The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid will have a slightly new look to it at the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round albeit with a familiar face as Spanish rider Tito Rabat makes a return to the grid at Kawasaki Puccetti Racing. The 2014 Moto2™ World Champion will link up with the team again after racing with them in 2021 and 2022 as he replaces Tom Sykes, who left the team recently and re-joined the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team on a temporary basis.

The 33-year-old will once again ride for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing squad for the third time in his career, having done so previously in 2021 and 2022. The 2014 Moto2™ World Champion  qbrings a wealth of experience to the team from his time in the MotoGP™ paddock as well as in domestic Superbike championships, having claimed the title in his native Spain in 2022.

Rabat made his WorldSBK debut in 2021 with the Barni Spark Racing Team but he split from Barni Ducati after just a handful of rounds, claiming a best result of ninth in Race 1 at the Circuito Estoril. His split from Barni Ducati came after the French Round in September but he was back in WorldSBK very quickly as he returned with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing for the final few rounds of the season, replacing Lucas Mahias, taking a best result of 11^th in Race 1 at the Circuito San Juan Villicum on the ZX-10RR.

In 2022, Rabat competed in the Spanish Superbike championship with Honda as well as making a one-off appearance in British Superbikes, again with Honda. He claimed the Spanish championship title with two wins and 12 podiums, and he also returned to WorldSBK with Puccetti Kawasaki as a replacement rider for Mahias, who was suffering from injury. He did not score points on his return to the Championship at Misano, which was only his first round of the 2022 campaign on the world stage, finishing in 16^th place in Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race and 17^th in Race 2.

Before he joined WorldSBK, Rabat took third place in the Moto2™ World Championship in 2013 and 2015 with his title coming in 2014. He has 13 wins in the MotoGP™ paddock, all coming between 2013 and 2015. He moved to MotoGP™ for 2016 and scored a best Championship position of 19^th in 2017 and 2018. For 2023, Rabat returned to the MotoGP™ paddock to compete in the MotoE™ World Championship for the full season. He is also competing in the Spanish championship this season and has two wins to his name, both coming at MotorLand Aragon in April.

Discussing his return to WorldSBK and Puccetti Kawasaki, Rabat said: “I’m pleased to return to Team Puccetti and Kawasaki. This is a great opportunity for me to return to WorldSBK but also keep up the race pace, because this year I’m competing in MotoE™ where there are not so many races. I’ll try to make the most of this opportunity and help Manuel Puccetti’s team as they continue to develop their bike. I want to have fun of course, and give it my all, but also complete all the races in order to collect as much data as possible. See you all at Misano!”

Team Principal Manuel Puccetti added: “I’m pleased to announce the return of Tito Rabat to our team. In both 2021 and 2022, the Spaniard was tasked with standing in for an injured rider, which is never easy, and he raced without having chance to test, so without knowing our bike. Despite that, Tito always proved to be the consummate professional, with significant experience under his belt in both the Moto2™ and MotoGP™ Championships. It will be a pleasure for us to have him back in the team for their home round at Misano, where our goal will be to continue developing the bike and try to improve on the results scored thus far.”

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The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is four rounds down but there remains plenty of stories to come in a fascinating season of action. So far, we’ve seen it all and the next round at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” will be no exception to delivering the unexpected. We look back at the key themes so far in 2023, what to expect going forward and more.

BOWLING THEM OVER: Bautista’s dominant start to 2023

There was never a doubt that Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) would struggle as he goes to defend his #1 on the front of the Ducati, however few would’ve predicted the sheer dominance of the Spaniard. 11 wins out of 12 so far in 2023, the only race he didn’t win was when he crashed in the Superpole Race at Mandalika, giving Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) a first win of the year. Not just the fact he’s dominated, he’s looked comfortable and in stark contrast to his 2019 display, he now knows why he’s able to ride with such ease and he understands where the limit is a lot more. Add on to that the stunning spectacle he put on in Barcelona last time out, Bautista could be poised for more great things if he keeps up his current form.

RAZGATLIOGLU NEEDING WINS: can the #54 strike gold at Misano?

