After 34 races, 12 rounds, visits ten countries across five continents, unbelievable comebacks, shattered records, very public rivalries, controversy, the occasional inclement weather, laughs, tears and, most importantly, some phenomenal racing, we have arrived at the final destination.

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship lands in Qatar where fireworks are sure to fly once again between the top contenders, as they have done nonstop for the past eight months.

The fierce back-and-forth between Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) promises to continue for several years to come, but as of now, this will be the final time they face off in their current colors.

Bautista will serve the new HRC squad from 2020 onwards, closing a brief yet intense chapter in red hile pure dominance led Rea to at least three of his previous four world titles, this one has undoubtedly been marked by his consistency, even in defeat.

Rea has won 14 races, Bautista won 16.

It remains to be seen which bike takes best to the Losail International Circuit. 5.360 km-long and with a kilometer-plus start-finish straight, one can think it would suit the Borgo Panigale rocket and therefore Bautista; but Rea, let’s not forget, is undefeated here since 2017.

Their respective teammates will also be looking to end the season on a high note. Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will be sat on the V4 R next year and seems to be coming to terms with the package, there is no better way to solidify your claim as a title contender for next year than to win the closing races.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Welshman sits atop of the Losail podium nor would it be for Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who ended his previous full-time stint in WorldSBK with a victory in Qatar. Instrumental to KRT retaining the Teams Championship, the first win in green would be a fine finale to his Kawasaki comeback.

Honor is always on the line in the final showdown of the year, but for many riders, the stakes are much higher than that. Just six points separate three riders in the battle for bronze: current Pata Yamaha duo Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark, and future Pata Yamaha star Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing). Two of them have won races this season and the other remains ahead in the standings. The two men in blue hold 15 podium finishes between them. Razgatlioglu has claimed 13 alone yet still trails them on points. It’s been a standout season for all three but there’s only room for one of the highlight reel.

Early 2019 saw the birth of several new projects in WorldSBK, Round 13, accordingly, will be the moment to evaluate where they stand one year on. For Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), his first year after trading the green and black leathers for white ones can only be deemed a success. A win under the floodlights would cap off this first season quite nicely.

This has also been the first year of the triple-pronged Moriwaki-Althea-Honda project. A season somewhat marred by injuries and disappointing results has taken an upturn in the last couple of rounds thanks to Leon Camier, who has managed to close the gap with the leading machines. More top ten results are on the cards for the Englishman.

Race 1 will take place on Friday, October 25 at 8:00 pm, with Saturday, October 26 hosting the Tissot Superpole Race at 4:00 p and Race 2 at 8:00 pm.

For families and kids, there will be a fan area in the Paddock with merchandise tents, kid’s activities, food court, and much more. Tickets can be purchased from www.circuitlosail.com or during the event from the ticket booths.

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