The start of the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is getting closer, and testing has already started, with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team completing a one-day test at Jerez last year. At the team launch in Berlin this week, riders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark spoke about their first impressions of the 2025 machine, which features revised aerodynamics, changes to the engine and more, while Team Principal Shaun Muir and BMW Motorrad Technical Director, Chris Gonschor, also explained what the riders had told them.

“IT’S A LITTLE BIT BETTER” – Razgatlioglu aiming to be fast out of the blocks

After claiming the 2024 title in stunning fashion, with 18 wins and 27 podiums despite missing two rounds, Razgatlioglu is aiming to defend his title with the #1 plate on his M 1000 RR. ‘El Turco’ was adapting to the BMW machine in the early phases of last year but, with a year of experience under his belt, is expecting to be fast from the start in 2025 despite changes to the bike and only one day of testing on it.

The Turkish star said: “We improved the grip a little bit, which is good as it’s what I need. We improved that a little bit and the electronics side. In general, I’m feeling very similar and there’s not a big difference. The fairing is a little bit different, and the bike feels more agile. This is a good step. In general, I know the bike. I’ve learnt it and I know the character. This is a big advantage for me for the new season. Last year, when we got to Phillip Island, I was still learning my bike. This year, I know it and I’ll start fast immediately. It’s a little bit better but we need to see with all riders; I rode alone at the test and only did one day. It looks not bad, but it was also very cold conditions. We need a hot conditions test. I’ll miss the first test at Jerez because my finger’s broken. Maybe I’ll go to Portimao but if not, we’ll see at the Phillip Island test. I’m excited to have the #1.”

“IT FELT GOOD STRAIGHT AWAY” – a good year for van der Mark in store?

Van der Mark had an injury-free year in 2024 and finished in the top six of the World Championship standings for the first time since 2021. He took a wet weather victory at a soaking Magny-Cours as he delivered a masterclass in the wet, while he also ended the year on the podium with his friend and teammate, Razgatlioglu. For 2025, van der Mark is aiming to start where he finished last year, and his first impressions of the new bike were also positive.

The Dutchman commented: “It was just one day but it was nice to get out on the bike. It was nice to get the first feeling with the new package. It felt good straight away. It’s always difficult, when you’re out on track alone, to compare with other bikes. The best thing for us is that the first impression and feeling for us was positive. Some small areas where we wanted to improve so we’ll see where we are in the first test at Jerez.”

“THEY HAD A SMILE ON THEIR FACE!” – work to do despite good first impression

Technical Director Gonschor was delighted with the initial feedback from the riders, but admitted there was still work to do to refine the package ahead of the season-opening Australian Round. He stated: “Luckily, they had a smile on their face! It was a very good first impression but, like always, the very first test with a new bike, new engine specification and a whole package gives you some homework and questions. Overall, they saw the potential of the bike and it has improved compared to last year. Nevertheless, you have to work hard to gain every improvement in every aspect and we need a bit more testing to be perfectly prepared for Phillip Island.”

“THEY FEEL GOOD AND HAPPY” – another strong year for BMW?

Gonschor’s thoughts were echoed by Muir, the Team Principal, who stated the feedback he received was that it was an improvement in the whole package and not one specific area. He said: “The M 1000 RR now has a 2025 upgrade. It’s got a complete new aerodynamic package complete with the bike. A lot of work has been done on this. The engine has been upgraded. It’s got a top-end cylinder head modification and other internals. Generally, that package is much more sophisticated for us. The test team have worked many kilometres on this bike. The first impression of Toprak and Michael was that no one specific area was an improvement; it’s the package felt stronger everywhere. We only did one day. The first impression from Toprak and Michael was that they feel good and happy.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Prior to Toprak Razgatlioglu’s arrival at the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, BMW had not won more than a single race in a season since 2013, when Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri won three apiece. The 2024 season shattered that drought however, and in his first season with the team, Razgatlioglu broke the previous record for most consecutive wins in a season, with 13 in a row, and would go on to win 18 in the season. BMW capped off the season of their meteoric rise with an emblematic podium at Jerez in Race 2, where Razgatlioglu and teammate  Michael van der Mark shared the podium for the first time in the season. The 10-year WorldSBK rider gave his takes on the upcoming season at BMW’s team launch event.