Toprak Razgatlioglu’s consistency in 2023 so far has been nothing short of outstanding; second in six races this season, including four of the last six, whilst every other race has seen him (besides Phillip Island Race 2 when he was taken out) finish on the podium. 167 points after four rounds, it’s 16 less than his Championship season and a whopping 26 more than last year at the same stage, but Bautista’s been doing all the winning. With only one win so far coming in Indonesia, Razgatlioglu needs to be back on the top step and capitalise at circuits where he’s won multiple races before. Misano, Donington Park and Most are all circuits he’s done just that, whilst Imola has a lottery-feel about it. Can he get the gap down before the summer break ensues? One thing to note about Toprak: he’ll hope to win as many races for Yamaha as possible before leaves the manufacturer at the end of 2023, in search of a new challenge with BMW for 2024.

CHASING DOWN THE TOP 3: Rea’s quest to catch ‘Loka’

Missing from the recent Supported Test at Misano, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and teammate Alex Lowes. Both riders opted not to make part in cool temperature testing, with Lowes stating that testing needs to take place when the track is hot. So, they went to Jerez instead and carried out a two-day test there. So far, Kawasaki are experiencing their worst start to a World Superbike season in over a decade, without victory in the opening four rounds and with Jonathan Rea 33 points adrift of a top three slot. For Lowes, he’s on 62 points, his worst tally after four rounds since joining Kawasaki. Whilst the package is still challenging for podiums, wins are not as guaranteed, and the domination of just a few years ago is in the past. Can they turn it around in the upcoming European leg?

RINALDI VS BASSANI: next level in their rivalry

It’s a well-documented rivalry which had been relatively quiet, but with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) holding the factory seat for 2023, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) has never been clearer in his quest to take his place, even if Rinaldi has made a step in performance. In Barcelona, after a hard move by Rinaldi at Turn 3 in Race 1 in Barcelona, Bassani wasn’t having any of it and got back under Rinaldi at Turn 11, only for a collision to come out of it and Rinaldi’s race ending in the gravel trap. Rinaldi slammed his fellow countryman and branded that it was a “deliberate” act to take him out. Bassani was given a Long Lap Penalty but maintained it was a “normal” move. With Misano up next, both will be keen to shine at home, but could they be up against each other once more?

BMW’S STRUGGLES: not the 2023 Redding would have wanted, van der Mark injured

It’s been an uphill struggle for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in 2023 and whilst Toprak Razgatlioglu’s signing will boost morale and bring excitement to the team, the #54 isn’t arriving until next year. Michael van der Mark has the brand’s best result of sixth at Mandalika in Race 1, whilst Scott Redding had five top ten results on the bounce before a zero-point round in Barcelona. A new aero package has helped with feeling in the corners, but as van der Mark is out injured and Redding’s struggles continue, Donington Park at the start of July could offer the next podium potential.

FINDING STEPS: Honda’s potential and Vierge’s improvements

Honda have been a consistent force in and around the top six in 2023, but there’s been a marked improvement by Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), who was able to take a first podium of his WorldSBK career earlier in the year at Mandalika. Since then, Vierge four top ten results and a best of sixth place, whilst Lecuona has struggled to match his teammates consistency, even if his outright pace remains a little bit better. Lecuona took a fourth place in the Superpole Race in Barcelona after a late rain shower changed things up and it came after a sixth place in Race 1. However, prior to that, Lecuona failed to score any points at all at Assen and since Barcelona, he lamented the Misano Test where a new swingarm left the Valencian “expecting more”, even if teammate Vierge was overjoyed.

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With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock heading to the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” for the fifth round of the 2023 campaign, the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round, Ducati Corse’s General Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, discussed the upcoming home round for Ducati, Alvaro Bautista’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) form in 2022 and 2023 as well as his potential teammate for the 2024 season.

