WSBK »

WSBK 2009 - confirmed signings

UPDATE: A week is a long time in World Superbikes, which is why we are already updating our confirmed signings list after just a couple of days!

You'll notice Regis Laconi has signed for DFX Corse, who in turn have announced a switch from Honda to Ducati machinery, while PSG-1 Corse will stay a Kawasaki team in 2009 with Ayrton Badovini assuming rider duties. Stay tuned for more updates!

If there is one thing our forum has proved in recent weeks, it is that next year's World Superbike Championship is destined to be one of the most competitive, and hotly anticipated, of all time.

With various rider changes, two new manufacturers joining the fray and a grid that will be full to bursting when it forms in Australia next March, WSBK 2009 has the potential to overshadow MotoGP next season – at least in terms of numbers anyway!

Indeed, we at Crash.net have calculated a total of 25 confirmed riders for 2009, while we expect at least another eight or nine to commit to the grid before Phillip Island rolls around.

It means we could have a full-time grid of around 32 riders in 2009 – and that is before we even consider wild-cards. Plus, with seven manufacturer teams, at least five Brits and a myriad of talent on the grid this year, some very accomplished names are going to be finishing outside the top ten overall next season.

With no team retaining exactly the same line-up as 2008 (at least, unless Suzuki confirm
Fonsi Nieto some time soon), we thought we should recap on who has landed where in the big shuffle, as well as offer our own ideas as to who else could appear on the grid in 2009:

WSBK 2009 Confirmed Signings

Ducati Xerox
Noriyuki Haga
Michel Fabrizio

Yamaha Italia
Ben Spies
Tom Sykes

Ten Kate Honda
Carlos Checa
Ryuichi Kiyonari
Jonathan Rea

Alstare Suzuki
Max Neukirchner
Yukio Kagayama

Paul Bird Kawasaki
Makoto Tamada
Broc Parkes

BMW
Troy Corser
Ruben Xaus

Aprilia
Max Biaggi
Shinya Nakano

Team Sterilgarda Ducati
Shane Byrne
Alessandro Polita

Stiggy Motorsport Honda
Leon Haslam
Roberto Rolfo

Althea Honda
Tommy Hill

Pro Ride Racing Honda
Gregorio Lavilla

Celani Suzuki
Karl Muggeridge

GMT Yamaha
David Checa

PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki
Ayrton Badovini

DFX Corse Ducati
Regis Laconi


Unconfirmed Speculation – subject to change

Alstare Suzuki
Fonsi Nieto

DFX Corse Ducati
Lorenzo Lanzi
Matej Smrz

Guandalini Ducati
Jakub Smrz

Pedercini Kawasaki
Sheridan Morais

Boulder Motorsport Ducati
Jake Zemke

Celani Suzuki - 2nd bike unconfirmed
Xavier Simeon
Chris Seaton

» 29 comment(s) on this Story

» Post your comments on this Story

Social Networking:

Article Tools:

Return Home | Printer Friendly | Email To Friend

Take me back to the WSBK Homepage