The sun’s set on the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, but it’s also already rising on the 2024 campaign. Just days after Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was crowned Champion for the second consecutive year, teams and riders are back in action at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for the first off-season test of the year and it will be one of the most important ones. With new regulations coming in for next year, and a whole host of rider line-up changes, this test could be one of the most fascinating to keep an eye on.

FIRST LOOK AT REA IN BLUE: six-time Champion makes Yamaha debut

Following his shock move to the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK squad for 2024, Jonathan Rea will make his debut with the team at the Jerez test. He spent nine seasons with the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK and Yamaha will become the third manufacturer he has competed for. His works gets underway straight away with the team, linking up with his new team including former teammate Andrew Pitt as his crew chief from Tuesday. Rea will be the only Pata Yamaha rider on track, with Andrea Locatelli not testing. The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team are keeping the same line-up for next season, with Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner staying, and they will also test this week. At GMT94 Yamaha, Brad Ray has been drafted in to test for the team, with his usual Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team not at the season finale, while his future is still up in the air.

IANNONE’S RETURN: ‘The Maniac’ is back on track

Andrea Iannone’s future was a long-rumoured topic, but it was announced that he would compete with Team GoEleven and his first appearance with the team will be at the Jerez test. After four years away from competition, ‘The Maniac’ will return to World Championship level in WorldSBK next year on an Independent Panigale V4 R, but his first outing with the team comes as soon as Tuesday when he jumps on the bike at Jerez.

BASSANI’S FACTORY TEAM DEBUT: first time for the #47 at KRT

With Rea’s move to Pata Yamaha, an opening came up at the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK squad. This was filled by Axel Bassani, who moves across from Motocorsa Racing to join a factory team for the first time. His debut in green will be at the test as he tries the ZX-10RR for the first time. He’ll be joined by new teammate Alex Lowes, with the Brit remaining with the team heading into the 2024 campaign.

A NEW FACE AT DUCATI: Bulega joins the double Champion

Alvaro Bautista’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) celebrations are on hold – temporarily, at least – so he can test. He said on Thursday that some of the test will be dedicated to the new 2024 regulations, albeit not with a full ’24 machine, and he will be joined by his new teammate for the first time. Nicolo Bulega was announced as a factory Ducati rider for 2024 and the reigning WorldSSP Champion will debut with the team for the first time, although it’s not his first time on the Panigale V4 R. The 23-year-old discusses what he expects from 2024 in a special Champion interview, which you can watch here.

REDDING’S FIRST APPEARANCE WITH BONOVO: a new start for the Brit

Scott Redding stays with BMW but switches to the Bonovo Action BMW team from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team squad, and his first appearance with the Independent outfit will be at the Jerez test. The #45 will be alongside new teammate Garrett Gerloff on the M1000RR, with the American in imperious form right now. The factory BMW team are saving their first test for December, when Toprak Razgatlioglu will join Michael van der Mark at Portimao and then Jerez. Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing Manager, Andrea Dosoli, explained before the Spanish Round why the #54 won’t test before then.

MOTOCORSA WITH RINALDI: a new home for the Italian

His move to Motocorsa Racing was announced on Monday, and on Tuesday Michael Ruben Rinaldi will make his debut with the team. After losing his factory ride to Bulega, the #21 went in search of a new seat and stuck with familiarity, while also making a change. He’ll keep riding the Panigale V4 R machine but with the Independent Motocorsa Racing outfit, aiming to repeat the good times he enjoyed the last time he was on an Independent V4 R.

Follow all the latest interviews, news and reactions from the test using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The last chapter of the year is in the books; the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s 2023 season came to a dramatic close and it got the classic head-to-head it deserved. The debriefs were awash with stories from the epic battle and the farewells within teams, making these hot headlines from Jerez muy picante!

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “To beat Toprak, you have to attack; you can’t defend… one of the best races in WorldSBK”

Champion on Saturday, Bautista spoke of the fight for title #2 all season: “Toprak congratulated me and I said to him, ‘thanks’ because he had an amazing season. With the numbers I have this season, 25 victories, he still kept the Championship alive until the last round. That means he had an incredible performance. He didn’t make mistakes. To have a rival like him is always difficult because you cannot make mistakes, you can’t relax in some races and lose some points because, this year, every chance I had to try and fight for victory, I tried until the end because I knew that maybe five points here or there, in the end, to beat Toprak, you have to attack. You can’t defend. This year, I never thought about being conservative. Otherwise, Toprak is always there. It’s incredible to have a rival like him because he keeps you focused on the season; you cannot relax anytime. I congratulated him because he did amazing and thanks for all the show me and him put on.”