BAUTISTA’S FORM: “He makes me happy…”

Bautista returned to Ducati for the 2022 campaign after two years with Team HRC and was crowned World Champion at the end of the season after a thrilling, season-long fight with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Bautista won 16 races and claimed 31 podiums last year in 36 races as he was crowned WorldSBK Champion for the first time, and he’s started 2023 in imperious form with 11 wins from the first 12 races of the season. His form has seen him take a 69-point lead in the Championship standings over Razgatlioglu and Dall’Igna has lavished praise on the 2022 World Champion.

Discussing Bautista’s form, Dall’Igna said: “Every time that I see a race with Alvaro, he makes me happy. I cannot ask for anything better, honestly. I’m really happy with his feeling with the bike, with his style of work because he works very well with all of us. Honestly, it’s really easy to work with him. I cannot ask for anything more.”

WHO WILL JOIN BAUTISTA AT DUCATI? “At the moment, nothing on the table…”

Bautista was one of the earliest riders to sign up for the 2024 grid when he signed a one-year contract to extend his stay with Ducati until the end of 2024 at the very least. However, his teammate for next season is currently unknown. Michael Ruben Rinaldi occupies the seat this season and has done since 2021, but several riders have expressed their interest in joining the factory Ducati team including Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).

Talking about who will partner Bautista in 2024, Dall’Igna said: “We don’t know. I think that we are in the position that we can wait a little bit. We don’t have to find a solution because we don’t have a good solution at the moment. We are happy and, for sure, we can wait a little bit to understand what happens in reality. Maybe in the middle of the season, we can try to understand if we have to change something or not. At the moment, nothing on the table.”

HOME ROUND: looking for success on home soil

The next round for the WorldSBK field is the Emilia-Romagna Round at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” where Ducati will be looking to continue their success, with Bautista and Rinaldi both winning races there in the last couple of seasons. Discussing the upcoming round, Dall’Igna said: “Misano is another of our home races so, for sure, we would like to do well there with all the people that come only for Ducati and only for Alvaro. We have to prepare quite well for that round and now we are working on that because we tested at Misano with all the other teams in order to prepare for the round very well.”

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As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship prepares for the 2023 Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to get ready for the next classic Misano race. This time, we head to 2017 and Race 1 – a race which, seemingly, no one wanted to win. Michael van der Mark, then at Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team, was leading but crashed out followed by Marco Melandri crashing from the podium places shortly after. Then, Ducati’s Chaz Davies and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came together on the final lap, with Davies out of the race and Rea taking third, allowing Tom Sykes of the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK to claim a dramatic victory. Watch the full race for FREE by clicking the video at the top of this article.

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The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is a fascinating season. However, the news that 2021 World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) will leave Yamaha at the end of 2023 and get ready for a new challenge in the factory BMW team has sent shockwaves through the paddock. With this move now official, we look back at ten of the best moments of Toprak’s time at Yamaha, as a memorable four-season partnership will come to a close.

The first win: Phillip Island Race 1, 2020

Few riders win on their WorldSBK debut for a new manufacturer, with Jonathan Rea for Kawasaki in 2015, Leon Haslam for Suzuki in 2010 and John Kocinski for Honda in 1997 doing so. Toprak Razgatlioglu put his name on the list in his first race for Yamaha in 2020, taking the lead on the last lap and holding off a slipstream charge to the line for WorldSBK’s second-closest podium at 0.007s.

Domination at Estoril: Estoril Race 1 and Superpole Race, 2020

At the end of a first campaign with Yamaha, despite the initial high of winning, technical issues and a lack of podium consistency saw Razgatlioglu not feature prominently at the front or in rostrum battle. However, at Estoril, he stormed to a career-first pole position by over seven tenths of a second before checking out in Race 1 and the Superpole Race, whilst being beaten in Race 2, but ending his first year how he’d go on to start the second.

The Senna-like start: Donington Park Race 1, 2021

With just one victory to his name in what would go on to be his Championship year, Razgatlioglu qualified in 13^th at Donington Park, the circuit where he took a first-ever podium at in 2018. Flying off the fifth row, Razgatlioglu was inside the top five by the time they got to Turn 1, with a narrow dry line all he had to work with. He was second by Turn 8 and leading halfway through Lap 2. He checked out for one of his greatest ever wins, with a start similar to Ayrton Senna in F1 at the same track in 1993.

