Redding steps up to World Superbikes with Ducati

Scott Redding will move to the World Superbike championship with Aruba.it Racing Ducati for the 2020 season, as the Italian manufacturer also confirms it split with Alvaro Bautista.

The former MotoGP rider has impressed during his rookie campaign in the Bennetts British Superbike campaign, currently second in the riders’ standings behind Be Wiser Ducati team-mate Josh Brookes, and he will switch up to the world championship in 2020 sticking with Ducati at the factory squad alongside Chaz Davies.

It sees Bautista leave the Aruba.it Racing Ducati after just one season, having won 14 races already this year during his own rookie World Superbike campaign, with the Spanish rider strongly linked with a move to Honda for 2020 in WorldSBK.

Redding confirmed he is naturally delighted to secure a spot at the factory Ducati squad in World Superbikes but wants to remain focused on fighting for the BSB title this year.

“I’m so happy to join the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team, which is something that I’ve wanted for a long time, because to be able to work with a team that can fight for a world title is really a great opportunity for me,” Redding said.

“Obviously now I have to remain fully focussed on the British Superbike Championship, because I want to try and win that title with the Be Wiser Ducati before stepping back up to a world championship again.

“A big thanks to all those people who have helped to make this dream happen, and now I can’t wait to get on the factory Panigale V4 R bike in the World Superbike Championship.”

Stefano Cecconi, Aruba.it Racing Ducati team principal, has explained the reasons behind hiring Redding for 2020 and is convinced he’ll be able to transfer his instant speed in BSB to the World Superbike championship.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Scott into our team,” Cecconi said. “Despite being a rookie in BSB, on his first experience with the Panigale V4 R and with numerous tracks he has never seen before, Scott has proved to be fast right out of the box and to be able to aim straight for the title.

“For this reason, we have been following him with interest and we were impressed with his form even before having to look for a team-mate for Chaz in the coming seasons. With his determination and experience, I’m convinced he will be quick right from the start, even on a WSBK-spec bike.”

Cecconi also confirmed Ducati will remain fully-committed to Bautista’s current World Superbike title fight, having been an early runaway leader before being reeled in by Jonathan Rea with the Kawasaki rider holding an 81-point advantage, and wants to end their one-year partnership “in the best possible way”.

“I wish to fondly bid goodbye to Álvaro and thank him for the incredible emotions that he has given us this year, he will surely be a difficult adversary to beat,” he said.

“Now however we must focus on the current season: we no longer have an advantage, but the world title battle is still open and we will give our maximum commitment to conclude our collaboration in the best possible way.”