With the Pirelli Dutch Round just around the corner, teams and riders from the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship will be gearing up for the start of their 2023 campaign and there is plenty of intrigue up and down the paddock about the upcoming campaign. A Champion returns to the gird to go in search for a second title, a new manufacturer joins the grid and teams expand while a new outfit joins the grid.
RETURN OF THE CHAMPION: Buis back in WorldSSP300
Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) took the 2020 title in stunning fashion with four wins and eight podiums from 14 races and he remained in WorldSSP300 in 2021 as he looked to retain his title. He finished third in 2021, behind teammate Adrian Huertas and Tom Booth-Amos who both now compete in WorldSSP. Back for what will be his fourth campaign in WorldSSP300 with MTM Kawasaki, and with a season of WorldSSP experience under his belt, will Buis become the first two-time Champion in WorldSSP300?
A NEW MANUFACTURER JOINS: Kove look to take on Yamaha, Kawasaki and KTM
The 2023 season will feature a new manufacturer on the grid as Chinese manufacturer Kove aim for glory with their 321RR machine. They have one bike on the grid with Shengjunjie Zhou representing the China Racing Team. Four manufacturers will be on the 2023 grid as they all go in search of glory and Kove will also become the fifth manufacturer to compete in WorldSSP300. Honda were represented on the grid for two full seasons between 2017 and 2018, while Kove will take on reigning Champions Yamaha this season as well as Kawasaki and KTM. Zhou will also make history as the first Chinese rider to compete in WorldSSP300.
REIGNING CHAMPIONS EXPAND: can Arco Motor University Team make it two from two?
In 2022, the Arco Motor University Team took Alvaro Diaz to the title after a season of record-breaking consistency with a one-bike effort in the full season. This season the team have not only expanded into WorldSSP, with Diaz, but also expanded their WorldSSP300 effort to a two-rider team. Dutch rider Ruben Bijman and Italian rider Gabriele Mastroluca join the reigning Champions as they look to replicate Diaz’s success from 2022. Another team who have expanded to two bikes is the AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha squad with Matteo Vannucci, a race winner last year with the team, joined by Raffaele Tragni. A new team also joins the grid for 2023 as Deza – Box 77 Racing Team make the step up from the Spanish championship with Jose Manuel Osuna Saez.
KTM GO TO TWO BIKES: looking to return to the top step
After having one full-time entry for the past couple of seasons, KTM’s effort in the Championship is doubled for 2023 with the Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing squad. Lennox Lehmann, who stunned in 2022 with some incredible comebacks, is joined by Dirk Geiger for his second full campaign in the Championship. Last season, German rider Geiger was on Kawasaki machinery, but he has now switched to the KTM RC 390 R as the Austrian manufacturer aims high in the Championship where they have three wins.
ROOKIES AIMING TO IMPRESS: can they shine in 2023?
There are several rookies competing in 2023 as they look to make a name for themselves on the world stage. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki), son of WorldSSP podium finisher Barry, joins Buis for his maiden season after competing in the Northern Talent Cup in 2022. Mattia Martella had a one-off appearance last season but joins full-time for 2023 with Prodina Kawasaki Racing WorldSSP300, as does Devis Bergamini (ProGP Racing) and Julio Garcia (Team Flembbo – PI Performances). Zhou will make his debut this season, along with Juan Pablo Uriostegui (Team#109 Kawasaki) and Clement Rouge (Sublime Racing by MS Racing), as well as the aforementioned Tragni and Osuna Saez.
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Source: WorldSBK.com