Battle commences with Redding: Most Race 1, 2021 and 2022

Razgatlioglu was in form in 2021 and fighting his way to the front, whilst title rival Jonathan Rea crashed twice in Race 1. On the last lap, he took on Ducati’s Scott Redding, making a bold pass into Turn 15, but running wide, before launching an attack into Turn 20 and barging his way through. The pair had strong words and contrasting emotions over it; then, a year later, in the same race, the BMW-mounted Redding was passed by Razgatlioglu into the fast Turn 13, with Redding running off-track. Again, they clashed over the forcefulness of the move; could they be teammates in 2023?

Celebrating with the rub of the green: Portimao Race 1, 2021

After a late penalty for going onto the green at Magny-Cours in the Superpole Race cost him a heroic last lap battle win, Toprak Razgatlioglu was out to make amends at Portimao. He hit the front into the first turn with three to go and broke clear of Scott Redding, whilst Jonathan Rea had crashed out earlier at the final corner. Razgatlioglu took the win and celebrated by getting a broom and brushing the green on the exit of Turn 5, in reference to Magny-Cours. In Race 2, Toprak crashed at the same corner that Rea had in Race 1, with Rea winning. Rea’s celebration was a burnout on the same bit of green that Toprak had previously cleaned. Oh, the fun and games.

The ‘Marc Marquez style’ save: Estoril Superpole Race, 2022

Round three of his title defence season with the #1 and Razgatlioglu still hadn’t won, but that looked like it was going to change at Estoril in the Superpole Race. After being beaten on a final lap run to the line in Race 1 by Bautista, Razgatlioglu was leading on the last lap ahead of Jonathan Rea. However, into the final chicane at Turn 9, Toprak tucked the front in a massive way, with his elbow on the ground. Somehow, he kept it upright but Rea zipped on through and took victory, although Razgatlioglu was happy enough just to make it to the finish in P2.

Old enemies clash again: Most Superpole Race, 2022

In another final lap showdown, Razgatlioglu and Rea went toe-to-toe. Just a few rounds after their battle at Estoril and their clash and crash at Assen in Race 2, both were embroiled in more drama. On the last lap into Turn 15, Razgatlioglu put his leg out as he got ready for track position, whilst Rea was on the inside and going for a race winning pass. However, both nearly collided and Rea had to let the brakes off as he went into the gravel, but kept it upright. Razgatlioglu scampered clear for victory.

Keeping the title alive: San Juan Superpole Race, 2022

After crashing in the first race, Razgatlioglu’s title defence was now looking like it wasn’t going to happen, but the 54 never knows when he’s beaten. A titanic final three laps with Alvaro Bautista saw the two battle hard, tripping each other up and bringing long-time race leader Jonathan Rea back into play. Bautista lead onto the front on the final lap, only for Razgatlioglu to outbrake him into Turn 1. Bautista tried again on the back straight, but Razgatlioglu responded into Turn 8, holding on until the chequered flag. An instant classic in Argentina.

The first triple, “dream” achieved: Donington Park Race 2, 2022

If Toprak hadn’t been penalised at Magny-Cours in 2021, then he’d have achieved a first triple of his career. It was the only thing missing from his Championship year. However, in his quest to defend the title, he finally achieved his dream. Razgatlioglu was invincible at his “second home” of Donington Park, as he took Paul Denning’s team to victory in all three races, the team’s first triple too. It would be the first of two triples of 2022, with the other coming at Mandalika where in Race 2, despite making it a hat-trick, Razgatlioglu relinquished the crown to Alvaro Bautista and Ducati.

