Tag Archives: word supersport

“This is my dream when I was a child. When I saw my brother racing in WorldSSP300 and WorldSSP, I wanted to be like him!” – Mahendra becomes Indonesia’s first World Champion

Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) secured the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Sunday afternoon, becoming Indonesia’s first World Champion with sixth place in Race 2. The Indonesian ensured he was in the lead group throughout the 11-lap race, managing to achieve a solid sixth place result at the lightweight class season finale.

MAHENDRA: “I’m the first Indonesian Champion…”

Speaking after his history making race, the 18-year-old said: “I’m really happy. This is my dream when I was a child. When I saw my brother racing in WorldSSP300 and WorldSSP, I wanted to be like him! Finally, I get the opportunity to race here and I can be World Champion… it’s incredible for me and my family. I’m really happy. I’m the first Indonesian World Champion. It’s incredible.”

AN OUTSTANDING YEAR: #57 dominates class

Mahendra needed just four points to secure the title heading into Sunday afternoon’s Race 2, and the Indonesian ensured he was within the top 10 as the riders took to the Spanish circuit. His closest title rival, Dutchman Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) finished one place ahead of the #57 at the chequered flag, but despite his efforts, Mahendra finished the race 21 points clear of the Kawaski rider.

ALDI: “For this season I was never thinking about the championship…”

Speaking about his Championship winning year, Mahendra said: “For this season, I was just doing my best and never thinking about the Championship. Just in this round, I thought too much about it! In Race 2, at Jerez, I was confused. Every rider gave their all. I just kept focused and finally I got the World Championship. For the race, I just tried to not make mistakes. I felt like another rider touched me in one corner and I just tried to focused.”

Follow all the off-season WorldSSP300 news and action using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Razgatlioglu wraps up 2024 with P1, Bulega denied triple with van der Mark on the rostrum

The final race of The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Sunday afternoon for Race 2, and it was newly crowned Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who sealed his remarkable season with a victory. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was aiming for a triple win but was denied it by the #54, as Dutchman Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the final spot on the Spanish podium.

BULEGA LEADS FROM LIGHTS OUT: #11 aimed for hattrick weekend

The second race of the day got underway under clear blue skies at Jerez, and it was Bulega who had the hole shot off the line, closely followed by Razgatlioglu and Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in third. Eager to achieve his first win of the Spanish weekend, the #54 Turkish rider overtook Bulega on lap three into Turn 1, whilst the battle for third spot saw three riders abreast as they battled for a podium result. Van der Mark came out on top as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) hunted him down.

BAUTISTA OUT AGAIN: Spaniard looks ahead to 2025

Andrea Locatelli rode a strong opening race, catching the podium group, however a block pass from Lowes whilst they battled for fourth saw the Italian run out wide onto the track, losing positions, and ending up in sixth on lap four of the race. 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ran wide when fighting within the top six, falling to tenth. He managed to recover as a few laps passed, however then crashed out of contention on lap 10. A near crash for Iannone also at the halfway point saw him demoted to sixth as he clipped the rear tyre of van der Mark whilst attempting to take third position, but both remained upright.

BULEGA V TOPRAK: Rivals close in on final laps

Back at the front and with seven laps of race distance remaining, Bulega found some late race pace and closed the gap on Razgatlioglu, but the #54 proved too strong, with the #11 Ducati rider unable to find a way of getting through to take first position. Iannone managed to recover from his earlier mistake, overtaking into fourth position ahead of Lowes, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and BMW’s Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW).

