Aruba.it Ducati riders for the 2022 WorldSBK championship, Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi give their opening thoughts on rejoining (Bautista) and staying with the Italian manufacturer.
Tom Sykes enjoys his second best WorldSBK round of the season after it was confirmed Scott Redding will replace the 2013 world champion at BMW next season.
Scott Redding believes his switch from Ducati to BMW for the 2022 WorldSBK campaign comes at the right time following the German manufacturers 2021 improvements; ‘this year I’ve really seen a step with them - with both riders. Now I think is the time to go’.
Alvaro Bautista could be the first domino to fall in the WorldSBK rider market for 2022, as Honda and ‘another team’ who have ‘an offer on the table’ are in contention.
Andrew Irwin admits reaching the British Superbike showdown will be ‘difficult’ if he’s unable to improve results ‘soon’ aboard the SYNETIQ BMW machine.
Tom Sykes rues penultimate lap crash while battling Michael Van Der Mark, Alex Lowes and Michael Rinaldi at WorldSBK Assen; ‘It’s such a shame, the bike today was good enough for that top-six’.
While bad luck seemed to play a bigger role in Peter Hickman’s second round of the 2021 BSB season than others, the FHO Racing BMW rider is ‘in a really good place at the moment’ after being competitive in every race.
Home favorite Michael Van Der Mark eager to build on Donington WorldSBK showing at famous Dutch TT; ‘We now want to continue this progress and of course it would be really nice to even do a bit more at my home race.”
Danny Buchan says his ‘harsh or brave moves’ on Peter Hickman and Christian Iddon at BSB Knockhill were because ‘the championship is massively important’.
Andrew Irwin’s tough start to life at BMW continues during BSB Knockhill; ‘It definitely doesn’t look like it was my best weekend’, with just four points scored.
The only current British Superbike rider on the grid to win at Knockhill, Danny Buchan, is aiming for ‘three strong points finishes’, following ‘up and down’ Oulton Park.
Peter Hickman comes into round two at Knockhill off the back of his best ever start to a BSB campaign, while team-mate Xavi Fores has recovered from a small right hand fracture.