The title-clinching race: Mandalika Race 1, 2021

A thrilling 13-round WorldSBK season was coming to an end but not without drama. The first-ever race at Mandalika was delayed until Sunday due to heavy rain on Saturday. Then, it was delayed one more time on Sunday but eventually, the race got underway. Razgatlioglu almost crashed on the warm-up lap at Turn 1 after a near-miss with Axel Bassani, but then when the race got going, he and Rea did battle once again, the two titans of the title race. But with nine laps to go, Razgatlioglu made a big mistake and went from the lead back to P3. However, he’d fight bike to second, enough to give him the Championship in an incredible first-ever race at Mandalika. Check out The Final Stunt documentary, here!

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It’ll be just a few weeks short of 14 years since Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed his first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship win Round 5, the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round, takes place in early June and, to get you warmed up for the round, we are taking a trip down memory lane. This time it is to Rea’s maiden WorldSBK victory, in Race 2 in 2009, when he battled with Michel Fabrizio. The pair were separated by just 0.063s across the line as Rea denied Italy a famous home win but Rea was able to take the first of his 118 WorldSBK wins so far. Watch the full, incredible race by clicking the video at the top of this article.

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With a third of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign in the history books already, the gap between the Catalunya and Emilia-Romagna Rounds is the perfect time to take stock of the season so far. That’s exactly what 2011 WorldSBK Champion did in an interview at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round and you can check out the first part of the interview HERE. In part two, Checa discusses Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) seasons so far as well as the 2023 rider line-up.

REA AND RAZGATLI0GLI’S POTENTIAL TEAMWORK: “everyone is working for themselves…”

During a parc ferme conversation at the Dutch Round, Rea and Razgatlioglu were in conversation with the 2021 Champion asking his rival why he didn’t attack Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to be in a position to disrupt his rhythm and potentially fight for victory. Checa was asked about the pair potentially working together throughout 2023 to give his point of view on their fightback but believes the pair will work separately this season.

Checa said: “This is an individual sport, and everyone is working for themselves. Clearly, now, Alvaro is one step in front as Jonny and Kawasaki did in the past, as Toprak did in some moments, catching Jonny and beating him. Now Alvaro has arrived and beat them. Maybe with more room or space than they expected. He’s the reference. Now they need to catch Alvaro and the distance is quite big. I don’t know if they will be able to. It seems so difficult because Alvaro is controlling and riding over them, and he increased the lead quite a lot. I don’t think they will do any teamwork. It’s more a resignation, it seems they cannot fight to win so they will fight for second place. So far, if there’s no problem for Alvaro and Ducati, they need to fight for other positions. It’s clear that in some circuits they’ll be closer, I don’t know if they’ll be able to beat him, although it would be nice for the spectacle, because these three battling is what the fans like. But they have to do a great job, with their teams, with Yamaha and Kawasaki, because Ducati has done a big step forward and have found a rider who can take profit of the bike, which is Alvaro.”

THE CURRENT GRID: one of the strongest ever?

Six rookies joined the WorldSBK grid in 2023 with all having at least a domestic title to their name to make it one of the strongest rookie line-ups, and adding those riders to an already-strong grid added more depth. With so many World Champions on the grid, coming from WorldSBK, WorldSSP and Moto2™, as well as European and domestic titles to the majority of the grid, Checa was asked whether the 2023 grid could be considered the strongest in WorldSBK.

Discussing this, the 2011 Champion said: “I think WorldSBK always had a strong grid and the performance of all the riders is quite high. We can see the evidence. We see first, second, third and it seems like the others are not good enough but Petrucci won in MotoGP™, Remy did really good in Moto2™ but it’s not a Championship where you arrive and because you were in front in a different championship or MotoGP™, you can automatically be in front. There’s a lot of work, it depends on the bike and the team. You can adapt better or not. It seems like Bautista adapted perfectly and other riders, like Petrucci and probably Remy, are struggling as well. I think these riders have the capacity and ability and the performance to potentially be in front. Sooner or later, if they have an opportunity, we can see them at the front.”

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Usually, breaks are used for testing, some would say a bit of relaxing, perhaps some marketing. Occasionally, there’s a rider announcement about a renewal, but very few times do we see a major bit of ‘silly season’ news that has come to fruition. Well, if you’ve been under a rock during recent hours, 2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) is leaving Yamaha and heading to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for 2024. As expected, there’s been a myriad of questions about the move, the reason and what’s next for the existing BMW and Yamaha riders. We’ve seen your questions and now, try our best to answer them.