RED FLAG: Toprak achieves BMW’S first Jerez victory

The 20-lap race was to be unexpectedly cut short with four laps remaining as Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) suffered a technical issue when his bike poured smoke and potential fluid on the track, with the race red-flagged and declared as a full result as more than two-thirds distance had been completed. As a result Razgatlioglu took the win, with Bulega in second and #54’s teammate, van der Mark completing the rostrum. Andrea Iannone led Lowes and Petrucci across the chequered flag to complete the top six, whilst Gerloff and Locatelli claimed seventh and eighth. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Italian Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) completed the top ten for Race 2. Razgatlioglu claims his 57th career win after he was crowned the 2024 title winner on Saturday, and adds to the BMW weekend celebrations as he achieved their first win in Jerez.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.545s
3. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +10.938s
4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +12.399s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +13.522s
6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +13.948s

Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW – 1’39.246s

Championship standings
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 527 points
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 484
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 357
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 316
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 307
6. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 245                                  

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

Source: WorldSBK.com

HISTORY MAKERS: Mahendra secures Indonesia’s first world title with P6 as Julio Garcia takes Kove’s first WorldSSP win

The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship was wrapped up at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) became Indonesia’s first World Champion with sixth place in Race 2, as Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) took Kove’s first victory on the world stage. The Prometeon Spanish Round hosted the final race of the season as history was made in the lightweight class at the season finale.

HOW THE TITLE WAS WON: Mahendra finishes just behind Veneman

Mahendra needed just four points to secure the title in Race 2, and the Indonesian ensured he was in the lead group throughout the 11-lap race. It was unpredictable as ever to end the year as title rival Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) finished one place ahead of the #57, but with the Dutchman needing to win and results to go his way, the title heads to Indonesia in the hands of Mahendra with his P6 finish.

THE RACE WIN: Kove make history

There was also history for race winner Julio Garcia as his last-lap move gave him the advantage ahead of Antonio Torres (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) on the run down to the chequered flag. The #48 was able to resist the replacement rider’s pressure on the long run to the finish line to take his first victory in WorldSSP300, and the first for Chinese manufacturer Kove in the class in their second season. The podium was completed by Torres in second and the other Kove rider, Marc Garcia, as the Chinese brand put two bikes on the podium.

IN THE TOP TEN: ending 2024 on a high

Race 1 winner David Salvador (MS Racing) came home in fourth as he capped off a strong weekend by just missing out on a rostrum, although he did complete Spain’s first 1-2-3-4 since Magny-Cours in 2018. The two title contenders, Veneman and Mahendra, finished in fifth and sixth with Pepe Osuna (DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) in seventh. The Spaniard had crossed the line in eighth but a one-place penalty for Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) for causing a collision at Turn 12 with Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) promoted Osuna into P7. Gennai was taken to the medical centre for a check up and diagnosed with a right hand contusion and left shoulder contusion. Pratama was classified in eighth ahead of Gonzalo Sanchez (Arco Sash Motor University Team) and Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing who completed the top ten. Double Champion Buis had to take a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start, but still secured a top-ten finish.

TAKING POINTS: close to a top ten

Emiliano Ercolani (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) was just 0.035s away from a place in the top ten as he led home a trio of Italian riders. Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) was 12th, a tenth behind Ercolani, while Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) was 13th. Philipp Tonn secured 14th and Humberto Maier (MS Racing) completed the points-paying positions.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Race 2, full results here:

1 Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team)

2. Antonio Torres (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) +0.028s

3. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +0.230s

4. David Salvador (MS Racing) +0.342s

5. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.538s

6. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) +0.545s

Fastest lap: Gonzalo Sanchez (Yamaha) – 1’51.713s, new lap record

Championship standings

1 Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 221 points

2. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) 200

3. Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 163

4. Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) 152

5. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) 132

6. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) 132

Follow all the off-season WorldSSP300 news and action using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

NATIONAL HERO: Mahendra’s path to becoming Indonesia’s first motorcycle racing World Champion

With a round still remaining, the 2024 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship has been wrapped up by Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse), making history by becoming the first ever Indonesian World Champion. A stunning season, headlined by a victory, podiums and staggering consistency, saw him rise to the fore in the closing stages, securing the Championship in dramatic style on Sunday afternoon in WorldSSP300 with P6.

THE EARLY YEARS: who is the wonderkid from Yogyakarta?

