Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will not take part in the Acerbis Italian Round after being ruled out through the injuries he sustained in France. ‘El Turco’ crashed at Magny-Cours in Free Practice 2 at Turn 14 and was diagnosed with mild traumatic pneumothorax, which ruled him out of all three races in France. Although he made his intentions to race at the Cremona Circuit clear, Razgatlioglu won’t take part in the round. BMW have drafted in Markus Reiterberger to replace him.

RAZGATLIOGLU MISSES CREMONA: full focus on recovery

Razgatlioglu had been on a run of 13 consecutive wins heading into the French Round, but his FP2 crash ended that streak. After not racing in France, Razgatlioglu was cleared to travel to Italy to continue his recovery with the aim of racing at Cremona – a goal Razgatlioglu stated, as did his manager Kenan Sofuoglu. However, Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, reiterated that Razgatlioglu would return to racing “when it is possible without health risks”.

The 2021 Champion would have needed to pass pre-round medical checks on Thursday in order to race, but it was announced on Wednesday that he wouldn’t take part at Cremona due to his ongoing recovery. Razgatlioglu has now stated he is aiming to return to the track at the Aragon Round, which takes place a week after Cremona.

RAZGATLIOGLU’S VIEW: “My goal now is to return at Aragon… as soon as possible, I’ll re-join the Championship fight”

Razgatlioglu said: “I would have loved to be back on track in Cremona, but the recovery of the mild pneumothorax is taking longer than I initially hoped. It’s important that I make a full recovery, and my goal now is to return on my BMW M 1000 RR at the next race weekend at MotorLand Aragon. But we need to wait and take it step by step. One thing is certain: as soon as possible and when my health allows, I will re-join the Championship fight! I’ll be rooting for my team at Cremona, and I hope to see the BMW M 1000 RR at the front and on the podium. A big thanks to everyone who’s been supporting me through this tough time – we’ll see each other back on the track soon!”

CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS: a 55-point lead over Bulega

In Razgatlioglu’s absence in France, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed a Sunday double to close the gap to Razgatlioglu to 55 points. With Razgatlioglu sitting out the Italian Round, it’s possible for ‘Bulegas’ to take a seven-point lead into the Aragon Round a week later. However, Bulega will face fierce competition from his rivals in the fight for victory.

REITERBERGER RETURNS: first WorldSBK races since 2019

Razgatlioglu will be replaced by Markus Reiterberger, who raced in WorldSBK 72 times with BMW including with the Shaun Muir Racing-run team that he’ll step into today. The German rider took the 2018 STK1000 title, also with BMW, with four wins in eight races. Reiterberger has also been a key part of BMW’s EWC project, racing last weekend at the Bol d’Or and finishing third in the 2024 standings.

Discussing his WorldSBK return, Reiterberger said: “First and foremost, I want to wish Toprak all the best and a speedy recovery. At Cremona, my focus will be on supporting the team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport as best as possible. I know the bike, the team, and the WorldSBK, so there shouldn’t be any issues getting up to speed quickly. I aim to do my part to ensure that Toprak, the team, and BMW enter the final races with a well-prepared BMW M 1000 RR, fighting for the World Championship titles that he and everyone involved deserve this season.”

BMW SAYS: “Toprak’s complete recovery is the top priority… that’s why we decided together he will not return to racing at Cremona”

Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, concluded: “Toprak’s complete recovery is the top priority for everyone. Everything else takes a back seat for now. That’s why we decided together that he will not return to racing at Cremona. He’s in good hands and working closely with the medical team to get back on his BMW M 1000 RR by the next race weekend at MotorLand Aragon. However, we will take all the time needed. In Markus Reiterberger, we have an excellent stand-in for Cremona, who brings a wealth of experience with the bike, WorldSBK, the team, and BMW Motorrad Motorsport. He will focus on basic and preparation work during the weekend, gathering crucial information so that Toprak can fight for the championship with the best possible material after his comeback.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

After the mayhem of Magny-Cours, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock will be hoping for a calm Cremona weekend. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) were all injured during an action-packed French Round less than two weeks ago, with Rea sitting out the Acerbis Italian Round.

