Photography courtesy AMA Pro Racing/Brian J. Nelson
The Superprestigio in Barcelona this Saturday (Dec. 13) at St Jordi Arena, has quickly become the must-see winter racing event in just its second season. You can sum up in two words the reason for the instant classic nature of the event and those two words are Marc and Marquez. If last year’s revival of the Superprestigio (previously a Spanish-centric event with a few other stars, but now truly international) was a primer for fans, this year’s event finally fulfills the vision of bringing together all the GP World Champions (from MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3) to race against some of the top national champions and past greats. This year’s race will finally realize that dream.
Marquez will be joined by his younger brother Alex, who is the current Moto3 champ, along with newly crowned Moto2 champ Tito Rabat. In fact with the other riders in the field this year, there are 10 world champion motorcycle racers from various disciplines of racing. With riders like Toni Elías, Troy Bayliss, Taddy Blazusiak, in addition to American Grand National flat track stars Jared Mees, Brad Baker and Shayna Texter, you have the makings of a true “gathering of the champions”, fully realizing the vision of the ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers made-for-TV events of 1970s and early ‘80s.
The Superprestigio consists of two classes working towards one grand finale. The “Superprestigio Class” (all road racers) run through a program of heats and semis to reach their final and the “Open Class” riders (all non-road racers) do the same. Then the top four from each group meet up in the 12-lap “Superfinal.”
Last year AMA Grand National Champ Brad Baker won event, it makes sense since flat track racing was his specialty. But Baker made the ultimate faux pas by making an overly aggressive pass on Marquez and putting the world champ on his ear. This year’s participants are likely to get a nice pre-race “talk” that will include the reasonable plea to not put the goose (Marc Marquez) that laid the golden egg on the ground.
Of course racers will be racers and all pre-race agreements will probably go out the window once the race begins.
Unlike Baker, Michigan’s Mees has never stepped foot on European soil. The reigning Grand National Champion reclaimed the title this season after earning nine podiums and two victories, and will surely be a threat to take the checkered flag when the lights go green this Saturday.
“I’m extremely excited for this race to happen,” said Mees. “I’ve never flown overseas before and I feel very fortunate for this opportunity and to get invited to such a prestigious event. I’m confident that Brad, Shayna and I will do a good job representing America and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun competing against Marc Marquez and the other Spanish riders.”
Texter is the third and final AMA Pro Flat Track rider competing in the Superprestigio. The 23-year-old Pennsylvanian is the first female rider to win an AMA Pro Flat Track main event, which she first did in 2011 when she took the GNC2 checkered flag at Knoxville.
“I’m thrilled to be able to represent America and compete against my fellow competitors here in the states as well as Marc Marquez and the rest of the competition on such a big stage,” said Texter. “I feel most comfortable on a 450cc motorcycle and fortunately that’s what I’ll be racing on this weekend. This is going to be a great event.”
Additional AMA Pro Flat Track flavor will come from flagger Kevin Clark, who will be participating in the Superprestigio for the second straight year.
Kenny Noyes, the reigning FIM CEV International Superbike champion, is also slated to compete in the event for the second time, bringing the total number of American riders entered in the event to four.
Commentary for the broadcast will be handled by English MotoGP announcer Gregory Haines and AMA Pro Flat Track legend Chris Carr. The expertise Carr brings to the booth includes seven Grand National Championships and 78 victories, second all-time in GNC competition.
“While it was great to watch the Superprestigio dirt track earlier this year, I am really excited to be a part of the Fanschioce.tv team calling the action in person,” Carr said. “I look forward to seeing our last two Grand National Champions, Jared Mees and Brad Baker, as well as everybody’s fan favorite, Shayna Texter, take on the various world and national champions from Europe and beyond. Let the ‘Battle of Barcelona,’ commence!”
The Superprestigio is set to begin at 12:00 noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT) on Saturday, Dec. 13 and all of the action will be broadcast live on www.FansChoice.tv, the official home for live streaming of all AMA Pro Flat Track events. In addition to FansChoice.tv, the Superprestigio will be available for live viewing at www.cycleworld.com, www.motorcyclistonline.com, www.sportrider.com.