Van der Mark is looking forward to his fifth season with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad World SBK team, fully healthy and with an improved M 1000 RR bike, the Dutch rider is confident of his team’s capabilities this season. “We want to start where we finished the season, on the podium,” said van der Mark. “We had a strong 2024, with a really good end to it. Now with the new M 1000 RR, we’ve improved it in a lot of areas so I think we should be fighting for the podium from round one.”

Van der Mark and his teammate have been friends off the track for a long time, starting from when they were teammates at the factory Yamaha team. This friendship has grown have the years have progressed, helping each other on track as well as off. On their friendship, van der Mark said: “I think last year we knew throughout the season that we would help each other, but I think we’ve grown that to another level. We help each other everywhere we can because the WorldSBK field is so strong, so as a team you want to be the best, and I’m lucky to have Toprak in the garage because he’s the most talented guy. I’m really happy to work with him, and we all want to work together, the whole team feels good, and this makes us strong.”

The Dutch rider is looking forward to what he hopes will be a breakout 2025 season, and if this ROKiT BMW team can pick up where they ended in 2024, they will be a tough tandem to beat. “My wish honestly is that we fight for the world title, and I want to be on the podium as much as possible,” said van der Mark. “I think the ultimate dream would be winning the Rider’s Championship and the Manufacturers’ Championship.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

With BMW kicking off their 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship project in Berlin with riders Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and teammate Michael van der Mark, the German manufacturer are optimistic heading into a title-defending year. BMW are introducing a new M 1000 RR model for 2025 as they look to retain their Riders’ Championship crown that Razgatlioglu won in 2024, while aiming to add the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles to their collection too. BMW Motorrad Technical Director, Chris Gonschor, spoke about the goals for next season while providing insight into the changes to the bike as they look to go one step further.

2024 was an unforgettable campaign for the German brand, with Razgatlioglu smashing records for the manufacturer as well as the Championship. He took 18 wins in total, including 13 on the bounce to break the record for consecutive wins in WorldSBK, while van der Mark produced a wet-weather masterclass at a soaking wet Magny-Cours for his first win in three years. With all their success, the pressure will ramp up this year as rival manufacturers look to deny them more titles.

Discussing the goals for 2025, and how a second title is often harder to win than the first, Gonschor said: “It was our mission to win in 2024 or 2025, and we did it already in 2024. For this year is clear: when you won the title, you want to defend it and repeat it, but the second title will be even harder to achieve than the first one. We have to work hard but I’m pretty sure we’re prepared for next season.”

To help them try to retain the Riders’ title and add more trophies to their collection, BMW are introducing a new version of the M 1000 RR which includes engine and aerodynamic updates. Gonschor spoke about the new road bike which features heavily revised aerodynamics as one big visible difference, but there are also changes inside the bike to help Razgatlioglu and van der Mark achieve their goals in 2025.

Providing a tech overview of the new bike, Gonschor said: “Luckily, with the new M 1000 RR with the model year in 2025, we have a new road bike as a base for sports activities. This gave us the perfect platform to improve on last year’s package. The new M 1000 RR has an optimised engine: on the street bike, it’s six horsepower more. This means there are changes in the engine which improve and make room for improvement to gain more power, durability, and linearity. On the aerodynamic side, we have a new fairing. This will be an improvement. Electronics wise, the new bike has some new sensors on it so we gain some potential here and on the chassis side, we can always improve a bit.”

Can BMW continue their success from 2024 into 2025? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

TOPRAK’s INJURY: Severity and timeline

Toprak suffered a broken bone in his right index finger earlier this offseason, and while it appears not to be serious, his BMW team are making no rush for his return to the track.

“Toprak will not attend Jerez, and at the moment it’s 50/50 whether or not he will come to Portimao because of how short the time is between the two,” said Shaun Muir, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team Principal. “It’s such a critical part of his right index finger which is his primary braking hand, so we don’t want to rush this, worst case is Monday in Australia, best case is limited testing in Portimao.”

VAN DER MARK’S YEAR?: BMW’s faith in the Dutchman

Fully healthy, a new and improved bike and an outpouring of support from his team president Sven Blusch at the launch event may spell a breakout year for Michael van der Mark.

“I’m so proud of Mickey, what he did last year, especially at Magny-Cours and his momentum he built up over the last races, with having both him and Toprak on the podium at the last race, he did an amazing job,” said Blusch. “I expect Mickey will come strong into the first race and he will push strongly with Toprak for the manufacturer’s title. For sure I think Mickey is ready to go for race wins as well.”

TOPRAK 2026?: What is next for the Turkish superstar?