Then, the epic Race 2 battle which saw over 30 overtakes between himself and Razgatlioglu: “I like to win without penalties but it’s a rule that everybody knows. Anyway, I’m not happy for the win, I’m happy for the race. We battled really hard, and we did everything. We were aggressive but correct, respecting each other, I think it’s one of the best races in WorldSBK! It’s even better than Portimao Race 2. At Portimao, the overtakes were in one corner, then the next lap the same corner. Here, it didn’t matter which corner! Normally, I ride by keeping a margin of risk. I didn’t have this problem so I could ride like I wanted. I tried many passes, tried defending and tried attacking without caring about whether I made a mistake. In the fight, he had more chance to win the battle because the way he made the corner, for the battle, is better. Maybe for performance, it’s not, but for the battle, his way to do the corner is better.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “We need to improve; it’s why I’m going to BMW… I think there’ll be many wins”

Reflecting on his final season in blue, Toprak Razgatlioglu summed up the immense battle with Bautista: “At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t really strong. Alvaro was always strong especially at the beginning, winning many races. We kept fighting with him. I’m happy everything finished in the last round. In general, I enjoyed a lot this year. I’m always focused on winning the Championship, but I finished in second. I’m sad for this but everybody could see I tried more than 100% every race. I enjoyed today. We are fighting, just sometimes you need luck.”

Ahead of his BMW move, he stated that there could be “many wins” in 2024: “We need to improve; it’s why I’m going to BMW. To try to improve and start to fight again with Alvaro and maybe Jonny. I’m still young, we’re always learning. This year, I was learning how to fight a strong rider, a fast bike and I learnt. I hope next year, we improve the bike. I have more power. I’m riding like a Yamaha style; I think there’ll be many wins. I just need to ride like my style, and this is very important for me.”

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “It’s not the ending we deserved”

It really was a story of what could have been for Jonathan Rea, who crashed out of the lead in his final race for Kawasaki: “Off the lights, I thought ‘f**king hell, this is feeling good.’ The bike with different margins, I just overstepped it a bit at Turn 2. The bike got a little bit squirrely going in and instead of just relaxing the front brake and blowing the corner a bit, I really committed to make the corner with a lot of angle and down I went. It’s not the ending we deserved. I wanted to finish in the right way. Three laps after I crashed, I saw Guim on the pitwall and he was signalling to me something but I didn’t know if I was to come in or stay out! I pictured it finishing with a podium; that would have been nicer but then I wouldn’t have had the moment in pitlane with all the staff.”

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “We never let the bad talk get inside the group”

The journey in factory red is over but Michael Ruben Rinaldi is upbeat regardless: “For me, as an Italian rider, being in the factory Ducati team is special. These three years were amazing for me. I want to thank the Aruba team and Ducati because, even if there were some bad moments, we were a team and we faced that as a team. We never let the bad talk get inside the group. It was really helpful for me to improve as a person and as a rider.”

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll watch the fight between Toprak and Alvaro’… no room at the party for me!”

With a perfect view of the fight for victory, Danilo Petrucci spoke about how he couldn’t quite get on terms with Bautista or Razgatlioglu: “A top five is always good when you have the chance to see the fight between Toprak and Alvaro so close, but you can’t start the first lap in 11^th or 12^th place. Today, I pushed as much as I could and I faster than in the Superpole Race. I did three or four laps in the 1’40s to get back to the top three, but when I got there, I said, ‘maybe now I’ll watch the fight between Toprak and Alvaro. I thought it might have been a good day but when I got there, there was no room at the party for me.”

Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team): “Toprak did an amazing job with how he fought with Bautista”

A double podium on Sunday – the first Swiss rider to achieve a rostrum in WorldSBK – Dominique Aegerter spoke of the titanic fight: “The emotion was from hungry to disappointed and 30 minutes later, I was very happy! It’s not so easy on a Sunday to keep focus. It’s hard and we achieved our best result in WorldSBK, so I’m very happy. I don’t know what the problem was. We didn’t have time to check it. I was thinking about the podium in the Superpole Race, but I didn’t know if it counted as a real podium or not! A podium is a podium, but I wanted to do it again in the long race. We had a great pace. Jonny and Toprak went, I think, too fast for this long race in the first five laps. I was close to Bautista, and he didn’t have the confidence; he made some small mistakes. I was not sure if I should overtake him or not. Toprak did an amazing job with how he fought with Bautista.”

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing): “I lost fifth in the Championship… I’m not happy for that”

Despite taking the Best Independent Riders’ title, Axel Bassani couldn’t hold on to P5 in the standings: “Three guys tried to put me down! Gardner, Michael and Gerloff. But we won the Independent Riders’ title with a really difficult weekend. I finished Race 2, so I’m happy for that. For sure, before this weekend, my goals were to finish in the top five in all three races and it didn’t happen. I’m not happy. I lost fifth in the Championship after 35 races where I was in that position. I’m not happy for that, but I’m happy for best Independent rider and also the team as we’ve won it two years in a row. Three years I’ve been alone in the box. I think everything will be different for 2024 because I’ll have a teammate; for me, this is strange! I’m really happy to go with Kawasaki, a really good team. Jonny was doing good races so I think we can do a good job.”

2024 AWAITS: enjoy back all the classics from seasons gone by and gear up for next year with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

All eyes in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship have turned to 2024 already. With new regulations coming into force for next year, the off-season tests will be crucial in getting everything right before racing resumes. The 2024 Australian Round kicks off the season in late February but there will be plenty of track action before then as teams use their test days.

The first test comes days after the 2023 season concluded. With the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto hosting the season finale, several teams have opted to stay in Spain to complete two days of testing on October 31^st and November 1^st. It’ll be the first look at 2024, with Jonathan Rea at the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team, Andrea Iannone with Team GoEleven as he returns to competition next year and Nicolo Bulega’s first public appearance with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad.

A few weeks later and Jerez hosts another two-day test on November 22^nd-23^rd, before Portimao gets involved at the start of December. Toprak Razgatlioglu will make his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team debut at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on December 4^th, joined by Michael van der Mark, before the team head to Jerez for two testing days straight after on the 5^th and 6^th.

There’s a bit of time off for everyone before, once again, venturing to the south of Spain and the iconic Jerez circuit. This time, the dates are January 24^th and 25^th for the test as it takes place just a month before the start of the season. Then, a few days later, there’s another two-day outing but this time at Portimao, taking place on January 29^th-30^th.

Of course, before the 2024 Australian Round, there’s an Official Test at the historic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, which takes place for WorldSBK and WorldSSP teams on February 19^th-20^th before the season starts on February 23^rd-25^th.

Confirmed testing dates

October 31^st-November 1^st – Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

22^nd-23^rd November – Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

December 4th – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve

December 5th-6^th – Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

January 24^th-25^th – Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

January 29^th-30^th – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve

February 23^rd-25^th – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Keep up to date with all the latest news and reactions from off-season testing using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Round 10 of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will feature racing across three series: WorldSBK, WorldSSP, and the FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship. A five-year contract was signed between the Lombard circuit and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), which secures their place in the Championship from 2024 to 2028. It was designed by Jarno Zaffelli’s Studio Dromo, which has a reputation for its work on prominent racetracks.

Located just south of Milan, Cremona Circuit is now set to undergo the homologation process and is actively preparing for this significant event by implementing several important modifications and improvements, including:

• Track Layout Enhancements: Changes to the layout of the track, with a notable focus on turns #11, #12, and #13.
• High-Quality Resurfacing: Refurbishing specific areas of the track with quality materials to enhance the track’s condition.
• Track Length Extension: An extension of approximately 90 meters to the track’s length to enrich racing dynamics.
• Spectator Facilities Expansion: Construction of new grandstands and public areas to accommodate the ever-growing WorldSBK fan base
• Modern Race Direction Facilities: The addition of a contemporary structure to house offices for Race Direction and support staff to manage the entirety of the event effectively.

Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director, said: “WorldSBK is thrilled to introduce Cremona Circuit to the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The addition of Cremona to our calendar marks a significant milestone and we’re fully committed to delivering top-quality racing experiences to our fans. This five-year agreement stands as a clear testament to that unwavering dedication as we’re looking forward propelling this venue onto the global scene.”