Superprestigio Riders (Limit 24)
|
#
|
RIDER
|
NAT.
|
BIKE
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS
|
|
2
|
Remy Gardner
|
AUS
|
Suzuki
|
2015 Moto3 rookie
|
|
5
|
Johann Zarco
|
FRA
|
Yamaha
|
Moto2 rider
|
|
7
|
Lorenzo Baldassarri
|
ITA
|
Kawasaki
|
Moto3 rider
|
|
9
|
Kenny Noyes
|
USA
|
Kawasaki
|
2014 FIM CEV Superbike champion
|
|
11
|
Albert Arenas
|
SPA
|
KTM
|
Moto3 rider
|
|
12
|
Alex Marquez
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
2014 Moto3 World Champion
|
|
15
|
Dani Ribalta
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
World Endurance rider
|
|
19
|
Xavier Simeon
|
BEL
|
Honda
|
Moto2 rider
|
|
21
|
Troy Bayliss
|
AUS
|
KTM
|
3-time World SBK Champion
|
|
23
|
Marcel Schrotter
|
GER
|
KTM
|
Moto2 rider
|
|
24
|
Toni Elias
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
2010 Moto2 World Champion
|
|
33
|
Enea Bastianni
|
ITA
|
Honda
|
Moto3 rider
|
|
36
|
Mika Kallio
|
FIN
|
Suzuki
|
Moto2 rider
|
|
38
|
Bradley Smith
|
GBR
|
Yamaha
|
MotoGP rider
|
|
45
|
Scott Redding
|
GBR
|
Honda
|
MotoGP rider
|
|
53
|
Tito Rabat
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
2014 Moto2 world champion
|
|
60
|
Jilian Simon
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
2010 125cc World Champion
|
|
87
|
Luca Marconi
|
ITA
|
TBA
|
World Supersport rider
|
|
88
|
Ricky Cardus
|
SPA
|
Yamaha
|
Moto2 rider
|
|
91
|
Gabriel Rodrigo
|
ARG
|
KTM
|
2015 Moto3 rookie
|
|
93
|
Marc Marquez
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
2014 MotoGP World Champion
|
|
94
|
Jonas Folger
|
GER
|
Honda
|
Moto2 rider
|
|
99
|
Christian Iddon
|
GBR
|
Suzuki
|
World SBK rider
|
All Superprestigio-class riders are or have been world championship road racing participants (MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, World Superbike or Supersport).
Open-Class Riders (Limit 24)
|
#
|
RIDER
|
NAT.
|
BIKE
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS
|
|
1
|
Jared Mees
|
USA
|
Honda
|
2014 AMA Pro Grand National Champion
|
|
3
|
Jose Pedro Gomez
|
SPA
|
Yamaha
|
Second place Open-class Superprestigio I
|
|
4
|
Thomas Chareyre
|
FRA
|
TM
|
2014 World Supermoto Champion
|
|
6
|
Brad Baker
|
USA
|
Honda
|
2013 AMA Pro Grand National Champions
|
|
8
|
Guy Martin
|
GBR
|
Honda
|
15 podium finishes Isle of Man TT
|
|
10
|
Francesco Cechinni
|
ITA
|
Honda
|
2013 FIM Dirt-Track Cup Champion
|
|
13
|
Jaume Gaya
|
SPA
|
Honda
|
Rodi-Michelin Cup qualifier
|
|
14
|
Tim Neave
|
GBR
|
Honda
|
2014 British Dirt Track Champion
|
|
16
|
Angel Grau
|
SPA
|
Suzuki
|
Rodi-Michelin Cup qualifier
|
|
17
|
Gerard Bailo
|
SPA
|
Suzuki
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival qualifier
|
|
18
|
Franc Serra
|
SPA
|
KTM
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival qualifier
|
|
20
|
Jose Luis Martinez
|
SPA
|
Yamaha
|
Rodi-Michelin Cup winner
|
|
25
|
Ivan Cervantes
|
SPA
|
KTM
|
5-time FIM Enduro World Champion
|
|
28
|
Oliver Brindley
|
GBR
|
Kawasaki
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival qualifier
|
|
30
|
Alan Bristwistle
|
GBR
|
Kawasaki
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival qualifier
|
|
50
|
Shayna Texter
|
USA
|
Honda
|
6-time AMA Pro Singles main-event winner
|
|
66
|
Joel Lozano
|
SPA
|
Yamaha
|
Rodi-Michelin Cup qualifier
|
|
68
|
Tom Neave
|
GBR
|
Honda
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival qualifier
|
|
77
|
Feran Cardus
|
SPA
|
Pursang
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival qualifier
|
|
90
|
Aidan Collins
|
GBR
|
Honda
|
4-time British Dirt Track Champion
|
|
95
|
Raul Cardona
|
SPA
|
Kawasaki
|
Noyes Camp Dirt Track Festival winner
|
|
111
|
Taddy Blazusiak
|
POL
|
KTM
|
5-time SuperEnduro World Champion
|
|
121
|
Fabrizio Vesprini
|
ITA
|
Honda
|
2-time FIM Dirt Track Cup Champion
|
|
610
|
Joonas Kylmakorpi
|
FIN
|
Zaeta
|
5-time Long Track Speedway World Champion
|
