A long ride that lasted eight months, effectively marking the end of an era, amonh tears, smiles, and embraces. There are those who stay and those who go, those who celebrate and those who applaud with the honor of arms. Jerez was a weekend where nothing was missing and that's preparing to write a new chapter in history with both new faces and already familiar ones.
THE GOOD- Toprak completes his mission, Maria gets revenge from a year ago, and Benat seizes the latest SSP300 title. There were three titles up for grabs in Jerez, so we applaud Razgatlioglu, Herrera, and Fernandez, aka this season's champions, who are going to keep Stefano Manzi company.
THE UGLY - It 's certainly not the ending that he deserved and that we all hoped to see. Jerez's was supposed to be Johnny Rea's last dance that would've ended his Oscar-winning career in the SBK but, instead, the Cannibal didn't even get on track. He fell Saturday, relapsed on Sunday morning, and ended the weekend early. It was really too bad, and all we can do is console ourselves with the man we knew: a legend forever in this Superbike.
THE BAD - We can definitely understand the disappointment over what happened in the Superpole Race between Bulega and Toprak, but it went far beyond the limit at the parc fermé with spitting, insults, threats, name calling, and shoving. This is certainly not what we want to see in a paddock like the Superbike one, where values are quite different.
THE DISAPPOINTMENT - We're really disappointed because, besides the challenge for the title, we were all curious about the one for the lowest step of the podium. Danilo Petrucci was stuck at third place all season long but, at the final hurdle, he had to leave the scene: not due to a fall or mechanical trouble, but because of a trivial accident in the gym. Petrux deserved to battle it out for that spot until the very end, and we can definitely understand his disappointment.
THE CONFIRMATION - We still know nothing about his future but, in Jerez, Andrea Iannone confirmed the growth we've seen from Aragon onwards. IT was a solid weekend, complete with a podium as his last gift to Go Eleven, before taking his leave. Let's hope this weekend is just a farewell until next year.
THE ERROR - It was predictable... without beating around the bush: Bulega crashed into an unlucky Toprak in the Superpole Race. Burt we want to stop here, without adding to what's already been said.
THE SURPRISE - Xavi Vierge's adventure with Honda ended in Jerez, and the Spanish rider had the best weekend of the entire season: always present in the top five, with a podium, among other things, at arms reach. A nice way to say good-bye and thank you.
THE OVERTAKE - There are overtakes that are worth a victory and others worth even a World Championship. Hats off to the magic of Benat Fernandez who, with a heart-stopping maneuver on the last lap, clinched the SSP300 world title. Just in the nick of time!
THE ANECDOTE - In the final year of the SSP300, there was also also a hint of the tricolor waving in the wind. Credit goes to the guys on the Prodina team, captained by the effervescent Riccardo Drisaldi, who won their historic first title as a team. They deserve a round of applause.
THE I TOLD YOU SO - Bulega on the eve of the race: "I don't think anything special is going to happen on the track between me Toprak," said the prophet.