Why has Toprak Razgatlioglu moved to BMW?

It’s a fair question; the BMW hasn’t won a race in the dry and it has struggled to challenge regularly for podiums, unlike the Yamaha which is a proven Championship winning package and one of the easier bikes for rookies and graduates to ride. However, it’s clear that Razgatlioglu has a top speed deficit in comparison to Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), and the Bautista-Ducati package make a Championship challenge trickier to mount than in 2021’s title-winning season.  The BMW isn’t short on top speed, and perhaps Razgatlioglu’s search of a “new target, a new challenge” means to develop the bike into a winner, getting it to turn better in the middle of the corner and getting the power down on corner exit. There may also be a new project underway for BMW in WorldSBK; the manufacturer brought major updates in 2023, it may have more lined up.

Who will be Toprak’s teammate in 2024?

It’s probably the biggest question right now in the paddock. Marc Bongers gave limited information when asked about the 2024 line-up in Barcelona, and with Michael van der Mark out injured for a third stint in just a year and a half, the Dutchman could be feeling the heat. However, after Razgatlioglu’s announcement to BMW was made, the #60 shared “welcome Abi” to his Instagram story, suggesting that he may well be staying with BMW.

As for Scott Redding, the British rider is behind Independent rider Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and in races where both Redding and van der Mark have finished, it’s 3-2 in Mikey’s favour, even if the #45 scored more points. He’s questioned his BMW future, saying he’ll “consider options” and it’s “hard to wait.” Redding and Razgatlioglu have got previous fallout, clashing on numerous occasions – notably at Most in Race 1 both in 2021 and 2022. Until an official statement is made, we can only go on what we know: both current riders aren’t signed for 2024. We could in theory see a whole new line-up. Gerloff, like van der Mark, “welcomed” Toprak to BMW and stated he “thinks he’ll like” the bike, even if the #31 will be in the Independent team. Redding hasn’t commented.

If not Redding, what happens next for the #45?

30-year-old Scott Redding came to WorldSBK and was instantly a Championship contender, winning races and finishing as runner-up in his rookie season. Third in his second year before moving to BMW, race wins seem a long time ago as Redding has undoubtedly struggle with the switch to inline four machinery, away from the Panigale V4 R which he came to WorldSBK aboard. Redding has questioned his own future as we’ve stated above, but what would those “options” be?

A return to Ducati? Perhaps, emulating Bautista, who likewise had two years away on inline four machinery at Honda and upon returning, was a better rider for it. Redding’s also been vocal about the Ducati’s top speed advantage so if you can’t beat them, maybe (re)join them? Unlikely, as Ducati have plenty of riders already waiting, such as current rider Rinaldi, his arch-rival Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and WorldSSP Championship leader, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). What about Yamaha or Honda? A straight swap with Toprak is always possible and Yamaha will want an established race winner, but does Redding fit with Yamaha’s ethos of developing young talent? As for Honda, they’re the one team that have been quiet, whilst Alex Lowes’ (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) contract expires at the end of 2023.

Will Phil Marron move with Razgatlioglu to BMW?

Phil Marron has been Razgatlioglu’s crew chief since 2019, when Toprak was at Puccetti Kawasaki. Marron moved to Yamaha with Toprak, as Les Pearson – previous crew chief to van der Mark within the team – moved over to the GRT outfit with Garrett Gerloff, and Andrew Pitt moved to van der Mark’s side. Marron came from working with Shaun Muir Racing in 2018, when he was crew chief to Eugene Laverty. It makes sense that Razgatlioglu brings Marron to BMW, with their close-knit relationship; after all, a rider’s crew chief is a vital personal link as much as technical and it’s about having understanding. Bautista and Giulio Nava are the same, as are Rea and Pere Riba. The current crew chiefs at BMW are Ian Lord for Redding and Marcus Eschenbacher for van der Mark.

What happens to Yamaha and who will replace Razgatlioglu?