Alessandro Canevarolo, Cremona Circuit CEO added: “We are really happy, excited and hyped for this new great challenge. It will be an opportunity to take an extra, important step to grow, and with great satisfaction bring back the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to Lombardy, missing for ten long years. After some negotiations, we immediately got to work to make the necessary changes for hosting this major event. Together with the management, the goal is to create an event that can showcase the area, the region and represent Italy in all its values. The goal has been clear ever since I started this adventure eight years ago. We started from afar, facing every moment with great spirit, passion, and dedication. Only in this way were we able to fulfil the big dream: seeing the Superbike World Championship race on the asphalt of our Cremona Circuit.”

2023 might be in the history books but 2024 starts soon: follow the off-season action using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season concluded at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and, after, the paddock headed to the gala to celebrate this year’s winners and Champions. From the three Riders’ Champions to the award victors, success was on show at this special event. Check out incredible pictures from the prize giving gala in the gallery at the top of this article!

2023 is over but 2024 starts straight away: get all the latest interviews and highlights from the Jerez test using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

While the focus of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s visit to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto was on the title battle and emotional farewells, one rider was quietly making a small bit of history. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) had been threatening to have a weekend full of good results all season and he was finally able to put it together during the Prometeon Spanish Round as he took second in the Tissot Superpole Race and third in Race 2.

The #77 was strong in the build-up to the races and took a front row start in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session, but he was unable to convert that in Race 1 due to a technical problem. It looked like the Tissot Superpole Race had gone the same way when his primary bike suffered an engine blowout, causing a red flag, but the Swiss star was able to take to the track on his second machine and finished in second for his first WorldSBK podium.

In Race 2, the double World Supersport Champion started from the front row, and he was able to go with the leaders as they battled it out for victory, finishing just a few tenths away from Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). He had dropped behind the charging Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) but the #21 fell back in the latter stages of the race, promoting Aegerter back into third.

Looking back on his weekend, Aegerter said: “It was amazing to finally take my first WorldSBK podium. We worked very hard with all the crew and team; they did a fantastic job. It wasn’t such an easy season. We started quite well, then I had some problems with arm pump, got crashed out and my shoulder was painful for a long time. This morning when I was second, it was a big pressure released. I was close to Bautista, and, at one point, I was thinking that maybe I could close the gap! I said I wanted to take my first podium and finally I got it. It was very emotional.

“Bautista and Razgatlioglu are very experienced. Me also, but not in WorldSBK. I think you could see that many tracks we went to this year, it was difficult to set up the bike with all the electronics than at tracks we already tested at. We were here at the start of the season, so we started at a higher level. To fight with them in Race 2 was fantastic. It was nice to see them fighting, I didn’t really want to make a strange mistake, because I enjoyed the battle!”

2023 is over but 2024 starts soon! Keep up to date with videos, interviews and highlights from the Jerez test using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) said goodbye to his team in style on Sunday at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The Turkish star claimed fourth in the Tissot Superpole Race and was part of an epic Race 2 battle with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) which will live long in the memories of everyone who witnessed it, with a post-race penalty the only thing that could stop Razgatlioglu from leaving Yamaha with a victory. With the #54 joining BMW in 2024, he wanted to leave Yamaha on a high and he was able to do so during the Prometeon Spanish Round.

A SUNDAY TO REMEMBER: Razgatlioglu plays his part as 2023 comes to a close

After finishing second in Race 1 after starting from seventh, the 2021 Champion started Sunday by topping the Warm Up session by a tenth ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). He again had to start from the third row for the Tissot Superpole Race, with Razgatlioglu making gains in the early stages but unable to take a podium. He would finish fourth – his first non-podium finish of the season – but that gave him a platform for Race 2 which would turn into one of the best ever races.

In Race 2, Razgatlioglu battled with Bautista throughout with the #54 always able to respond to his rival’s attacks and challenges. The Yamaha star thought he’d been able to sign off from Yamaha with victory, but a post-race penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap on the exit of Turn 13 demoted the #54 to second. After an incredible race, the 2021 Champion was visibly emotional in parc ferme, and those emotions continued as he reflected on an unforgettable race.