Already speculation is building surrounding the future of Razgatlioglu’s career and where he will race. Prior to making the change to BMW, Toprak and his mentor Kenan Sofuoglu considered a move to MotoGP™, however the BMW Motorrad director was tight lipped on the issue.

“It’s early in the season, but for sure we want to keep Toprak for as long as he wants to stay with us.” Said Blusch “I’m sure there will be lots of talks in the future, but right now, we’re focusing on the season’s start and keeping our minds on the next race.”

THE PRICE OF SUCCESS: BMW’s plans to deal with revoked superconcessions

While the 2025 M1000 RR will be getting an upgrade, concessions made to the 2024 package will be being revoked for this season, something that does not seem to bother BMW team principal Shaun Muir very much.

“We started a plan for this as late as September last year, we knew this was going to disappear.” Said Muir “The chassis was our only concession, and we had already been testing the bike in its full, complete 2025 package in December in Jerez, so I’d say we’re confident.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Much is new ahead of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s 2025 campaign, a new version of the M 1000 RR, the #1 mounted on Toprak Razgatlioglu’s bike, and new regulations are set to impact BMW’s package as the German manufacturer hopes to not only defend their Riders’ title, but double down, and claim the Manufacturers’ title as well. Further complicating all this buzz, while he will be fully recovered by the start of the season, it was confirmed Razgatlioglu will miss at least the Jerez test, and potentially the Portimao test as he suffered an injury to his right index finger, crucial for his signature braking style.

TOPRAK #1 AGAIN, BMW #1 FOR THE FIRST-EVER TIME: aiming high in 2025

Toprak Razgatlioglu’s bombshell decision to change teams from Yamaha, which he had won a World Championship with in 2021, to BMW, who in their history had never propelled a rider to a Championship was a huge talking point heading into 2024. A year later, ‘El Turco’ has flipped the narrative on its head, he is the defending Riders’ Champion and it is BMW who are projected among the title frontrunners this year. Hot off the best season in the manufacturer’s history, BMW will look to keep that momentum ahead of the preseason tests in Jerez and Portimao which precede round one in Phillip Island, Australia.

“Normally I wouldn’t use #1, but I did this for BMW, this is a really big team accomplishment, we worked really hard and now we are World Champions,” said Razgatlioglu. “I can feel improvements in the grip, it doesn’t feel super different, but with the new fairing I feel the bike being even more agile, to me this is a big step.”

VAN DER MARK RESURGENT: The Dutchman looks to keep building on a strong 2024 campaign

Shoulder-to-shoulder, he is joined by friend and teammate Michael Van der Mark, who enjoyed a very positive comeback season. Free of injury after struggling to maintain his race fitness throughout 2022 and 2023, 2024 saw him place 6^th in the rider championship, winning race day one at the French Round, third at race day two in the Spanish Round, and a fastest lap at race day two at the Motul Czech Round.

“We’ve been building a lot of momentum the last year, we ended the season so strong, and now with the bike new and improved, we should be there from the start,” said Van der Mark. “I have a lot of confidence, and of course Phillip Island is different, but I think we are stronger than last year. I’m really looking forward to it.”

BLUSCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW CHALLENGE: He and his BMW Team set their eyes on the rider and manufacturer title double

Sven Blusch, BMW Motorrad Director was enthusiastic to get the season rolling, while to him the pressure is higher, symptomatic of having the prestigious #1 on the fairing of one of their riders, he also expanded on the higher goals the team is striving for.

“It’s a different mindset we have now, from being the hunters, to now being the hunted, so far it feels really good,” said Blusch. “I think if you come in as the Champion you always want to be the Champion again, there’s the Manufacturers’ Championship as well, which we were not able to win last year, and now we are going for sure for both, we are going all-in.”

TITLE DEFENCE: BMW’s take on this season’s opposition

Team Principal, Shaun Muir made clear that while his BMW garage is highly confident in the talent of their riders and team, goals as high as winning both the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ competitions will be no easy task with the other teams they will be facing off against on the track.

“The fuel flow regulation is going to make in impact for everybody, we don’t underestimate the opposition at all, we know the strength of the other manufacturers,” said Muir. “ We know specifically riders like Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro [Bautista] (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) are going to be very strong, so we don’t underestimate our competition and have full respect for their abilities.”

GETTING AN UPGRADE: BMW will compete with a new and improved M1000RR in 2025

Chris Gonschor, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Technical Director illustrated how his team are adjusting to a new bike as well as new regulations and the absence of last year’s superconcessions which his team was granted.

