WorldSBK has had six weekends off since the last round at Sepang in early August. This week, the fraternity gathers in Jerez for Round 11 of 13. With a total of just six races to go, Jonathan Rea is on the verge of winning the title.

However, a titanic scrap rages for second overall. Currently, Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team’s Chaz Davies holds second position overall; 13 and 36 points behind respectively are 2013 World Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils).

“I’m ready to get back on my Panigale after the long summer break,” says Welshman Davies. “After Sepang, I enjoyed ten days off in Bali, which was a pretty action-packed holiday, and since then I’ve been keeping busy with a lot of riding across different disciplines which has been fun…

“I’m looking forward to the weekend and think we have every reason to be confident, considering recent results and also last year’s outcome at Jerez. I think that last season our weak areas were really highlighted at Jerez but, despite that, we were still able to reach the podium. We’ve learned a lot since then and so I’m feeling optimistic heading into this 11th round.”

Davies’ regular team-mate Davide Giugliano was ruled out of action for the rest of the season following his heavy crash in the second race at Laguna Seca in July. For the Pirelli Spanish Round, Davies is joined by Michele Pirro, fresh from the latter’s MotoGP outing at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli last weekend.

“I last raced at Jerez last season but, although we don’t have more recent references, I know the track well and hope to be able to do well this weekend,” Pirro begins. “It’s a busy week though, considering that last weekend I raced with Bridgestone tyres at the Misano GP, then I did some testing, again at Misano, on Michelin tyres and now I’ll be on track with the Panigale and the Pirellis!

“I hope I won’t have too much trouble and am able to work well right from Friday’s opening sessions, adapting as quickly as possible to the bike and track. I thank the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team for having given me another opportunity to race with the Panigale R.”

In the Manufacturers’ standings, Ducati trails World Champion elect Kawasaki by 112 points, but holds a strong second place over Aprilia by 176 points.