RAZGATLIOGLU’S COMEBACK? Just two weeks on from his big crash…

Razgatlioglu is the most seriously injured of the trio. His crash in Friday practice left him lucky to escape without more serious injuries but while his injury is a “mild traumatic pneumothorax” it’s one that is difficult to recover from in just 13 days. The BMW star is the big name draw in WorldSBK and his absence over the last weekend was noted by all, but it opened a door for others to fill a void.

TITLE RACE IMPLICATIONS: the potential for a big swing?

With his teammate Bautista having crashed out of the Superpole Race, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati honour was led by Nicolo Bulega in France. A double win, Bulega’s first since the opening day of the 2024 season, was impressive and necessary. With a 55-point deficit to make up, Bulega needs a perfect weekend at Cremona to have a title chance. For BMW and Razgatlioglu, the question becomes one of risk versus reward. If the Turkish superstar misses this weekend, the worst-case scenario is that he returns seven points behind in the standings. With Aragon, Estoril and Jerez remaining you would certainly fancy his chances of outscoring Bulega over the final weeks of the campaign.

BMW’S SITUATION: history awaits… but is there a big call to make?

It might be prudent for BMW to look to rest their rider but…it would be a very brave call to make. BMW are on the verge of making history and winning a World Championship. They can only do this with a fit and motivated Razgatlioglu. Toprak is the most unique rider in WorldSBK, and he has shown before that he won’t be fooled twice by a manufacturer. If you cross a line with him, he won’t let you come back. The relationship can be over with one mistake. BMW will know this and will therefore have to leave the call entirely in Toprak’s hands if he wants to race this weekend.

It’s a fascinating situation. Everyone wants to see Toprak race. Everyone wants to see BMW become a title winning manufacturer because it’s good for WorldSBK. The question now is whether we’ll see Razgatlioglu line up on the grid. The betting market would be set as more likely to race than less likely.

CONTRASTS FOR REA AND AEGERTER: missing a round with different impacts…

The same can’t be said for Yamaha. The walking wounded boys in blue are without Rea and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) this weekend. Yamaha has called up their World Endurance riders Nicolo Canepa and Marvin Fritz to fill the void. There’ll be no pressure on either but for Rea and Aegerter, the break is an interesting contrast. Rea has nothing to gain by racing so soon after a skin graft on his right thumb. Aegerter is fighting for his future and needs to race soon if he’s to stay on the WorldSBK grid next year. A return to the World Supersport class remains a possibility so sitting out Cremona couldn’t come at a worse time for the Swiss rider.

ALL EYES ON CREMONA: what to expect from the newest WorldSBK venue?

What can we expect of Cremona? It’s a brand-new circuit that the majority of the field has tested at in recent months. The Italian venue has been excited about their debut WorldSBK event and, it’s fair to say, when the bikes roll down pitlane on Friday all eyes will be glued to see who’s there…and who isn’t.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It’s back to where it all started in May; the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship enjoyed their first test at the Cremona Circuit in northern Italy and were in fact some of the first riders to hit the brand-new venue out of the entire WorldSBK paddock. Now, we head back to start the second half of 2024 and the title race is very much on; 7 points between arch rivals Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) and Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros. Racing Yamaha Team) mean it’s all to play for at Round 4.

FIGHT AT THE FRONT: 7 points split Herrera and Carrasco

Four wins from six races and missing the podium just once, Herrera has been in fine fettle but hasn’t always been the strongest in a straight line, evidented in the last race at Portimao when Carrasco mugged her on the run to the line. Carrasco may have taken podiums in every race but she’s only enjoyed two wins, although one of them was last time out. In Race 2 at Portimao, Herrera was shuffled back to third as Sara Sanchez (Terra&Vita 511 Racing Team) came through too, meaning Carrasco’s seven point deficit heading into Portugal remained the same leaving. Now, Cremona awaits where all of the field – with the exception of Herrera – went testing four months ago. Could this be the right time for Carrasco to hit the front? Beatriz Neila (Ampito/Pata Prometeon Yamaha) hasn’t dropped out of the top five in the races so far and has a podium from Donington Park, placing her fourth, whilst home-hero Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldWCR Team) is fifth overall, keen for a first rostrum of 2024.