“The 2025 M1000RR benefits from homologations made to the street bike, including six more horsepower, new aerodynamics, a new ferring and new electronics, adding potential for even more improvements.” Said Gonschor “At the end of January, FIM officials are coming to Berlin to fully homologate the bike, and we have no doubt that everything will be sorted, and by Phillip Island we will be ready to race.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) heads into the 2025 campaign as the reigning MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champion and he’s taken the #1 plate for this year as he looks to take his third crown, but also defend it; something he was unable to do afar his 2021 success. Speaking at BMW’s season launch, ‘El Turco’ spoke about aiming to retain his title, a finger injury that’s ruled him out of testing at Jerez next week and more.

BACK TO THE #1: a target on his back…

Razgatligolu ran the #1 plate back in 2022 after securing the 2021 title with Yamaha but relinquished his crown that year as Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took his first Championship, before defending it with the #1 plate in 2023. It’s something Razgatlioglu will aim to do in 2025 as he looks for a third Championship in WorldSBK, and he’s once again opted to put the #1 on his machine for his title defence. The 28-year-old broke several BMW and WorldSBK records in 2024, including the one for most consecutive wins; he won 13 on the bounce, breaking the previous record of 11.

Speaking about the pressure of the #1 and his goals for next year, Razgatlioglu set his sights on more success: “I think everyone likes it like this! When I use the #1, I’m feeling more pressure but normally I don’t like it. I’m using it for BMW because this was a lot of teamwork; finally, we got the title, and we are Champions. The #1 looks nice with the BMW. I hope we keep it at the end of the year, this is the important thing. Last year, I didn’t think about any targets, but I did an incredible job. This year, I’m just thinking about Phillip Island and some races I didn’t win. I need to win now. Especially at Phillip Island, I’ll try to win there. Everyone’s very strong and working hard. I hope we get the title again.”

OUT OF THE JEREZ TEST: finger injury puts him on the back foot?

One story to emerge was an injury to Razgatlioglu’s right index finger, which has ruled him out of the Jerez test which takes place next week, on the 22^nd and 23^rd January. With the Turkish superstar not getting much running on his M 1000 RR at the end of 2024, the Jerez test would have been important to get back into rhythm, understand any upgrades that were installed and ensure he was feeling comfortable on the 2025 machine. However, the #1 is going to miss the two-day test in Spain and revealed he was hoping to be back at Portimao the week after.

Revealing the cause of the injury, and discussing his recovery, Razgatlioglu said: “Now, it’s getting better. Maybe I’ll be at Portimao. If not, for sure, Phillip Island. I crashed with the enduro bike. In the off-season, I’m always riding an enduro bike because I love it but I crashed; it was very small, I don’t understand why my finger is broken. I need time, maybe two weeks or three. I’ll try to come back at the Portimao test.”

2025 RIVALS: namechecking several riders…

Razgatlioglu was taken all the way to the final round in 2024 by rookie sensation Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), while Bulega’s teammate, Alvaro Bautista, has been a constant threat at the front since his return to the Italian manufacturer. While Razgatlioglu reiterated that it’s too early to say who will be fighting at the front, he gave his thoughts on what could be an epic year of racing between him and several riders.

Discussing the fight at the front of the field, ‘El Turco’ said: “Bulega’s first year was amazing; he was very strong in every race weekend. He’ll come back stronger this year. I’m waiting for Alvaro because it looks like he’s started working hard. If he comes back, I think we’re fighting a lot at the front. This is good for people. I think everyone enjoys it a lot. It’s good fighting with more people at the front. It’s not easy to say anything before the season starts because everyone’s very strong.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

WorldSBK is proud to announce that it has obtained ISO 20121 certification for its event sustainability management system. This significant milestone reinforces WorldSBK’s commitment to sustainability and responsible event management, aligning with the values encapsulated in the Racing for the Future group strategy.

ISO 20121 is a globally recognised standard that focuses on improving the economic, environmental, and social impacts of events by implementing a sustainability management system covering design, planning, execution, and reporting of the Championship. The certification process includes a thorough third-party audit and the development of a long-term framework for continuous improvement. IMQ (Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualità), one of the leading certification bodies, carried out the audit for WorldSBK, while sustainability advisors at RIGHT HUB Srl Società Benefit Unipersonale provided guidance and support to Dorna WSBK Organization throughout the process.

