The transfer market is opening earlier and earlier, but the grid is already taking shape...
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship may only be in its third round, but attention is already shifting to what the 2025 grid will look like. Some riders are under contract for next season, including others have an uncertain future and many players have spoken out about what awaits them for next year. Here is what we know to date about the composition of next year's starting grid.
UNDER CONTRACT: A guaranteed future!
To start, it's easy to know who already has a contract for 2025 in their pocket. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is under contract for next year, as Jonathan Rea and Andrea Locatelli of the Pata Prometeon Yamaha team. Within Team HRC, the extensions of Iker Lecuona and Xavi Virgo have been announced for two years in order to cover the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Kenan Sofuoglu et Shaun Muir have confirmed that Toprak Razgatlioglu's (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) contract covers both this season and next.
STILL WAITING: Riders looking to secure a handlebar
The biggest protagonist is the reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who opted to sign a one-year contract last season. The two GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders, Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), Philipp Öttl (GMT94 Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) have not yet reached an agreement for next year. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is also out of contract, while his teammate Axel Bassani has signed a multi-year contract – next year, of course, it will be within the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) revealed last year that he was under contract for 2023 and 2024, he is therefore free for 2025. Furthermore, the contract of Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) expires at the end of 2024.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID SO FAR: Retirement mooted, factory team ambitions
While rumors are already circulating about next year, the drivers have already been asked about it. Bautista said in an interview that he had "nothing in mind" yet and would continue racing as long as he was having fun, but was in no rush to make a decision. However, during his press conference on Friday, Bautista made a contradictory statement saying he wanted to make a decision quickly: “If the top management of Ducati wants me, it's always a pleasure! I focus on competing with the best possible performance. I think I will soon make a decision for myself and my team. »
Iannone responded to rumors about his future at Assen, saying : “I’m happy that people are talking about me. I know that if I'm on top, I have a lot of possibilities. My goal is to be on a factory team, but we'll see. I am happy because after a long time I have seen a lot of things and interest from many manufacturers. I am honored. I think after Assen and Misano we will know more about this. » The subject came back on the table during the Cremona tests, the boss of the team Denis Sacchetti clarified that “this does not depend on us. »
Alex Lowes was also questioned at Assen : “I don’t really know, it’s very early. As we see in MotoGP™ and previous years in WorldSBK, it all starts very early. We have a break after the Assen round, so maybe there will be some other news during that time. For my part, I don't know yet. »
At BMW, van der Mark responded to rumors about his future, saying that the only thing he could do was achieve results : “I have to get good results and this makes things a little easier.” During FP1, Marc Bongers, Director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, spoke about the team's line-up for 2025, refusing to comment on anything : “We are satisfied with the current situation and it is far too early to say anything. »
Although its future is assured, Razgatlioglu was asked about his choice of teammate and said van der Mark was his favorite : “I'm happy that Michael is my teammate, the atmosphere in the box is very good and we work well together. If BMW asks me, it's easy to say Michael, he's a good teammate, a good guy and respectful; we work together in the race and in Superpole. »
Gardner was mentioned by Motorsport-Total.com as having an option for 2025 with GRT Yamaha, while Aegerter — in the same article — said that "the conditions must be met" to stay with the team and that there are "other alternatives" for the double WorldSSP.
WorldSBK 2025 Grid (TBA = To be announced)
Aruba.it Racing – Ducati: Nicolo Bulega and TBA
Pata Prometeon Yamaha: Jonathan Rea and Andrea Locatelli
Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team: Axel Bassani and TBA
Team HRC: Iker Lecuona and Xavi Virgo
ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: Toprak Razgatlioglu and TBA
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