Testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field got underway at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Tuesday, but without double Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and teammate Michael van der Mark – despite BMW completing one day of running in Spain. During the test, Team Principal of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Shaun Muir, spoke about why BMW were testing without their race riders and what’s new on the bike for both this test and next week at Aragon.

Razgatlioglu and van der Mark flew home after the Spanish Round, with test riders Sylvain Guintoli and Marcus Reiterberger on track for the German manufacturer. Muir explained why the team opted to test without their race riders at Jerez despite preparations ramping up for 2025 already, with a particular focus on a new engine upgrade at Jerez before the team heads to Aragon where ‘El Turco’ and van der Mark will test.

Explaining the test programme for Jerez, Muir said: “One day of testing here, we’ve got Sylvain and Marcus deputising for Michael and Toprak. We have the new 2025 engine upgrade here and we basically wanted to put kilometres on those engines and do a full preparation for Aragon next week. At Aragon, we’ll have the newer items but just for today it’s engine preparation. It’s pretty much the same as what they’ve used in the test team, so the feedback is getting our riders to work with the crew chiefs and our application engineers; clearly our engineers haven’t been working in the test team, so they’ve got to find a way with that and the new settings and torque maps. It’s just a familiarisation, put some kilometres on the engine and take them to Aragon next week.”

The Team Principal also went on to discuss the Aragon test programme, going into detail about what van der Mark and Razgatlioglu will have at their disposal on Tuesday and Wednesday next week when they jump back on the M 1000 RR. Muir disclosed that there would be new aerodynamics and material to test at the Spanish venue.

Previewing the Aragon test, Muir said: “They’ll come back full of energy, hopefully. They’ve had a bit of time to recover from that fantastic weekend we’ve just had. The bikes are, by and large, complete after today with the engine upgrades in them. We’ve got some new material to test, new aerodynamics to try on the bike and it’ll be the engineers working with the application guys and starting to get that new engine really dialled in and all the characteristics that we need and what both Michael and Toprak are looking for with the engine brake feel. That’ll be the focus.”

Follow the off-season WorldSBK action and relive the best 2024 moments using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s incredible 2024 campaign is over and already eyes are looking at 2025. Bimota’s return, some rider line-up changes and much more means the time between the final round of 2024 and the first round of 2025 will be full of intrigue and testing is a good way to understand what’s happening. Several off-season tests are planned but when will they take place and where will they be?

The first test comes from the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Tuesday 22^nd and Wednesday 23^rd October, just a few days after the end of the 2024 campaign. Not everyone will stay in Spain, with no Yamaha teams present, and 2024 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) also not there – although BMW will be with the test team. It’s a first chance to see Bimota’s return as they test the KB998, as well as Garrett Gerloff’s first test on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

After that, it’s a short break before the next test. MotorLand Aragon will host it where BMW are among several teams planning to test at the Spanish venue on the 29^th and 30^th of October. Aragon is where a lot of tests take place due to the circuit having long straights as well as slow, medium and high-speed corners. Then there are a few weeks without testing scheduled before a return to Jerez at the end of the month. Another two days are planned there on the 26^th and 27^th of November, which could be the last test of the calendar year for most, if not all, teams.

The first test in 2025 is scheduled for Jerez on the 22^nd and 23^rd of January, and it’s likely to be a busy one with two days of action before a move to Portimao the following week. On the 28^th and 29^th January, the Portuguese venue hosts the final European test before the whole paddock heads to Australia. On the 17^th and 18^th of February, there are two days of testing at Phillip Island for the Official Test – the WorldSBK and WorldSSP field will take part – the final testing before the season begins.

Off-season testing calendar

2024

22^nd and 23^rd October – Circuito de Jerez, Angel Nieto

29^th and 30^th October – MotorLand Aragon

26^th and 27^th November – Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

2025

22^nd and 23^rd January – Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

28^th and 29^th January – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve

17^th and 18^th February – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Follow the WorldSBK off-season action and relive epic moments from 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Philipp Oettl will return to the FIM Supersport World Championship next season as he joins the Feel Racing WorldSSP outfit, which has rebranded from the Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team banner it ran under in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Oettl will jump on the Panigale V2 for next season as he makes his WorldSSP return following three seasons in WorldSBK, where he raced Ducati and Yamaha machinery. He joins the team that claimed the last two Riders’ Championships in the class.

28-year-old Oettl made his WorldSSP debut in 2020 with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team, claiming four podiums in 15 races, and finishing in the top ten in all but three. That gave him third in the Championship, and he remained with the team for a second season in 2021 as he added another seven podiums to his tally, claiming second place on three occasions as his best result. Although he finished fifth in the standings, he secured a move to WorldSBK with Team GoEleven.