HIS VIEW ON THE RACE: “Everybody could see I gave more than 100%, just like at Portimao”

Discussing the battle with Bautista, he said: “I passed the chequered flag in P1, this is good for me. I touched the green for track limits, but I didn’t understand as I felt the bike sliding. Maybe, after sliding, I touched it. I didn’t gain an advantage, but rules are rules. For my last day with Yamaha, I just tried to finish in a good position. I needed to try to have good memories of my last race and winning with Yamaha. I’m a little bit sad, but I did a very good job. I gave more than 100% just like at Portimao; I am really fighting with him. I needed some luck because, in the last two races, I didn’t have luck. I’m sad but generally happy for my last race with Yamaha, because everybody could see I gave more than 100%.”

THE RAZGATLIOGLU-YAMAHA PARTNERSHIP CONCLUDES: four seasons, 100 podiums, 37 wins, one World Championship

The chequered flag at the end of Race 2 brought to an end a four-season partnership between the Turk and Yamaha. He joined in 2020 and started his stint at Yamaha with victory in Australia, before several podiums and ending the year back on top with two wins at Estoril. For 2021, the #54 became a consistent podium finisher and race winner to take the title in stunning fashion. He was unable to defend his title the next year or reclaim it in 2023 as Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) won both but he took the title fight to the final round in both seasons. During his time at Yamaha, Razgatlioglu recorded 100 podiums in 131 races and took 37 wins as well as the 2021 World Championship.

SAYING GOODBYE: “I feel like Yamaha are a family… I’m sad because this is the last race”

Looking back on an incredible four seasons with Yamaha, Razgatlioglu said: “Thanks to my team because, after four years, I feel like Yamaha are like a family. Next year, I’ll go to a different brand, but I’ll still respect Yamaha because we have very nice memories: many wins, we are the World Champions after a long time. Yamaha are very important to me. Not just Yamaha, but the whole team, all the guys. I really enjoyed working with these guys for the last four years, especially in the last two years. 2021, after we are World Champions, I’m feeling warmer. I will always respect Yamaha, especially the team. Everybody tried their best. This weekend, everyone from Yamaha was here and they came to see me in the last race. I’m very happy for this. I’m sad because, after four years, this is the last race and next year we are not together. Maybe we will work together again.”

2023 is over, 2024 starts soon: follow all the news and delve into the archives using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

On the 3rd November, 2014, one of WorldSBK’s biggest announcements was made; Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) moved to KRT and would finally be able to showcase his potential after many years with Honda never quite produced a title charge. Nearly nine years to the day, the partnership has reached the end. Six titles, 104 wins and countless memories later, Rea signed off his KRT chapter with a solid showing at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto – the same venue in which the first of six consecutive titles were secured – feeling like the KRT era as come full circle for the #65. A special helmet was unveiled for his final day aboard the ZX-10RR and what an emotional rollercoaster it was.

THE FINAL GREEN DAY: Rea’s Kawasaki farewell as it happened

After a fourth place on the grid was backed up with a fourth place in Race 1, Rea was fired up for a podium charge in the Superpole Race. Again, going from fourth place, the ten-lap battle offered arguably the best opportunity for him to get his ZX-10RR inside the top three or even fight for victory, considering he was right up behind 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) on Lap 1 in Race 1. He was fighting for a podium with long-time rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in which the two exchanged positions some seven times in three laps, eventually going the way of the #65.

When Race 2 burst into life, emotions were in full swing – the final hurrah in green. Rea blasted into the lead and began pulling away from his rivals; it seemed like it would be a vintage-style win for the perfect end to his time with Kawasaki. However, a crash at Turn 2 on Lap 5 meant that the dream closure was now over. Determined as ever, Rea remounted but there would be no points on offer, not the way he nor his KRT outfit deserved to mark the end of nine record-breaking years. Finishing 17t at the flag, Rea was received with an enormous reception in front of his Kawasaki box, with his crew and family both sharing a moment.