It’s an obvious question with not an obvious answer. A day after it was publicised that Toprak will leave for 2024, Andrea Locatelli was announced as staying with the team until 2025, making him the longest-serving factory Yamaha rider in WorldSBK at five straight years. The only others currently with a 2024 deal are Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Alvaro Bautista and Garrett Gerloff. Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Alex Lowes and both 2023 factory BMWs Scott Redding and Michael van der Mark are all available. Lowes and van der Mark have been at Yamaha before as teammates, whilst the others haven’t.

Could Yamaha promote an Independent rider?

With Yamaha’s racing ethos, progression is key. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was promoted from WorldSSP after two dominant titles and has been a strong in 2023, with two front rows and amazing late race pace seeing him with a best of P4. Teammate Remy Gardner is improving all the time too, whilst for Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) and Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), it’s unlikely they move into the factory team. Of current Independent Yamaha riders, the best-placed in the Championship is Aegerter, 27 points clear of teammate Gardner, one ahead of Rinaldi and 18 from P5’s Axel Bassani.

What is BMW’s strategy to success and why hire Razgatlioglu?

A final thought on BMW’s unequivocal desire to win and challenge for titles from Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Toprak is undoubtedly one of the best riders in the field at the moment, which he proved by winning the 2021 World Championship. He’s not just a fast motorcycle racer, he’s also a great personality off the track. We’re convinced that Toprak will settle into the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family very quickly.” Dr Markus Schramm, head of BMW Motorrad, added: “I’m very proud that Toprak has opted to join BMW Motorrad. This is a forward-looking step for our project and a strong commitment of BMW Motorrad Motorsport in WorldSBK.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

With the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship up and running and warming up for the remainder of the season, a flurry of transfer market action has happened. Just a day after it was announced that his current teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was departing for BMW in 2024, Andrea Locatelli has confirmed that he will remain in blue for the forthcoming two seasons.

STUNNING ARRIVAL: fast from the off in the WorldSBK paddock

Locatelli made the switch to the WorldSBK paddock in 2020 when he dominated in World Supersport, storming to the Championship title with two rounds to spare. He then graduated to the factory Yamaha outfit alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu, taking a podium in his maiden season at Assen. He went on to finish fourth overall, with three more podiums coming throughout the season. For 2022, Locatelli was back aboard the R1 and the Italian found his feet once more, and despite starting strongly, a mid-season dip in form meant he finished fifth by the end of the season, although he did pick up his career-best finish of second at Assen and was strong towards the end of the season with a podium at Mandalika.

BIG STEP MADE: 2023 has already been a year to remember for the #55

Coming into the current 2023 season, Locatelli is one of the riders who has made a clear step in performance, as has the Yamaha package. The only rider to score points in every race and with at least one podium from the opening four rounds – with five in total after 12 races – Locatelli sits pretty in third overall, behind teammate Razgatlioglu and reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Until Race 2 in Barcelona, ‘Loka’ had been inside the top five in every race, with stunning consistency. He’s currently 33 points ahead of WorldSBK’s most successful rider of all-time, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “We’ve laid the groundwork for a bright future”

Speaking about the renewal, Locatelli was elated to confirm his future with the brand that gave him the opportunity to graduate, whilst speaking highly of the entire team in fuelling belief into the 26-year-old: “My objective was to continue with Yamaha, so I’m very happy to have signed for another two years. One of the best things about Yamaha is the people who believe in me, starting with Eric de Seynes, Paolo Pavesio and Andrea Dosoli, but also Riccardo Tisci and all the engineers and technicians who work so hard to give me the best bike possible. The same is true of the team. Since I arrived in WorldSBK I have enjoyed incredible support from Paul Denning and Andrew Pitt, and everyone involved in the project.

“All together we have achieved some good results but, more importantly, we have walked side-by-side on a path that has allowed me to feel more and more confident,” continued a philosophical Locatelli. We still have room for improvement in many areas, but I truly believe that with such a good relationship we will grow stronger together. If consistency is key as they say, then I think that with this extension, we’ve laid the groundwork for a bright future.”