He spent two seasons with the Independent Ducati-powered team, taking a best of fifth in Race 2 at Phillip Island at the start of 2023. He then made the switch to GMT94 Yamaha for 2024 where results proved harder to come by for the #5. His best result this season was P14 on three occasions and he’s now opted to head back to WorldSSP to challenge for the world title with the team that’s taken Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Adrian Huertas to the Championship in 2023 and 2024 respectively. His first time riding the Panigale V2 will be at the Jerez test on the Tuesday and Wednesday after the round.

Prior to his time within the WorldSBK paddock, he raced in Moto3™ between 2013 and 2018 on a full-time basis. His first podium came when he was third at the Indianapolis Grand Prix in 2015, before he took his first win at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2018 at Jerez. He then moved up to Moto2™ for 2019 although didn’t score a point before his switch to WorldSSP for 2020.

Discussing his move back to WorldSSP, the German said: “I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity to ride in World Supersport with Feel Racing in 2025. I can’t wait to ride the bike in the first winter test with the team and work at the best to prepare the next season.2

Follow the off-season news and action using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Two days after the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship concluded, 2025 begins. The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Neto hosts the first off-season test for the field as Bimota returns to the Championship and other riders get their first taste of next season’s packages. Keep up to date with all the action from Jerez with the live blog, while you can follow live timing HERE.

09:52 – it’s very early days in the test of course, but after 20 minutes or so, Nicolo Bulege leads the way ahead of teammate Alvaro Bautista. So far, the two Ducatis have been joined by Xavi Vierge, Tarran Mackenzie, Tetsuta Nagashima and Tommy Bridewell from Honda, plus Florian Marino on the Bimota, Ryan Vickers on the Motocorsa Ducati and, in WorldSSP, Triumph’s Tom Booth-Amos.

09:30 – the green flags are out as testing gets underway at Jerez

Source: WorldSBK.com

Preparations for the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship are already underway with the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto hosting a two-day test just days after the 2024 season concluded. There will be eight hours of track time each day, from 10:00-18:00 Local Time (UTC+2) as the world gets the first look at the new Bimota KB998 machine as the Italian brand make their return to the World Championship, while it’s also the first time Garrett Gerloff will be spotted on Kawasaki machinery.

BIMOTA ARE BACK: Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani on the KB998

The Kawasaki-powered Bimota KB998 makes its public debut at Jerez, with Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani staying with the team that’s morphed into the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team squad, with the Provec Racing-run team opting for continuity with their rider line-up as the new project begins. Jerez will give the first public indications of the new project, and the first look at Lowes and Bassani in their team gear after racing in the famous Kawasaki Green in 2024.

GERLOFF’S KAWASAKI DEBUT: the American on the ZX-10RR

Garrett Gerloff is set for his third manufacturer in WorldSBK as he links up with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing on the ZX-10RR. Kawasaki keep a manufacturer presence in WorldSBK next year with the Puccetti Kawasaki squad running the Japanese brand’s machines, which Gerloff will compete on. It’ll be his third brand in WorldSBK after Yamaha and BMW.

VICKERS’ DUCATI DEBUT: Brit set for first taste of the V4 R

Ryan Vickers is moving across to WorldSBK full-time for 2025 and he’ll get a taste of the Team Motocorsa Racing outfit at the Jerez test. Vickers is a race winner in the British championship, and he links up with a team that will run the Panigale V4 R and fought for podiums not that long ago.

STAYING THE SAME: important test even without changes

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will be in action at Jerez, with Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista aiming to start 2025 preparations on a high note. Bulega comes into the test after beating Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) on pure pace twice at Jerez, while Bautista had a weekend to forget. Philipp Oettl will also be on track on the Panigale V2 as he returns to WorldSSP, linking up with the double title-winning team from 2023 and 2024. Team HRC will be on track with Xavi Vierge, with Iker Lecuona injured following a Tissot Superpole Race crash with the #97, while the test team and Honda Racing UK will also take part. For Vierge, it was announced during the Spanish Round that 2024 crew chief Gorka Segura would leave the team.

2024 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) won’t be at the test as he flies back to Turkey to celebrate his title, but it’s expected there will be BMW presence on track.

Follow the WorldSBK off-season action using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

2025 testing is just a day away for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship but that hasn’t stopped the first glimpse of next year appearing on Monday. The new-for-2025 Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, run by Provec Racing which had successfully run the KRT team with the ZX-10RR, released the first image of the KB998 machine that will compete next season. Check out the image at the top of this page!

Get set for 2025 and re-watch the best moments from years gone by using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Saturday when he finished second in Race 1 behind Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). After the crown was secured, the #54’s rivals spoke about Razgatlioglu’s title success with everyone full of praise for the two-time World Superbike Champion.

BULEGA: “It’s already an honour for me to fight with Toprak”

Razgatlioglu beat Bulega to this year’s crown, but the rookie was full of praise for his rival: “I have to be fair, Toprak did an amazing job this year. He changed manufacturers and he won the title in his first year after changing. We know Toprak is always very strong. I knew before the season that he was one of the best guys. It’s already an honour for me to fight with Toprak until the penultimate race of the season because I’m in my first year, and it wasn’t expected for me to do this. I’m really happy about what we did and congratulations to them. I hope my time will come.”