OUTSIDE THE TOP 5: Ruiz in good form, Yochay aims to fight back after Portimao struggles

Improving all the way through the season to take her first double top six and a best of P5 last time out, Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) sits sixth overall and will now seek to try and bridge the gap to the top four on track. She’s just six points back of Ponziani and eight ahead of Ran Yochay (Terra&Vita 511 Racing Team), with the Israeli rider struggling at Portimao but keen to put that behind her. With the exception of Ponziani, the remainder of the top seven riders have scored points in every race so far in 2024. Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) was taken out last time in Race 2 at Portimao and will be keen to make up for it this time at the track where she led the first-ever WorldWCR test session. She’s tied on points with Ornella Ongaro (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldWCR Team) with 29 each. With a fine double top ten last time out – giving her a best result of P7 in Race 2 – Mexico’s Astrid Madrigal (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA) completes the top ten.

MOUNTING TOP 10 CHALLENGES: Michel leads the charge, Van Aswegen seeking return

Just pushed out of the top ten overall last time out, Lucy Michel (TSL-Racing) was inside the leading positions back at the Cremona test in May, as was Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) who’s next up in P12. Adela Ourednickova (DafitMotoracing by Smrz) has achieved points in every race and was impressive in the test too, whilst Isis Carreno’s (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3) recovery continues away from the circuit. Following her crash at Portimao, Nicole van Aswegen’s (Andalaft Racing) recovery back home has been nothing short of remarkable and she’ll be hoping to get racing just over a month after her leg break. She’s 15th overall and achieved her first top ten of the year in P9 in Race 1 in Portugal. She’s just ahead of Lena Kemmer (Bertl K. Racing Team), who was strong in P7 during Superpole last time out. Emily Bondi (YART Zelos Black Knights Team) grabbed a first top ten last time out, whereas Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) secured her first points of the year. Likewise getting a first top ten in Race 2 at Portimao after a string of misfortune, American Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) is 20th in the order.

HOUSEKEEPING: riders to watch out for and wildcards at Cremona

After scoring her first points of the season, Andrea Sibaja (Deza – Box 77 Racing Team) is keen to repeat it. First round nerves are out of the way for Sara Varon (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA), with the Colombian rider now looking towards points at Cremona, a track she knows from testing. Alyssia Whitmore (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) is hoping to be declared fit as she bids to return to racing after missing Portimao through injury, whilst Iryna Nadieieva (MPS.RT) is unfit ahead of the round. There’ll be two wildcards too, with home-hero Irene Bramato (Team Roc’n’dea – De Angelis Team) on the grid alongside Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motor Sports), who returns to the paddock for the first time since her WorldSSP300 days.

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A new circuit brings plenty of challenges and that’s no different in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship ahead of the Acerbis Italian Round. The Cremona Circuit is the next destination for WorldSBK as it makes its racing debut, although teams, riders and tyre supplier Pirelli have information about the circuit from testing in the summer. With that in mind, Pirelli have announced their solutions for this weekend which include the SCQ tyre as well as the two development tyres that were available in France.

REAR TYRE OPTIONS: development SCX tyre returns, SCQ available

For the rear tyre, there are multiple solutions available for the long races. The standard SCX super soft and the standard SC0 soft tyre are available, and they are joined by the development SCX-A super soft tyre, coded D0820. This tyre made its debut in France and has the same structure as its standard equivalent, but with a new compound to offer greater wear resistance while maintaining the grip level of the standard SCX. For the Tissot Superpole session and Tissot Superpole Race, the SCQ tyre will be available to choose from. If it rains, the intermediate and wet tyres – both in standard solutions – are available.