This achievement follows Dorna’s successful implementation of the ISO 20121 framework in the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, highlighting a group-wide commitment to embedding sustainable practices across all events managed by the group.

The certification recognises WorldSBK’s efforts to create positive environmental and social impacts through initiatives that include optimising logistics, minimising waste, promoting sustainable procurement, and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders.

Stefano Pacchioli, Dorna WSBK Organization COO, stated: “Achieving ISO 20121 certification is a major milestone for WorldSBK and the entire Dorna family. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to sustainability and our dedication to delivering high-quality events with minimal impact on the environment – it marks a key step in ensuring that WorldSBK events continue to evolve as responsible, impactful, and inspiring platforms for fans, teams, and partners worldwide. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we look forward to continuing to innovate in sustainable event management.”

Source: WorldSBK.com

With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s 2025 season just around the corner, Sam Lowes and the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team hosted their team launch event on January 13^th in Belgium. At the event, the second year WorldSBK rider outlined his expectations for this season, as well as his impressions of WorldSBK compared to his past experience in Moto2™ as he looks to build on a rollercoaster rookie campaign in 2024.

2025 ASPIRATIONS: “I expect from this season to fight as close to the front as I can, obviously top Independent…”

Struggles with injuries and adapting to a new platform hampered Sam Lowes’ rookie season in 2024. The season got off to a tough start before even technically beginning after a nasty high-side crash at free practice three in at Phillip Island, beginning a trend of Lowes fighting through injuries in pursuit of staying in the competition. This offseason however has proven beneficial for him as it has given him time to focus on fully recovering his fitness and to in turn be able to focus on fine-tuning his skills on the back of his Ducati.

“When you’re riding injured, and things aren’t going good it’s a hard moment,” said the #14. “Every rider has the winter, but I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve been feeling good on the bike, so I definitely needed the winter to get healthy. I’m looking forward to getting going and I’m feeling in a better place than last year. I expect from this season to fight as close to the front as I can, obviously top independent. It seems like a big job considering last year, the end was difficult, but we had some good rides, so just to keep improving, improve my run and start adapting to the superbike and fight for the top positions.”

ADAPTING TO WorldSBK: Lowes opens up about his transition from Moto2™ to WorldSBK

Lowes competed for a combined eight years in Moto2™ before transferring to World Superbike while maintaining his partnership with the team he fought for the 2020 title with as the squad moved into WorldSBK. The transition to WorldSBK is a hurdle many riders struggle with, however Lowes, back in full physical health, looks forward to improving from last season.

Speaking on adapting to the Panigale V4 R machine from Moto2™, Lowes said: “Honestly, it’s bigger than I thought, I think now I’ve managed to understand it a lot more and change my way of thinking and training over the winter. The adaptation is going well but I think it needs to go a bit more, and I think when we get into the season with a few different people around me pushing me in a little bit of a different way we can keep going.”

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Lowes speaks on where he most wants to improve

The English rider is confident in his platform’s ability to succeed, and a with his health now back in check, Lowes wants to continue to work on his fluidity and comfort atop the bike to propel him to success in 2025. With this in mind, he opened up about where he aims to find the biggest gains in his sophomore campaign.

He said: “The biggest thing last year was fitness; in the second half of the season I was struggling. My riding style, braking, the way you have to get the maximum from Superbikes especially Ducati, which everyone knows is obviously the best bike, is just to stop the bike better and use the bike’s strong points on the exit.”

Can the Brit make it onto the rostrum in 2025? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

BIMOTA RETURNS: the storied Italian manufacturer back on the grid

bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team will make their long-awaited return to WorldSBK after a 10-year hiatus from the sport, last competing at Laguna Seca in July 2014. The Italian manufacturer will be partnering with Kawasaki to produce the new KB998, which will be ridden by Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani. The bimota by KRT team launch event will be held on February 6^th at 20:00 CET at the Bimota factory in Rimini, Italy.

THREE FOR TOPRAK?: BMW looks to continue last season’s success

ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK will look to keep the ball rolling with their new talisman Toprak Razgatlioglu coming off of a red-hot season which saw him win a record-setting 13 consecutive races. ’El Turco’ has breathed life into a historically wayward BMW team, who now look to record their first ever back-to-back titles. He is joined by teammate Michael Van Der Mark who enjoyed a productive comeback season after being plagued by injuries throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Dutchman secured two podiums, including first place at a wet and wild French Round at Magny-Cours, finishing sixth in the rider championship.The German manufacturer’s team launch will take place in Berlin on January 15^th.