Mahendra’s career inside the WorldSBK paddock began in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, after a season racing in the Asian 250cc class. He raced twice there in 2023, taking a podium but in Europe, he was becoming a force to be reckoned with. Despite a slow start to his R3 cup career in terms of results (he was on fire in Superpole, taking pole in the opening two rounds), Mahendra hauled himself into contention in the closing stages with a fantastic run of form, winning five out of the last seven races, retiring in the two he didn’t win. He missed out on the Championship by four points but his name was already being touted as one to watch. He’d already stepped up to WorldSSP300 for two races at Most, storming to victory in just his second race, a sign of things to come for the Indonesian youngster.

2024’s MOVE UP: a full-time addition to WorldSSP300

Then came his full-time graudation to World Supersport 300, where he was instantly impressive, on the podium in the opening round in Barcelona with P2. He was joint Championship leader after the opening round but then came his worst round of the season despite setting a fastest lap in Race 1 and starting from pole in Race 2: Assen. P8 and P11 left him with a point to prove going to Misano and he sure made a point in Italy. P2 in Race 1 saw a return to the podium but it was Race 2 where a final corner pass on the last lap saw him take his first victory of the season.

Mahendra was back in top form after three rounds and next was where he took a career-first win: Most. It wasn’t to be the same in 2024, with eighth place in Race 1 but a podium in Race 2, directly behind main title rivals Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) and Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki). At the halfway point of the season, he was in second, 19 points adrift of the Championship lead. Going into the second half of the year, Iglesias fell apart at Portimao with a double DNF – one due to a crash and the other due to a mechanical, meaning his Championship lead evaporated. It may have been only P6 and P8 for Mahendra compared to Loris Veneman who was 2nd and 4th and he may have slipped to third overall but his consistency meant he was now only 11 points from the top.

HITTING THE FRONT AT THE RIGHT TIME: Magny-Cours brings big points ahead of Aragon match point

As WorldSSP300 hurtled into France and the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Mahendra was right there to take advantage of misfortune all around him. Veneman fell and finished 16th in Race 1 whilst Iglesias crashed on the last lap of Race 2. These results for his rivals, combined with a P2 and P3 for 18-year-old Mahendra, meant that he left France with a 12-point advantage, meaning he was in frame to be Champion at MotorLand Aragon. While he wasn’t able to wrap it up at Aragon, he headed to Jerez with match point. The fight would end up going to Sunday’s Race 2, the final race of the season, before wrapping up the title in the exact fashion you’d expect in WorldSSP300.

Congratulate Mahendra on social media using the hashtag #SelamatAld1 and watch his best moments from 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass – only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

FINAL CORNER DECIDES: Carrasco 2024 World WCR Champion as Herrerra crashes out on last corner

It was a historic day at the the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for Race 2 of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship as the first ever Champion was crowned in the final race of the 2024 season. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) rode an outstanding race to seal the Championship, but it was down to the last corner of the race for it to be decided, as her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) crashed out of contention before the final straight.

HERRERA BATTLES: #6 fights at front in Race 2

11-laps unfolded at the Spanish circuit on Sunday morning, as the paddock took to the track for the final time in 2024. The Spanish fans focused their attention on Spanish rivals Herrera and Carrasco as the lights went out. It was the #6 rider who was strongest from the start of Race 2, as she led the group into the first few sectors ahead of Carrasco and an impressive Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) in third position.

BRIT IMPRESSES: Jones rides strong debut race

Heading into lap two, and it was Championship leader Carrasco who took charge of the race, overtaking into first ahead of Race 1 podium finisher Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Jones in P3. Herrera fell a few positions behind the leading trio, but soon recovered on lap three as she overtook back into second place and hunted down Carrasco. Despite a promising start for Debut rider Jones, after a jump start, she received a Double Long Lap Penalty which resulted in her falling to seventh, yet still within contention with the leading group.