AT THE FRONT: a mix of standard and development tyres

It’s a similar story for front tyre choices, with two standard solutions and one development available. The standard SC1 medium and SC2 hard are available to choose from, as is the SC1-A development medium, named D0715. Compared to the standard SC1, it has the same compound but has an evolution of the carcass as it aims to provide greater stability and riding precision. Of course, in the event of rain, riders will have the intermediate and wet tyres to use.

WORLD SUPERSPORT ALLOCATION: standard solutions are the name of the game

For the WorldSSP field, there are no development solutions available. At the front, it’s the standard SC1 soft and SC2 medium tyres while, for the rear, it’s the SCX super soft and SC0 soft – both in standard solutions. In the event of rain, teams will have the standard SCR1 wet at the front and rear with no intermediate tyres available.

PIRELLI SAYS: “Such a close comparison is very useful for us to consolidate data on new solutions and define future development”

Discussing the tyre choices, Pirelli’s Motorcycle Racing Director, Giorgio Barbier, said: “The Cremona round is a great opportunity to get further feedback on the two development solutions introduced at Magny-Cours, the front SC1 in D0715 specification and the rear SCX in D0820 specification, taking advantage of the fact that the riders still have the sensations they had in France and can put them to the test on a different track. Such a close comparison is very useful for us to consolidate data on new solutions and define future development. Having received positive feedback from the riders at their first contact with the new options, we also felt it was important to give the teams some continuity, so as to offer them a good choice on a circuit that has some unknowns. Cremona is in fact a circuit that we know well, if only because it is located an hour’s drive from our headquarters in Milan, but we have never raced there with WorldSBK and, in preparation for this important event, it has undergone considerable improvements. Already in the two tests that were carried out, one in mid-May and the other in mid-June, we found that the track, as often happens in these cases, still needs a bit of break-in to reach the optimal level of grip. This means that in the first sessions we could witness accentuated wear and tear that will then fall within the parameters we are used to over the weekend, as the track cleans and rubbers.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visits a new venue this weekend with the Cremona Circuit poised for its WorldSBK debut as it becomes the seventh Italian track to host WorldSBK. New locations mean a step into the unknown, even with testing at Cremona, and that always provides the possibility of new drama and potentially, new rivalries and winners, so it is time to look back through WorldSBK history to see which circuits have had iconic openings.

RECENT YEARS: modern classics on new battlegrounds

You only have to look at Race 1 at Most in 2021 to see just how much a new track can change the complexion of the Championship and indeed bring new battles. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) beat Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in a last lap, last corner battle for the ages in Race 1 and ended up just three points off the top of the standings as the weekend concluded, whilst Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) endured a difficult weekend as he crashed twice in Race 1 and finished third in the other two, meaning his lead was slashed. There were also strong performances from three Italians as Razgatlioglu’s teammate Andrea Locatelli, who took a second podium of the season, Redding’s teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi took two full-length race top five finishes and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) took a career-best fifth in Race 1.

Other notable debuts include 2020’s season finale, which saw WorldSBK return to Estoril and the Championship battle took a dramatic turn as Rea and Redding both crashed in the Superpole, whilst Rea wrapped up the title in Race 1 following a Redding retirement. Earlier in 2020, we had a titanic Race 2 at Barcelona-Catalunya, giving Chaz Davies a first win of the year and Garrett Gerloff a first career podium. 2018 saw WorldSBK’s debut in South America and Argentina play host to a stunning Jonathan Rea double, meanwhile in 2014, it was WorldSBK’s debut at Sepang, which saw Kawasaki teammates Tom Sykes and Loris Baz collide at the notorious Turn 2 and crashing out, a huge moment in the title race.