REA: “No words… doing it with a different manufacturer, not many people are in that club”

Six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) battled ‘El Turco’ for the 2021 title, while he also helped him when he first joined WorldSBK in 2018. He said: “I’ve got no words for Toprak. When he came to Kawasaki in 2018 from STK1000, we always ate together anyway in the Puccetti hospitality and I had a real bond with him, because I felt like in the first days in WorldSBK, I was able to speed up his learning transition. I helped him as much as I could. Now he’s a two-time World Champion. It’s incredible and he deserves it a lot. He’s had an incredible year. Changing manufacturers and doing it with a different manufacturer, not many people are in that club. I hope he enjoys the moment. This year’s been about him, his dominance has been incredible. He’s definitely the man of 2024. Everyone asks me about my titles, and it’s the first one that means the most. It’s always the most special. To change manufacturers and win in the first year is also special. His growth as a rider and popularity as a rider has increased ten-fold.”

BAUTISTA: “He adapted very well to the bike and the combination has been very strong”

Two-time Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fought with Razgatlioglu in 2022 and 2023 as the Spaniard won the title and, while he’s relinquished it to Razgatlioglu, was full of praise for the Turkish superstar: “He and BMW had an incredible season. I don’t know if anybody expected him to fight for the title, but honestly, I did. Maybe not the level he showed because, especially in mid-season, he was really strong, and it was very difficult to beat him. He had a bit of luck with the crash at Magny-Cours because he came back to ride again. They deserve it. He adapted very well to the bike and the combination has been very strong. Congratulations to all of them. I hope to fight in the future with them! He’s a really talented rider and he works really hard. He always tries to improve to be better and faster. This kind of rider, with this character, always deserves victories and titles.”

LOCATELLI: “He was really fast this year, it was difficult to beat him…”

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was teammates to Razgatlioglu at Yamaha between 2021 and 2023, with the double Champion helping Locatelli when he first arrived in WorldSBK. ‘Loka’ said: “I want to say a big congratulations to Toprak because I think he did an amazing job, also with the BMW. I think he showed his real potential. He was really fast this year, it was difficult to beat him! We did it at Phillip Island so it’s not impossible but it’s not easy in every race. I know he was my teammate, and maybe I would like, in the future, to be teammates again. He’s a good guy. I’d like to fight with him on track!”

Congratulate Razgatlioglu on social media using #BackOnTOPrak and relive his best 2024 moments using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season concluded at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and, after, the paddock headed to the gala to celebrate this year’s winners and Champions. The four Riders’ Champions were awarded as the riders came together to demonstrate their admiration for eachothers achievements at the special event. Check out the amazing pictures from the prize giving gala in the gallery at the top of this article!

2024 has now concluded, but 2025 starts straight away: Get all the latest interviews and highlights from the Jerez test using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

After their #54 rider Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the 2024 title with second place at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in Race 1 on Saturday, BMW are once again celebrating on Sunday following the Turkish rider achieving first place in Race 2, whilst his team mate secured an impressive third at the final round of the 2024 season. The race win is BMW’s first at the Jerez circuit, and wraps up a successful year for the motorcycle manufacturer.

TOPRAK: “We had a dream with Mickey and BMW to share the podium together…”

Discussing his historic race weekend, the 28-year-old Turkish rider said: “It’s been an amazing weekend. We’re World Championships with BMW. I got my second title and I’m really happy. The first one was very special for me because it was for my dad. This one is for me. It’s been a long season, very successful year. We had 13 wins a row, an amazing season but finally it’s done.” 

FIRST JEREZ WIN: #54 achieves BMW goal

He spoke about his joy on sharing the podium with stable mate Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) saying: “This is incredible because this year, we had a dream with Mickey and BMW to share the podium together. We did it in the last race. It’s a very important last race because, at the end of the season, we shared the podium with Mickey. This is amazing. He’s a very good guy and he’s pushing so hard every race weekend. After the big injuries, he still came back but he’s stronger. I hope, next year, we’re fighting for the podium together.”

Van Der Mark: “This year has been a dream for the whole BMW team…”

The #60 rider Van der Mark rode a strong final race of the year to complete the rostrum on Sunday afternoon, and describes his emotions on sharing the rostrum with the 2024 World Champion: “It’s a big dream. This year has been a dream for the whole BMW team to take the world title and it was also fantastic for me. I’ve been working a lot to develop the bike. Together with BMW, they were always pushing.

P1 AND P3: Ending the year on a high

The Dutchman added: “I was a bit unlucky in the last two years but this year, but they still trusted in me. I was building my pace, working together with Toprak, and at a certain point we felt the podium was coming. Our goal was to be on the podium together. Unfortunately, he wasn’t there at Magny-Cours but to finish the season this weekend with the world title, winning the race and me on the podium, it’s fantastic for everyone.”

Follow all the off-season WorldSBK news and action using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com