LAST LAP DECIDER: Title goes down to the wire

As the laps passed by, it was Herrera who was leading with just three laps remaining, with Italian rider Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) and Sara Sánchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) chasing her down, with Carrasco in fifth. The excitement grew as the riders entered the final lap of the race, and it was Herrera who took the lead at turn 7 ahead of Sanchez, as the leading group of five rode into the final sectors of the circuit. Maria Herrera had ridden a well strategised race throughout, but it was soon to be unravelled as the pack headed into the final corner, with the #6 clipping the rear tyre of Sanchez and low siding into the gravel, crashing out of the race and the Championship win entirely.

CARRASCO MAKES HISTORY: 2024 champion

The remaining four riders sprinted to the chequered flag and it was Sanchez who stormed to P1, ahead of Neila and the new World Champion Carrasco. Just missing out on a podium spot was Ponziani with Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) taking fifth and Chloe Jones rounding off the top six finishers. Ana Carrasco, the 27-year-old Spanish rider has made history as she becomes the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion, and adds this to her name along with the 2018 Supersport 300 World Championship title. Herrera achieves second in the 2024 Championship standings ahead of Race 2 winner Sanchez who takes third.

The top six from WorldWCR Race 2, full results here:

1. Sara Sánchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team)
2. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.368s
3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.639s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +0.722s
5. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +1.039s
6. Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) +10.927s

Fastest lap: María Herrera – 1’52.020s

Championship standings
1. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) 244 points
2. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) 215
3. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 191
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 172
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) 135
6. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) 112

Congratulate Carrasco on her success using #ANAgain on social media and join the WorldWCR community on  InstagramX and Facebook, whilst watching all races on YouTube!

Source: WorldSBK.com

#ANAgain: Carrasco’s second World Championship secured as she secures inaugural WorldWCR title

The first-ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship has been wrapped up on the final day of the season by Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros. Yamaha Racing Team), seeing her claim a second World Championship but forever in the history books. A remarkable season that saw her finish every single race on the podium, Carrasco demonstrated outright speed coupled with startling consistency, making sure that she had ball in her court in Race 2 at Jerez to bring the #22 home.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: the first test at Cremona

When WorldWCR launched into life at the start of 2024, Carrasco’s name was shining on the entry list and was an instant preseason favourite. The rider from Cehegin in Murcia, Spain, was straight on the pace and finished the two-day test on top. Shrugging off the ‘preseason favourite’ label and remaining focused on the task in hand, Round 1 at Misano was soon on the horizon but with Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Racing) now on the entry lists for a full season, the two heavyweights of women in racing were the clear target and benchmark for the rest of the WorldWCR to aspire to.

CARRASCO VS HERRERA: elbows out from the start

A thrilling battle in the opening race of the Championship at Misano went down to the final lap, where both left it all out there. Contact in the final sector at Turn 14 saw Herrera force her way through ahead of Carrasco and just hold on as they drag-raced to the line; Carrasco was defeated in Race 1 and then P3 in Race 2 but the consistent start and put her right in contention from the start. The next round came from the United Kingdom and Donington Park at the start of July, a venue the 2018 WorldSSP300 Champion knew well from her time in the class, having won there. In 2024’s WorldWCR season, she repeated the achievement in Race 1, notching up a first win of the season before moving on to another battle in Race 2, although this time Herrera beat her in the final lap. However, Carrasco was right in contention as the season approached its halfway point at Portimao. A solid third in Race 1, she was right back in the mix in Race 2 and timed her slipstream to the line to perfection, beating Herrera who was then passed by Sara Sanchez (Terra&Vita 511 Racing Team), helping Carrasco’s title hopes. With six races done out of 12, the #22 was nine points behind Championship leader Herrera.