In 2013, WorldSBK debuted in Turkey, but it was the World Supersport race which got the grandstand finish at Istanbul Park, with home-legend Kenan Sofuoglu winning in a final lap thriller. A year earlier, WorldSBK debuted in Russia and 2012 saw plenty of drama, particularly in the wet as the quirky Moscow Raceway came into its own. Race 2 stole the headlines though, with Championship leader Max Biaggi crashing out whilst Tom Sykes won, edging him closer to the title.

ROLLING BACK THE YEARS: iconic venues make their mark…

Historic destinations have been a staple in WorldSBK, but it wasn’t just their name that made memories, it was the on-track action too. Kyalami in 1998 was significant for the country in terms of it was the first major sporting event since Nelson Mandela came to power, but also on-track too, giving Frankie Chili a career-first double and thus putting him right in the Championship fight. The Lausitzring in 2001 saw a wet Race 2 go down to the wire between Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson, with the Australian coming out on top.

However, later in the year, the final round at Imola gave some of the greatest racing of the season. Race 1 saw a dramatic close at Regis Laconi and Troy Bayliss traded places, ultimately seeing the Australian crash and take the Frenchman with him. In Race 2 however, Laconi held on in an intense final lap showdown, taking his first ever win and becoming a select few to win in the 500cc era of Grand Prix Racing and then in WorldSBK. A year later and Silverstone was welcomed onto the calendar, with Race 1 seeing Championship leader Bayliss crashing twice and Colin Edwards taking victory.

2021’S NEW VENUES: Most, Navarra, and Mandalika provide drama

The Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is the third new venue on the 2021 calendar and will host the title-deciding season finale. But two other circuits made their debut on the calendar in August, in the form of the Autodrom Most and then the Circuito de Navarra. Most, in the Czech Republic, featured one of the most thrilling encounters – in a season full of them – with a last-lap battle between Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), while Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) crashed on two separate occasions. As WorldSBK moved to Navarra, more of the same featured: the top three in the Championship battling it out for victory across the weekend, with Race 2 at Navarra providing excellent drama throughout. The Tissot Superpole Race, just a few hours before Race 2, was also an enthralling battle between the top three in the Championship.

With WorldSBK heading to Indonesia for the 2021 season finale, it was all on the line: the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Championships were still to be decided, with Razgatlioglu and Yamaha favourites respectively. Rain on Saturday forced Race 1 to take place on Sunday, adding to the intrigue, before two thrilling races brought an epic campaign to an end with Rea doing the double, but ‘El Turco’ and Yamaha securing the crowns.

A NEW CIRCUIT IN 2024: Cremona awaits…

There’s no reason why the Cremona Circuit won’t provide any of the same excitement and drama. A tight and twisty track with off-camber corners and a long straight could be the perfect mix to see more riders in the mix as it starts a run of four rounds in five weeks; a part of the season where momentum will be key, 13 corners await with a real mix of turns across the 3.678km circuit, all with their own challenges.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has been a rollercoaster affair for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). After starting the season with challenges through injury and not having the same feeling on the Panigale V4 R as last year, although he has signed a new contract for 2025 and had a better feeling in recent rounds. In a sit-down interview, the #1 discussed his new deal, goals for the end of the season and 2025, his rivalry with teammate Nicolo Bulega and how Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has exceeded his expectations following the Turkish star’s move to BMW.

2025 SEAT SECURED: “I’m very happy to be here at least next year in WorldSBK”

After months of speculation about his future, Bautista put pen to paper on a new deal to see him through until the end of 2025 with the decision announced leading up to the French Round. The double Champion reflected on this during the interview, preferring to stay focused on the current season in order to end it on a high before starting next year in a better way compared to this season.

On his contract renewal and goals, Bautista said: “I’m so happy to renew the contract with Aruba Ducati because it’s a wish for me to keep racing and, in the end, we reached an agreement. I’m very happy to be here at least next year in WorldSBK. For next year, I prefer, as I always say, to take the decision year by year. My career has been very long. I just want to go year by year, and don’t want to put pressure on me or the team. The goal for 2025 is not clear yet. We have to finish 2024 and it’ll be important to end the season with a good feeling, in that I’m competitive and can ride the bike as I want. Then, we’ll think about ’25. At the moment, I want to use the remaining races of 2024 to recover the feeling again and push at 100%.”