IN HIS WORDS: “We didn’t go down without a fight… it’s been a whirlwind journey”

Talking about his final race in Kawasaki colours, Rea said: “Strange feelings overall to be honest, not from a performance or results side but because I’m leaving an incredible team. My last day in green and that’s what is strange. Obviously, not the result I wanted to finish off with for my team, they deserved a lot better. What we did prove was that the Ninja ZX-10RR still has potential and up until that point of the race, I felt quite in control with a really good rhythm. There were times when I was like ‘ooof, I’ve got a magic tyre’! The bike was hooking up well and going forwards. Pere made a bold decision to make an incredible change, something quite big on the bike that we wanted to try. We didn’t go down without a fight and it was really frustrating to lose the front. Potentially, I could have just gave up the corner a bit, I was a bit fast on entry but I tried to pull it down and with too much lean angle, I was down.

“I wanted to finish the race as it would be too easy to pull in. My footpeg had broken off and my handlebar bent forward but I was still able to lap in the 1’41s. It makes me even more disappointed with what could’ve been but that was our race. It sums up the highs and lows we’ve had this year; some incredible highs but difficult moments but it can’t darken the moments I’ve had at KRT. It’s been a whirlwind journey and something I’ll never forget.”

REFLECTION AND FORWARD THINKING: one chapter closes, another one beckons

“It’s been an incredible partnership,” said a reminiscent Rea. “I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the team and on track or off track, they’ve been fantastic. They have had my back in tougher moments and supported me in the great days, so the consecutive winning might continue in the future but it was like living a dream for six years and going to work, risking our life, putting everything on the line but it was fun. It was fun with these people with a great manufacturer and I wish them all the best in the future with the effort and attention that they put in.”

Talking about what is next, Rea now has the mental space to look ahead into 2024 with Yamaha: “It’s something I can start to think about now; of course, before, my focus was completely with Kawasaki until the very last lap of the race but now, I can allow myself to think about the next chapter but before we do that, I want to enjoy this time. I’m going to have a great team dinner tonight with all my crew and it’s not goodbye. These people are my friends and will be around forever. We’ll be neighbours next year; they have some really nice hospitality so I hope I’m still invited for dinner.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed a Prometeon Spanish Round hat-trick but he was made to work very hard for it as Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) did everything he could to bid farewell to Yamaha with one more victory. Nothing could separate the top two in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship standings at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, with the #54 demoted one place for a track limits infringement despite crossing the line in first after he and Bautista scrapped it out in Spain.

ONE OF THE BEST RACES… EVER? Bautista, Razgatlioglu say goodbye to 2023 in stunning fashion

Bautista initially got away well when the 20-lap race got underway, but his lead lasted only five corners as six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) forced his way through into the lead, looking to end his Kawasaki career on a high note. The #1 was in second but he ran wide at Turn 2 on Lap 2 which allowed Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) into P2 in the early stages.

However, Rea’s fairytale ended turned into a nightmare on Lap 5. He lost the front of his ZX-10RR into Turn 2 and crashed, dropping all the way down to 23^rd and last; handing the lead to the #54 with double Champion Bautista, using a special yellow livery on his Panigale V4 R, into second. The 2021 Champion held a lead of just over a second although the #1 was hunting him down towards the end of the first half of the race.

From Lap 11, the gap between them was consistently reducing before one of the best races ever. On Lap 12, Bautista attempted a move on the inside of Turn 13 but the #54 was able to cut back and keep his lead. On Lap 14, Bautista got through at Turn 1 but ran wide at the Turn 6 right-hand hairpin, allowing the Turk back through. Through the right-handers towards the end of the lap, the two rivals were exchanging positions, with Razgatlioglu able to hold the lead ahead of the double Champion.

The race continued to ignite with the pair fighting into Turn 6, Bautista getting the run on the straight with the Turkish star responding on the brakes. Later on that lap, at Turn 13, Bautista looked for a move on the inside before the Yamaha cut back to stay ahead on the start-finish straight, before a similar move on Lap 17. A lap later and the Spaniard tried a different move. He looked to outbrake the 2021 Champion at Turn 1, but ran wide which allowed third-placed Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) to close in. It was a similar move on Lap 19 but again, he ran wide, setting up a last-lap showdown.

The Yamaha rider was leading throughout the final lap but his rival, once again, tried a move up the inside of the final corner. Razgatlioglu cut back to retake the lead and crossed the line in first, but he was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap, on the exit of Turn 13, which allowed Bautista to take his 59^th win in WorldSBK, moving him level with Carl Fogarty. Razgatlioglu’s second place gave him his 100^th podium for Yamaha in his final race with the manufacturer in his 131^st race. In third was Swiss rookie was Aegerter, who was just three tenths away from victory, but still took his second podium of the season with third.

