A new team on the grid, arrivals, changes: the game of musical chairs is in full swing on the WorldSBK 2024 transfer market.
We are in the second half of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season, which means the fight for the title continues and the 2024 grid continues to take shape. Futures on hold, drivers (mostly) looking to close a deal for next year: that's the situation with what we know so far.
SIGN. SEALED. FACT: the future is assured for the Titanic Trio
Let's take a look at the confirmed riders for next year's starting grid. First up is the most successful rider in Superbike history, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). The six-time World Champion signed a two-year contract extension in 2022, meaning he will remain with Kawasaki until the end of 2024. His teammate Alex Lowes will continue alongside Rea next year, and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will be there at least until the end of the 2024 season with the factory Ducati team. Toprak Razgatlioglu, meanwhile, will be switching teams : the 2021 Champion will join BMW in 2024, with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team. His current teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) has signed a two-year extension with Yamaha, until 2025. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) remains with the same team for 2024, while we will see a new team on the grid: Sam Lowes will ride the Marc VDS Ducati next season. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) will also remain in WorldSBK with Yamaha, although the team has not yet been confirmed. On paper, 5 of the 10 factory rides are taken for 2024.
WHO TO SUPPORT TOPRAK IN 2024?
The battle for the second factory BMW bike is on. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and his current teammate Michael van der Mark have both stated their desire to continue with the team and the manufacturer, but as things stand, there is only one bike available. We analyze the situation here. Redding said in Barcelona that he needed to "consider his options" after a first weekend without scoring points in WorldSBK. The Briton confirmed that he has until July 15th to decide whether or not to invoke his clause to remain with the team. He also didn't hide his opinion on Toprak's arrival , stating that he didn't know "what he could bring to the team" and that he was "surprised" by the signing of the contract. Redding said an announcement would be made on Sunday after Imola, but that never happened and instead he confirmed on Instagram that he will be on the grid in 2024, but he did not specify where.
WHO WITH BAUTISTA IN 2024?
Michael Ruben Rinaldi? Rinaldi signed a one-year extension in 2022 and was the last factory rider confirmed. At Misano, where he attended Bautista's tests, Rinaldi stated that he had "other options on the table," but that his priority was to remain with the team . Last year, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) made it clear that he wanted his seat, and he reiterated that he hoped his 2023 races had already attracted the attention of factory teams. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) has stated that he would like to ride a factory bike in 2024 , and Nicolo Bulega has been impressive in WorldSSP and has already completed two tests on the Panigale V4 R WorldSBK. Stefano Cecconi, team manager of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, commented on the potential arrival of Bulega: “I think he could be a reasonable option because, regardless of the final result, Nicolo is doing very well in WorldSSP, so it makes sense to see him in WorldSBK next year.” Ducati Corse managing director Gigi Dall'Igna announced that Bulega was the World Superbike team's test rider and that he was “fast” on the V4 R. WorldSBK commentator Steve English shared his thoughts here.
During the first free practice session at Imola, Serafino Foti indicated that a decision should be made soon : “Bulega could be an option, but we have other possibilities on the table. We are not in a hurry. We would like to understand what the best compromise is for our team. I think we will make a decision at the end of July or the beginning of August.”
HONDA’S PLANS: For the moment, it’s calm
Within Team HRC, Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge's future with the Japanese manufacturer is still uncertain, but both will race with Honda at the Suzuka 8 Hours . It's worth noting that in 2021, Lecuona and Vierge were announced for the following season in October, and another announcement was made for the full team in 2022; this time, it took place in August.
INDEPENDENTS: Almost everyone is looking for a contract
With the exception of Garrett Gerloff, all the independent riders have contracts for 2023 only. Lorenzo Mauri's Motocorsa Racing team would like to expand from one to two bikes in 2024 , which would provide an additional seat in a team that has become a podium contender with Bassani. Marco Barnabo of the Barni Spark Racing Team has explained that he could have a second bike, potentially with Andrea Iannone . The Italian is also tipped to join the GoEleven team, with team manager Denis Sacchetti not ruling out the possibility of bringing Iannone on board . Keep in mind that as the motorcycle racing season progresses, riders from various championships will be linked to WorldSBK. In 2023, riders have joined the grid from MotoGP™, British Superbike, MotoAmerica, MotoE™, and, of course, those promoted from World Supersport.
RUMORS: The rumors circulating in the press…
This section concerns candidates who are being discussed but whose moves are not yet confirmed. The possibility of Jonathan Rea joining Yamaha, even though he has a contract with Kawasaki until 2024, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, is a rumor that is gaining traction. Rea, who has also ruled out retirement, has stated that " everything is still in progress " regarding his future, although the matter seems to have been settled before an article linking him to Yamaha was first published by Speedweek . Among those who could move to WorldSBK is Fabio Di Giannantonio, the current MotoGP™ rider. The Italian rider, a multiple winner in Moto3™ and Moto2™, has had a relatively quiet period aboard the Gresini Ducati, and rumors suggest he could be replaced by Tony Arbolino, who comes from Moto2™ . As for 'Diggia', he is tipped to join Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Ducati. He was in the Misano paddock.