THE SEASON SUMMED UP: “2024’s been very difficult… I think I will be a more complete rider”

Bautista secured 27 wins in 2023, a WorldSBK record for wins in a season, but 2024 has been a stark contrast. Two wins – in Barcelona and Assen – have been the main highlights although he’s secured 12 podiums in total. He sits third in the Riders’ Championship standings, behind Razgatlioglu and Bulega, although he’s more than 100 points back from leader Razgatlioglu. Bautista looked back on his season, which turned a corner at Most where he and the team found something to help the Spaniard with his feeling.

“I can say that 2024’s been very difficult,” stated Bautista. “For me, it was a difficult winter with my injury from last year. I wasn’t 100% clear on whether to keep racing because I had a lot of problems. I couldn’t sleep at night because I had a lot of pain. Nobody knew the reality of my injury, but it was one of the worst because, basically until last July, I couldn’t sleep without pain. It was really hard. After that, the feeling with the bike wasn’t the best at the beginning of the season but during the Most weekend, we found something that helped me a lot to recover the feeling. It was like a took off a big weight from inside. From there It was very clear I wanted to keep racing. In fact, I said my decision to keep racing publicly after the Most round because it was clear. I wanted to continue, and I didn’t want to finish my career like I started this season.”

He went on to discuss this season compared to his title-winning campaigns, saying: “In the last two seasons, I won the titles. This season, with my physical problems, the new rules, and the problem I found with the bike, I had to learn and improve on other abilities that maybe in 2022 and 2023, I didn’t use and now I have to use them. For the future, I think I will be a more complete rider.”

TEAMMATE RIVALRY: “The first rider you want to beat is your teammate…”

A well-known saying in motorsport is that the first rider you want to beat is your teammate and, in 2022 and 2023, Bautista managed that against Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing). This year is different for the Spaniard, with Bulega ahead in the standings, although Bautista did play the importance of beating his teammate down.

Discussing his rivalry with Bulega, Bautista said: “The first rider you want to beat is your teammate and it’s clear you want to be the first rider in the team. It’s a good target but it’s not something that worries me. If I can beat him, okay; if not, it doesn’t matter. I think Bulega is a very strong rider. I knew he could be competitive in WorldSBK. He has a lot of talent but he’s also a really good worker, he’s really fast and we are recovering from a really difficult start to the season. For me, it’s important that I can finish the season with a good feeling than the position I finish.”

RAZGATLIOGLU’S IMPRESSIVE FORM: “I thought he could be very competitive; maybe not as competitive as he has been!”

Razgatlioglu surged into the Championship lead after a run of 13 consecutive victories in WorldSBK, which came to a halt in France after he was declared unfit following his huge Free Practice 2 crash. ‘El Turco’ made the move to BMW for 2024 and sits 55 points clear of Bulega in the Championship standings, with Bautista praising his rival for his results this season, revealing that he expected Razgatlioglu to be competitive on the M 1000 RR but ‘maybe not as competitive as he has been’.

On Razgatlioglu’s form, Bautista said: “I think Toprak’s season is more than better! Already last year, I said it wasn’t a bad decision to go to BMW. I saw a good bike and I thought with the talent of Toprak, he can be very competitive; maybe not as competitive as he has been! They also have a lot of concessions. In the end, they worked really well and it’s good to have more competitiveness in the Championship. If next year, I can arrive to my best level and the bike, I think we can be very close. I also think that in the next rounds, if we get to our best level, we can be very close to him. If we compare my performance from last year with the performance of Toprak, it’s very similar. With the performance we had last year, this season we could fight almost every race with him. For sure, it would be more spectacular because last year I went alone and this year, he’s alone. I think if you could mix both seasons, it’d be a good fight! Maybe you could see it in the next rounds or next season.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) will miss the upcoming Acerbis Italian Round for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with Yamaha endurance and test rider Niccolo Canepa drafted in to replace the six-time Champion. Rea crashed at the end of the opening lap of Race 1 at Magny-Cours and sustained injuries to his hand which required surgery but will miss the visit to the Cremona Circuit as he focuses on his recovery.