GRT YAMAHA FINISH STRONGLY: P3 and P4 for them, Petrucci top Independent in Race 2

GRT Yamaha ended the season on a massive high. Two podiums on the final day of 2023 season kept their podium streak going since they joined WorldSBK, while teammate Remy Gardner missed out on his first podium by just a second behind his teammate in Race 2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was fifth ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in sixth. The #21 had been in the podium fight but dropped down the order in the second half of the race, eventually finishing more than three seconds down on ‘Petrux’.

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED: Aruba.it Ducati win it on countback…

Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was seventh and only eight seconds away from Bautista after 20 laps after completing yet another strong weekend as he searches for a 2024 seat. The German was ahead of Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in eighth while stablemate Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) took ninth. The American had crossed the line in tenth, but a post-race penalty for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) meant the Italian was demoted to P10. The penalty proved crucial in the outcome of the Teams’ Championship. Both Aruba.it Ducati and Pata Yamaha finished tied on 879 points, but the title went to the Ducati team due to having more feature-length wins.

ENDING 2023 IN THE POINTS: Bassani outside the top ten

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) finished 11^th as he ended his Motocorsa Racing career in the points, and after taking the Independent Riders’ titles in the Tissot Superpole Race. With Rinaldi taking fourth, the #21 was able to beat his adversary to fifth in the Championship standings with the #47 finishing sixth. He was more than two seconds clear of Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in 12^th, with the Dutchman leading home two Spaniards. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) was the lead Honda rider in 13^th while Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 14^th after one of his strongest weekends of the season. He scored eight points this season, with seven coming at Jerez. Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) completed the points-paying position with 15^th.

HOUSEKEEPING: missing out on points, no retirements in Race 2

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was 16^th after he suffered a big crash in the Superpole Race, but he was able to finish outside the points, while Rea recovered to 17^th. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was 18^th with Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was 19^th. Wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) took 20^th ahead of Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team), Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) and Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO).

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

1 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.018s

3. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.321s

4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +1.370s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.602s

6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.997s

Championship standing

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 628 points

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 552

3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 370

4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 327

5. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 251

6. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) 249

2023 might be over but 2024 starts almost immediately. Follow all the news, interviews and highlights from the Jerez test next week using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

With Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) departing his current team for a new challenge at the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, we look at some of the key moments from his four seasons at the team. From the highs of winning his first race, to the title in 2021 and the lows of last-corner heartbreak, the Turkish star’s time at Yamaha has been an incredible journey from start to finish.

THE FIRST TEST: Razgatlioglu jumps on the Yamaha YZF-R1

After leaving Kawasaki Puccetti Racing at the end of 2019, the Turk linked up with Pata Yamaha for the first time at a post-season Aragon test to try his new bike for the first time. Discussing it at the time, he said: “For me, it’s a new team and a new bike. It’s not easy because I’m here for the first time in this team. My first time, and in wet conditions, I’m happy because I feel the bike is incredible with a lot of grip.”

POTENTIAL ON SHOW: starting and ending the year with wins

The first race in 2020 was at Phillip Island, a circuit that’s challenging even for the best. In Race 1 in Australia, the #54 was on top of the world Down Under as he claimed a thrilling race in one of the closest finishes ever. It was an inconsistent year, but he ended it back on top with two wins at the Circuito Estoril, ensuring he started and ended his year in the best possible way. Two wins in Portugal meant he was in good shape for 2021, which would prove to be a historic season for rider and team.

THE FIRST 2021 WIN: not until the ninth race…

Razgatlioglu started the 2021 season with seven podiums in the first nine races, but his first win didn’t come until the ninth outing at Misano. After finishing second to Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in both Race 1 and the Superpole Race, the #54 was determined to add his name to the winners’ list. The early battle was between Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Rinaldi, but the Turk stayed in contention and barrelled his way past the pair of them for his first win of the year.

A STUNNING FIGHT: making the most of Most

A new track joined the WorldSBK calendar in 2021 with the Autodrom Most making its debut. Razgatlioglu adapted quickly to the venue, but it was Race 1 where the headlines were made. Trailing Scott Redding, then at Ducati, on the final lap, the Yamaha rider first looked to make a move in the first half of the lap. He ran wide, but that didn’t deter him. He closed the gap again before making the race-winning overtake at the penultimate corner in one of the best conclusions.