SECOND HALF OF 2024: luck, timing and raising the bar

Back to where WorldWCR all began, Cremona called for Round 4 and what a round it was. Carrasco lost a further nine points in Race 1 to Herrera who completed a majestic last corner pass, meaning that she was 16 points behind going into the final race of the weekend. However, major drama awaited. Another battle with Maria down the backstraight saw Carrasco deploy all the tactics to get back into contention. She was strong on the brakes but the battle brought Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) and Sanchez into the mix. Sanchez outbraked herself and hit the back of Herrera, taking both of them out of action and leaving the coast clear for Carrasco to take 25 points and become the new Championship leader for the first time. This was a major shift that would remain for the next two races and into the final round of the season. As the paddock ventured to Estoril, Carrasco finished ahead of Herrera in both races to hand her the initiative heading to Jerez. P1 and P2 for Carrasco and P2 and P3 for Herrera meant the #22 held an 18-point advantage going to Jerez, with the title fight going to Race 2. Herrera closed the gap in Race 1, with 13 points between them heading into the final race of the season, and it went down to the wire. A crash for Herrera at the final corner on the final lap meant Carrasco was crowned Champion after a strategic Race 2, where it had looked like, at times, Herrera might steal the title.

Congratulate Carrasco on her success using #ANAgain on social media and join the WorldWCR community on  InstagramX and Facebook, whilst watching all races on YouTube!

Source: WorldSBK.com

BULEGA ON FORM: Ducati rider beats Toprak to P1 in Superpole Race, Lowes claims P3

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was back in action at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Sunday morning for the final Tissot Superpole Race of the 2024 season. Ten laps of the Spanish circuit resulted in the newly crowned World Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) settling for second place behind another impressive ride from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who achieved his second win of the race weekend, as Britain’s Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took the final step on the podium.

BACK-TO-BACK WINS: Bulega looking for triple

All eyes were on Razgatlioglu and Bulega for the morning Superpole Race, and with nothing to lose after claiming the title on Saturday, the #54 was looking to take the win. Both riders were strong from lights out, riding level into the first corner, but it was Bulega who led the field out of the exit of turn one, with Lowes close on their tails. The 28-year-old Turkish rider soon took control however, as he overtook his slowest rival of the year, and moved into first position with nine laps remaining.

HONDAS OUT: Vierge and Lecuona crash

An unfortunate start to the day for the HRC garage as both of their Spanish riders, Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) crashed out of the top ten rankings on turn six on the second lap of the race. Lecuona was taken to the medical centre following the incident and has since been declared unfit for Race 2 with a displaced fracture of his left 5th metatarsal bone.

VICTORY FOR THE #11: Bulega records 11th fastest lap

At half race distance, Bulega found some increased race pace, managing to overtake Razgatlioglu into first position, and soon gapped the BMW rider who was unable to respond. Bulega recorded his eleventh fastest lap in the Superpole Race, putting in a 1’38.528s around the Jerez circuit. The order remained much the same until the final stages of the race, where a last lap battle for a points position between Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Switzerland’s Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), saw the Ducati rider come out on top and claim P9.

BAUTISTA FIGHTS TO P9: #1 beats Aegerter in last-lap fight

With Bulega, Razgatlioglu and Lowes completing the rostrum at the chequered flag, it was a strong rider from Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) who took fourth ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and BMW’s Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in fifth and sixth. #29 rider Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) led Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) over the line to claim seventh and eighth, whilst Alvaro Bautista pipped Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team)  to ninth.

The top six from WorldSBK Superpole Race, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +2.375s
3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.182s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +5.511s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +6.202s
6. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +6.540s
7. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +7.306s
8. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +7.500s
9. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +8.306s

Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’38.528s

Don’t miss the last WorldSBK Race of 2024 at 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Alex Lowes tops final Warm Up of 2024 on emotional day for KRT at Jerez

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s last race day of the season has got underway with Warm Up, where it was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who managed to top the timesheets on Provec Racing’s last day as the official Kawasaki team. An emotional day for many riders and teams up and down the paddock, there’ll be plenty of aims to finish 2024 with a flurry.

Lowes topped the timesheets and was looking comfortable with a handful of laps to get him in the groove for 2024 whereas it was newly-crowned World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who was sitting in P2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who is now confirmed in P2 for the Championship standings, was third as he looks to add to Saturday’s win. Completing the top five were Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), both aiming for a strong end to difficult 2024 seasons.

Sixth place went the way of Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) as he embarks on the final day as a BMW and Bonovo Action team rider before his switch to Puccetti Kawasaki for 2025. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was ahead of home-hero Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), whilst the best Honda was Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in P9. Completing the top ten was Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), just ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), who looks set to start his last day as a WorldSBK rider and sign off with an impressive result.