Rea had been making gains on the Yamaha R1 in recent rounds and was hoping he could take advantage of mixed conditions in France to fight for a podium. However, at the Turn 16-17 chicane, both Rea and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) came down at the same time in separate accidents, with the #65 going to the medical centre for a check-up and then hospital for further evaluation. He underwent surgery to repair a deep abrasion to his right thumb and, in his vlog, stated a recovery time of 2-3 weeks. The decision comes based on medical advice from the surgeon in France and a local medical team in Northern Ireland, although he is aiming to be back at the Aragon Round a week later.

With Cremona coming two weeks after the crash, Rea will be forced to sit on the sidelines for the Italian Round. He will be replaced by 2007 STK1000 title winner Canepa, whose retirement has been delayed by at least a week. Canepa had announced he would end his racing career after last weekend’s Bol d’Or but with his call-up to replace Rea, that’s been put on hold as he returns to WorldSBK action for the first time since 2018.

The Italian has competed in 79 WorldSBK races between 2008 and 2018, claiming a best finish of P7 on two occasions – in Race 1 at Moscow in 2012 and at Misano Race 1 in 2016. He took two wins and 16 podiums during his time in STK1000, including the 2007 title where he beat Claudio Corti by just four points. Canepa was also a three-time winner in STK600 as well as claiming a further seven podiums.

The 36-year-old has been a key part of Yamaha’s success in recent seasons as a test rider for the Japanese manufacturer, as well as a big part of their endurance racing success. He’s taken two world titles in EWC with Yamaha, and narrowly missed out on making it a third in 2024. He raced last weekend in France in the EWC season finale, finishing third alongside Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, but will be on track not long after as he races alongside Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in an all-Italian line-up for the team.

Discussing his last-minute call-up, Canepa said: “The news may come as a bit of a surprise since I announced my retirement a couple of weeks ago! But to be honest, I am really proud to do one more race weekend – especially with this team, Pata Prometeon Yamaha, Crescent and Yamaha’s official R1 WorldSBK with this crew. I am really sorry for what happened with Jonathan, and I wish him a speedy recovery. On the other side I am thankful to Yamaha for this opportunity. It’s always great to race for this team and to race for Yamaha in WorldSBK. Cremona is a track that I don’t know so well, I just did a few laps one day with the Yamaha R7 for the WorldWCR shakedown and I am aware that it is going to be a challenging weekend in terms of performance. For my job as the WorldSBK test rider, we may have something to test and if I can give feedback to help the other Yamaha riders on track then it will be “mission accomplished”. I am really happy and looking forward to the “very last” race weekend of my career now, so let’s see what we can do!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Marvin Fritz will replace Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) during the Acerbis Italian Round with the Swiss rider still recovering from injuries he sustained while training in Austria. Fritz has been racing in the EWC for Yamaha and will make his MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship return at the Cremona Circuit, having not raced in the Championship since Portimao in 2021.

Fritz, along with Niccolo Canepa and Karel Hanika, finished second in EWC this year, including finishing fourth in the Bol d’Or which took place last weekend. Fritz’s last race in WorldSBK at Portimao in 2021, where he finished outside of the points, and it was similar at the Circuito Estoril earlier in the season. In 2021, he raced in WorldSBK twice, scoring a 10^th place finish at the Autodrom Most as a wildcard rider.

In 2017, the German rider competed in six STK1000 races and took a best finish of P10 on two occasions – at Aragon and the Lausitzring – finishing 15^th in the Championship standings. Five years before that, he raced in STK600 with his best finish coming at Imola when he secured 12^th place. Fritz is a domestic champion in Germany, winning that title in 2016 as well as the German Supersport title in 2014. In 2023, he was crowned champion in endurance racing for Yamaha.

