 

SSP RECORDS: Best lap – Bulega (Ducati) 1'41.875 (2023). Superpole – Krummenacher (Yamaha) 1'41.775 (2019). 

2023 RESULTS: 

Race 1 - 1. Bulega (Ducati); 2. Manzi (Yamaha); 3. Caricasulo (Ducati) 

Race 2 - 1. Bulega (Ducati); 2. Manzi (Yamaha); 3. Oncu (Kawasaki)