Top six after Warm Up, full results here:

1 Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’39.261
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.010s
3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.547s
4. Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.556s
5. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.615s
6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.667s

Get ready for the final day of action and 2025 with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Redding stays with rebranded MGM Bonovo team, team to field one Ducati in 2025

Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) has his future in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship secure. The British rider will stay with his current team which will rebrand to MGM Bonovo, while the team will switch from BMW to Ducati machinery in 2025. It’s a return to the bike Redding made his debut on in 2020 and was a consistent podium challenger while also scoring several wins as he fought for the title.

REDDING’S WorldSBK HISTORY: success on Ducati

The announcement means Redding will return to the Panigale V4 R where he enjoyed much of his success in WorldSBK. The #45 made his WorldSBK debut in 2020 on the Ducati machine with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad and took that year’s title fight to the wire. He secured 14 podiums and five wins in 24 races in his maiden campaign, taking then-Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) to the final round of the season in the title fight but ultimately came up short.

He was again a front runner with the factory Ducati outfit in 2021 as then-Yamaha star Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) mixed it at the front with the top riders on a consistent basis. Seven wins and 23 podiums came as he finished third in the Championship in his final season with the factory Ducati team, as Razgatlioglu lifted the Championship title for the first time.

SHOCK MOVE TO BMW: rostrums harder to find for Redding

After missing out on the title in both 2020 and 2021, Redding made a big move to BMW as he looked to take the German manufacturer to the top of WorldSBK. He secured rostrum finishes in his first season with the Bavarian brand, but a win eluded him at the factory BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team squad. His three podiums came at Donington Park, Most and Magny-Cours, with a best of P2 at the latter, which remains his final podium to date.

He stayed for a second season in 2023 although results were even harder to come by for the 31-year-old. He finished 14th in the Championship standings with a best of P4 at Most, a circuit where the BMW was traditionally strong in the Brit’s hands. For 2024, he stayed on the M 1000 RR machine but with the Bonovo Action BMW squad which was given factory status by BMW. He was partnered with America’s Garrett Gerloff, and it was the #31 who took the team’s first pole – at Magny-Cours last year – and podiums at Magny-Cours and Aragon this year.

2025 PLANS: same team, different bike

Redding will remain with the team in 2025 as they rebrand to MGM Bonovo. Current Team Owner Jurgen Roder will step away from his current role but will sponsor the team, whose current Team Manager, Michael Galinski, will assume the role of Team Owner. The team will switch to a one-rider outfit, with Redding leading their charge, as they switch to the Panigale V4 R for 2025, with Redding the sole rider of the team’s Ducati machine.

REDDING SAYS: “I am very happy to continue racing with MGM Bonovo in World Superbike”

Discussing his new contract and return to Ducati, Redding said: “I have ended my collaboration with BMW at the end of the 2024 season, which I expressly regret. My team is dealing with the resulting consequences, I am focusing on the season finale. The course has been set for the 2025 season. I am very happy to continue racing with MGM Bonovo in World Superbike and will approach this project with great motivation.”

GALINSKI GIVES HIS THOUGHTS: “Starting with a special motivation… excited to see what our new adventure will bring us”

New Team Owner Galinski added: “We would of course like to thank BMW for the last four years. With many ups and downs, we will especially remember 2023, which we finished as the best BMW team. That will also be remembered for a long time. Nevertheless, we are now going separate ways, but we always keep looking forward. Every time one door closes, another one opens, and we are happy to announce that we are changing partners and going to Ducati. We have been warmly welcomed there and in Scott we will have a rider we have known for a long time.

“I think we are starting with a special motivation, as he celebrated his greatest successes on Ducati and certainly wants to build on that. We in the team are really happy that Jurgen Roder is continuing to support us: as a sponsor, as an advisor and now also as a friend. The situation will change now that I am the Team Owner, but Jurgen Roder will continue to support us. We are now looking forward to next season. We have downsized and are a one-rider team again, just like we started out, but we are still really looking forward to it and are excited to see what our new adventure will bring us.”