Discussing his return to WorldSBK, Fritz said: “First of all, I would like to wish Dominique a speedy recovery! I cannot wait to be in Cremona, to ride for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and the Yamaha R1 in the WorldSBK is like a dream for me, I’ll take care of Domi’s bike. I’ll have to adapt to a lot of things as since my last wild card in Portimao (2022) things have changed, but I’ll try to enjoy the weekend and do my best, having no pressure. I’m looking forward to meeting all the team, I’m confident it’ll be a nice experience.”

Fritz will race alongside regular rider Remy Gardner at Cremona, with the Australian aiming to keep up his strong season at a circuit he tested at previously. He was quick at the test in May, albeit with different conditions, and he has often been the top Yamaha rider this season. Fritz, who will race with the #17, will link up with the #87 at GRT Yamaha on the Yamaha R1, a bike that Fritz knows well albeit in endurance specification.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to a new venue for the 2024 Acerbis Italian Round as the Cremona Circuit hosts WorldSBK action for the first time. It means that any form guide about the track itself has limited information but there are still key numbers that could provide insight into the round, with some milestones coming up. Check out some key numbers below.

268 – In his next start, Michael van der Mark will equal Chaz Davies in eighth in the all-time list (268 starts).

160 – With two races run in Cremona, the total number of races on Italian soil will go up to 160.

71 – Toprak Razgatlioglu’s partnership with BMW is running at record pace. His forced stop in Magny- Cours has kept his record numbers “frozen”. He has won 15 races out of 21 so far (71,4%). Among the riders who raced at least 20 times for a manufacturer, his best rival is Ben Spies with Yamaha: 14 out of 28 (50%). Doug Polen (26/54, 48,1%) and Alvaro Bautista (61/131, 46,5%) follow for Ducati.

54/59 – Current bike #54 counts 54 WorldSBK wins and while Carl Fogarty is temporarily out of reach at Cremona (59 wins: 3rd all-time spot), the countdown is on!

53 – Cremona is the 53rd track in WorldSBK history. It follows Navarra, Most and Mandalika, all introduced in 2021.

29/32 – Countdown time for BMW: 28 wins so far, three shy of 6th in the all-time list held by Suzuki.

22/25/16 – Jonathan Rea holds the record for most wins at a new circuit, with 22, although he won’t be able to extend that at Cremona. He also holds it for podiums and poles, with 25 and 16 respectively. The next best on the 2024 grid is Alvaro Bautista, with 15 wins, 16 podiums and 8 poles.

11/20 – Nicolo Bulega has passed the halfway mark towards the record of second places in a season: he counts 11 now, with his title rival Razgatlioglu holding the record at 20, set last year. The second all- time value is 16 by Jonathan Rea in 2019, the third is 12 (Scott Russell 1993; Alvaro Bautista 2022). Curiously, the weekends in which he won at least one race (Phillip Island, Magny-Cours) are the only ones in which he didn’t finish 2nd in any race.

9/10 – Of the 10 podiums Razgatlioglu and Bulega have shared, they have finished 1-2 in nine of them with Razgatlioglu winning.

7 – Cremona is the 7th Italian track in history. It follows: Pergusa (2 races in 1989); Monza (43 races from 1990 to 2013); Misano (67 races from 1991 to 2024); Mugello (6 races from 1991 to 1994); Imola (36 races from 2001 to 2023); Vallelunga (4 races in 2007 and 2008). Italy thus reaches Spain for the highest number of tracks used in the history of the Championship. The Spanish tracks are Jerez, Jarama, Albacete, Valencia, Aragon, Barcelona, Navarra.

3 – When Bulega has claimed victory in WorldSBK, Razgatlioglu hasn’t been on the podium (Australia Race 1, Magny-Cours Superpole Race and Race 2).

3 – Bulega is aiming to be the first rookie to win three consecutive races since teammate Bautista did in 2019.

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Source: WorldSBK.com