2015 FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea (KRT) and serial race winner Tom Sykes (KRT) are each chasing their season-end ambitions at the final round of the championship, which for the second year in succession will be held under floodlights at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, this coming weekend

Having secured the championship for the first time in his first season as an official Kawasaki rider, with five races to spare, Rea will be out to secure the all-time points score in a WorldSBK season by going for two wins at the 5.380km circuit.

For Sykes his personal goal, after contributing much to the Manufacturers’ Championship win for Kawasaki, is to finish second in the championship standings. He will have to overturn a 16-point deficit to current second placed rider Chaz Davies over the two floodlit races on Sunday 18th October.

Rea’s season will become the best ever in terms of outright points scores if he gathers 25 or more over the two 17-lap Losail races. He currently has 528 points, while all-time record holder Colin Edwards set a total of 552 back in the 2002 season.

‘JR’s’ season has been quite remarkable, winning 14 races and taking 22 podiums from the 24 races held so far. One more win for Rea this weekend would take his career total to 30. Two victories would take his to the same career race wins total as Colin Edwards, on 31. This tally would put him in joint fifth place overall. After winning both races at the most recent round in Magny-Cours Rea enters the season finale full of confidence and determination to go for full points scores again.

Sykes has also been a multiple race winner in 2015, with four race victories so far. He has also taken 13 podiums since the start of the year, five Tissot-Superpole wins and six fastest laps. Two podiums at Magny-Cours in the previous round allowed him to make up ground on Davies in the fight for second place.

Both Rea and Sykes were more than interested parties at the recent unveiling of the 2016 Ninja ZX-10R, which both riders will soon compete on as they continue their partnerships with KRT for next season.

Last year the WorldSBK field raced under floodlights at Losail for the first time ever, with the experience voted a great success. Both KRT competitors are looking forward to a return to what is a special and unique event, to finish off what has been a hugely successful season over the first 12 rounds.

Jonathan Rea stated:

“I have been on cloud nine since Magny-Cours and then joining in with the excitement of the new Ninja ZX-10R. I was lucky enough to ride it last month so it was nice to see the enthusiasm about it from everybody else. The feeling I had leaving Magny-Cours with another 50 points was amazing. Qatar was a track I really enjoyed last year so I am really looking forward to seeing how the Ninja ZX-10R operates around the track; then making a really good plan for each session with my crew chief Pere Riba to make sure we arrive on Sunday in a strong position. Losail is a circuit I love and it suits my style. It also provides good racing as well. I am excited to go and finish off an amazing season for me, for the team and for Kawasaki, having already secured the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Championships. It is important for me to go into the off-season with great motivation and great memories of the year, so I am looking forward to trying to make sure we have a really nice weekend.”

Tom Sykes stated:

“Ideally the aim is to finish second in the championship. From a personal point of view it would be nice because in the previous three seasons we have always been inside the top two with Kawasaki, and so close to the championship wins. We had only missed out on two more world championships by a few points. The best way to try and finish second overall is to go and win both races, for sure. It is never easy but Qatar is a circuit I am really looking forward to. I really enjoy the whole atmosphere and racing in the evenings. It is quite strange because you are able to relax and enjoy yourself during the daytime but then when everybody starts shutting down for the day we go off and race motorcycles. The circuit itself is such a great venue. Under the floodlights it is quite unique.”

David Salom (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) and Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) will take part in what is a mini-decider in their personal duel to be the top Ninja ZX-10R rider from Spain this year. Currently Roman is on 71 points, in 14th place, with Salom just three points behind, in 15th place.