Ducati’s diverse success: The Bolognese manufacturer celebrated their 20^th manufacturer title in 2024

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati had a pleasant surprise in 2024 with the breakout success of rookie Nicolo Bulega, dueling with Toprak throughout the season for first place and finishing second in the rider championship. Two-time champion Alvaro Bautista had a subpar season by his standards despite finishing third in points, the Spaniard had a litany of crashes which hampered his placement in several rounds throughout the season, costing him in the title race. Despite this, race wins by five different riders led Ducati to their 20^th manufacturer’s title. Aruba.it Racing Ducati’s official team launch will be held in Monte San Pietro, Bergamo, Italy on February 11^th.

Ducati independent teams Team GoEleven and Elf Marc VDS Racing Team will look to host their team launches earlier in January. Ducati affiliates Marc VDS Ducati will host their team launch on January 13^th, and GoEleven Ducati will host their team launch in Limone Piedmonte, Italy, on January 17^th. Sam Lowes will return for his second year riding with Marc VDS Ducati, a season in which he showed clear upside however struggled to find his footing with the bike, recording nine DNF’s, more than any other rider on the grid. GoEleven Ducati rider Andrea Ianonne looked in his element in 2024, after a 4-year hiatus from the sport he landed podium finishes five times and finished first at Aragon’s race 1.

Confirmed Team Launch Dates (ongoing):

January 13^th – (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)

January 15^th Berlin, Germany – (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)

January 17^th Limone Piedmonte, Italy – (Team GoEleven)

February 6^th, Rimini, Italy – (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team)

February 11^th, Monte San Pietro, Bergamo, Italy (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

Source: WorldSBK.com

Zaqhwan Zaidi will make his MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship debut in 2025 as he links up with the PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing team. The Malaysian rider brings some Moto2™ experience to the team with a handful of races under his belt, but has predominately made his name with success in Asia. He replaces Adam Norrodin, whose sole WorldSBK season was interrupted by injury, with Zaidi racing alongside Tarran Mackenzie.

ZAIDI JOINS, MACKENZIE STAYS: changes in WorldSBK

WorldSBK rookie Zaidi will join Mackenzie atop MIE Honda’s pair of CBR1000RR-Rs, replacing Mackenzie’s former teammate and fellow Malaysian Norrodin. Zaidi spent the last three racing seasons competing in the Asia Superbike championship, being named champion in 2022, runner-up in 2023, and while landing a sixth-place finish in 2024, his Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA team earned the teams’ championship that year. This championship pedigree coupled with his familiarity with the Honda CBR1000 platform made Zaidi a candidate for the MIE Honda bike alongside Mackenzie, and together the pair will hope to elevate the team to new heights.

Discussing his move to WorldSBK, Zaidi said: “I am definitely excited to announce that I’ll be racing in WorldSBK this season. My goal is to make the most of the experience and push to my limits. It won’t be easy, as the category is very competitive, but I happily accept the challenge and can hopefully achieve my targets and gradually build results.”

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHANGES: MIE Honda welcome Azman

Syarifuddin Azman will be MIE Honda’s newest addition to their pair of riders in World Supersport. The 23-year-old Malaysian rider, dubbed ‘Damok’ by fans, has garnered experience at the world championship level before, having made his debut in a single round of the 2019 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship, as it was known then, before earning a full time position in the competition the subsequent year. Azman began to make a name for himself the next year, in 2021, where he won that competition’s Race 1 in Barcelona. He kept that momentum going in 2022, earning several podiums and finishing overall in fourth place. Last season, in 2024, he competed in Asia Superbike 1000 championship. He raced as part of Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda Racing Team, earning him valuable experience, and he’ll race alongside Kaito Toba in 2025 as he remains with the team for a second campaign.

Looking ahead to his first WorldSSP season, Azman said: “I am really happy to debut in World Supersport with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team. My target for the season will be to gain a lot of valuable experience, considering this is my first year in the category. I will try to understand where and how to improve, race by race, and will work as hard as I can.”

Team Owner Midori Moriwaki discussed the 2025 line-up across both Championships, saying: “I am very happy to announce our new rider line-up for 2025. Each rider brings their own specific experience, and, with this line-up, we continue to develop our talent program. We are confident that we can achieve good results as we move into this new stage and ready ourselves for a fresh challenge. I also take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors for their ongoing support. Rest assured that we will keep going and continue to work hard!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com