Watch the season finale at Jerez using the WorldSBK VideoPass – only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

KEY BMW PERSONELL ON RAZGATLIOGLU: “I think he’s a true World Champion!”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the 2024 title with second place at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in Race 1 and has secured BMW’s first ever WorldSBK Title win. Discussing his title win after Race 1, Razgatlioglu said: “Nobody believed me or the BMW, but finally they understand we’re World Champions. This is incredible, especially with BMW; they’ve never won the title. Finally, I got my second title and BMW got their first!”

Bongers: “Nobody could have thought this scenario…it’s absolutely magnificent…”

A switch to BMW for the 2024 season shocked many but it was a catalyst for Razgatlioglu to take his second title. Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director, commented on the occasion saying: “The target was, when we signed Toprak for a multi -year deal, we said, okay, the target is to win a couple of races in the first year and take the championship the second year…for sure nobody could have thought this scenario.”

101 YEARS OF BMW MOTORRAD: 2024 marks a momentous year

The #54 Turkish rider sealed the title win with a solid P2 on Saturday afternoon behind close rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) as Ducati claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship for the year. Bongers spoke emotionally about the team and the importance of family support in contributing to his role at BMW: “It’s terribly emotional to be honest, my wife, kids, they support me all the way through. As you know this has been really emotional because we’ve had really tough areas, we all sacrifice a lot.” He added: “I’ve been in this project for ten years. Sometimes we are our own biggest opponents. I’ve carried this project through, we’ve had an impressive crew, an impressive team, and support from my family. It’s hard, but it’s nice…we are going to part and we will party big.”

Marron: “The guys working in factory and trackside are incredible…”

Phil Marron, Razgatlioglu’s Crew Chief at BMW said it will be a week or two before the title success will sink in; “Obviously it means the world to us, it’s an incredible achievement. I’m fortunate enough to work alongside Toprak. The guys working back in the factory and trackside are incredible, some clever ideas and geniuses in the box. The results speak for themselves.”

The BMW crew chief who has worked with Toprak for many years said he started believing the title was within grasp from the Catalunya and Misano rounds, and has believing in the Turkish rider from his early days: “He was a rough diamond; this is pretty special.”

Muir: “It’s not about me, anyone in particular, it’s about a team effort…that’s what I’m proud of…”

Shaun Muir, Team Principle for (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was overjoyed with the title result after Race 1: “It’s unbelievable, I’m super proud of this moment. It’s been a long hard struggle, not without its problems. You’ve seen this emotion in the paddock and everybody we’ve put together in this team, it’s not built overnight. When the project started in 2019, I think there’s only 10 personal who were with us from then to now, every year we’ve improved, and become a stronger, more credible team and that’s taken us to where we are today.

Praising the 28-year-old rider, Muir discussed his personality that has contributed to him becoming the 2024 World Champion: “Toprak has a steely determination that I have never ever seen in another rider in all my years I’ve been running a race team. The determination that you’ve got not only to compete at the highest level but to only accept a win, and his opinion, he’s not at the top yet… he’s got a lot more to do.”

Van der Mark: “Just incredible the way he’s been riding… I think he’s a true World Champion”

Teammate Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), affectionately known as ‘Abi’ by Razgatlioglu, gave his thoughts on his good friend winning the title. He said: “I think it’s been an incredible journey. For me, when he signed for BMW, it showed he trusted the project but also BMW were pushing even harder. They had a tough couple of year where results weren’t coming easy. This year, everything seem to come together; not just Toprak, but all BMW’s are getting stronger. He’s had a fantastic season, just incredible the way he’s been riding; so fast with almost no crashes. I think he’s a true World Champion. Really happy to be part of this journey. We’ve come a long way. Had some tough years but we kept working and improving and we’ve seen a very happy World Champion.”

Get ready for 2025 and Toprak’s title defence with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com