DETERMINATION AND INTELLIGENCE: Dosoli hails ‘matured’ Locatelli

Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli was also jubilant in confirming Locatelli: “It gives me great pleasure to announce that we will continue for two more years with Andrea Locatelli, in line with Yamaha’s vision of nurturing talent and forging a long-term relationship with our riders. Our journey with Andrea started in 2020 when he dominated WorldSSP aboard our R6, but his performance in 2021 when we moved him up to WorldSBK was equally impressive, finishing the season fourth and as rookie of the year.

“We have seen Andrea mature as a rider, continually progressing to the point where he is now one of the strongest in the Championship. He has shown himself to be capable of making informed technical decisions during testing, whilst his determination in the short races is matched by his intelligent management of the longer feature races. These are all good signs, and this is what convinced us that, together, we can make further steps and secure even better results in the future. On behalf of Yamaha, but also from me personally, I would like to thank Andrea for the trust he has shown in us.”

WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAHA: one rider penned, one rider leaving

Summing up the transfer market so far, Locatelli becomes the fourth factory rider confirmed on the grid for 2024 and the first for Yamaha. Whilst teammate Toprak departs for BMW at the end of the year, Locatelli’s two-year deal, taking him to 2025, means he will be the longest-serving factory Yamaha rider in consecutive seasons, with Noriyuki Haga (2005 – 2008), Alex Lowes (2016 – 2019), Michael van der Mark (2017 – 2020) and current rider Toprak Razgatlioglu (2020 – 2023) holding the record of four seasons, whereas ‘Loka’ is set for five. Jonathan Rea, Alvaro Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) are the only other riders confirmed on the grid in 2024, but Locatelli is the first signed for 2025. The big question now is who will be his teammate?

Watch the rest of an incredible 2023 season in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

While the majority of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field visited the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” for a two-day test recently, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) did not as he received a call-up to ride for Ducati in MotoGP™. To make up for this, the WorldSBK rookie heads to Mugello this week for a two-day test on the Panigale V4 R ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Round in early June.

Petrucci was called up to replace Enea Bastianini at the factory Ducati team at Le Mans which took place from the 12^th-14^th May and clashed with the Misano test. This was on the 11^th and 12^th May prior to Le Mans, meaning Petrucci did not run in the test and nor did the Barni Ducati team as they opted not to bring in a replacement rider while Petrucci was unavailable for the test.

To make up for some of the lost track time, Petrucci will be back on his V4 R machine in Italy but at the Mugello circuit on Tuesday, 23^rd and Wednesday, 24^th May as he re-adjusts back to his WorldSBK machine following his brief return to MotoGP™ where he claimed 11^th place in the Grand Prix at Le Mans. With regulations prohibiting testing at the same location as a WorldSBK round in the 11 days building up to the round, Petrucci was unable to test at Misano like his rivals but will still get two days of action in Italy. Mugello holds special memories for ‘Petrux’, with it being the scene of an emotional first victory in MotoGP™, back in 2019, beating teammate Andrea Dovizioso and reigning Champion Marc Marquez in a phenomenal final lap thriller at the Italian Grand Prix.

Looking ahead to the test, Petrucci said: “I’m very happy to come back to my WorldSBK bike for two days of testing. It’s really, really important because I was not able to be at Misano and I was not able to try the track where we have the next round. We can have a lot of tests; we can try a lot of new things and I hope we can solve our problem with traction. Can’t wait to ride again at a beautiful track like Mugello.”

Petrucci will not be the only rider on track at Mugello with Nicolo Bulega joining him with Ducati Corse on the Panigale V4 R machine. The current WorldSSP Championship leader has had a test on the V4 R at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and will now be back on the bike on home soil at Mugello for two days of testing. The second factory Ducati seat is currently available for 2024, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) not yet putting pen to paper. There’re also all three Independent Ducati teams that have their existing riders not signed for 2024. This is clearly a test for the future, but where will Bulega fit in Ducati’s World Superbike puzzle.

Watch more action throughout 2023 with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com