DRAMA IN PORTUGAL: Razgatlioglu and Rea go head-to-head

Their rivalry was fully ignited by this point as Razgatlioglu and Rea battled hard in Race 1 at Portimao on his way to the title. The Turkish star got the holeshot, but Rea bundled through in the closing stages of the lap. The pair were inseparable, and joined by Redding, throughout until Rea’s crash just after he overtook the #45 with 16 laps to go. From there, it was a fight between the #54 and Readding for victory, with the Turk able to come out on top at a crucial point of their title fight.

THE CROWNING MOMENT: “Rea’s reign comes to an end, a new era has begun in WorldSBK”

After a stunning season, the title would be decided at the new Mandalika circuit. Razgatlioglu and Rea were in contention heading into the season finale, with the Turkish superstar in the driving seat. Rain fell on Saturday, with Race 1 moved to Sunday, but the schedule disruption didn’t stop Yamaha from wrapping up three titles. Don’t forget, you can relive his stunning title win with the ‘The Final Stunt’.

THE FIRST HAT-TRICKS: Donington Park and Mandalika memories

Despite all his success, one thing was missing from Razgatlioglu’s locker: a hat-trick. He had come close on a few occasions but was denied by his rivals. That all changed at Donington Park in 2022. In a similar vein to the London buses cliché, his first win came at Misano, before three followed in quick succession at Donington. From third on the grid, he was able to win all three races. He didn’t have to wait as long for his second hat-trick as he did for his first, with Mandalika another special weekend for the Turk. He took pole position, by almost a second, before winning all three races relatively unchallenged.

FIGHTING HARD TO NO AVAIL: drama at Most

The 2023 season had seen Razgatlioglu’s wins dry up a bit, although he was on the podium in 33 races out of 36. Most, famous for other Razgatlioglu battles, was the scene of one of the iconic moments of the season. Razgatlioglu and Bautista were fighting hard but the Yamaha crashed out of Race 2 after a technical issue; it had huge implications in the Championship fight, as Bautista gained 25 points rather than potentially losing or gaining five.

BEATEN AT THE END: an incredible battle ends in defeat

Most was a stunning battle, but Portimao took it up a notch. The Superpole Race gave a glimpse of what was to come, but Race 2 was where the fight was turned up. 20 laps were completed, and the win was decided on the run to the line: Bautista coming out on top despite Razgatlioglu’s valiant display. He showed his full emotions right after he crossed the line as he hit his fuel tank, with everyone praising both riders for the show they created.

PORTIMAO FIGHT REPEATED IN SPAIN: fighting until the line

A few weeks later, and their fight resumed. If Portimao was close, then Jerez was even closer. For 20 laps, nothing could separate the duo as Bautista went inside and outside, and Razgatlioglu did the same to maintain the lead. The #54 crossed the line in first, but a track limits penalty demoted him behind Bautista. An unfortunate way to bow out of Yamaha, but the on-track battle was a fitting way to close the 2023 season.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: epic starts, rivalries and more

10 moments would not be enough to cover his Yamaha career, and it would be amiss not to mention his start at Donington Park in 2021. A circuit that is famed for epic launches thanks to Ayrton Senna, he produced one of his own in Race 1 to go from 13^th to 2^nd in just a lap and a bit. At Magny-Cours in 2021, Razgatlioglu crossed the line first in the Superpole Race, but a track limits infringement dropped him behind his rival and denied him a hat-trick. At Assen in 2022, his rivalry with Rea hit boiling point when the pair collided at Turn 1 in Race 2. The first win came of 2023 came at Mandalika in the Superpole Race as he took advantage of Bautista crashing out to claim his first win of the season. Plus, to end on a Stoprak note, there’s THAT one at Most that seemed to go on forever.

RAZGATLIOGLU’S YAMAHA STATS: breaking all sorts of manufacturer records

Starts: 131

Wins: 37

Podiums: 100

Poles: 12

Fastest laps: 30

Front row starts: 31

Total points: 1,773

Riders’ Championships: 1

Relive Razgatlioglu’s best Yamaha moments using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com