WSBK News
WSBK news and updates. Read the latest WSBK news, stories and highlights.
Rinaldi: ‘Asphalt was so dirty’ as common complaints about Mandalika return
With limited motorcycle or car racing taking place annually at Mandalika, a ‘dirty’ track was once again a big story on day one as several WorldSBK riders crashed due to being off the racing line.
Petrucci: ‘I don’t know what to expect’, Mandalika ‘one of the most complicated’
Set to make his first-ever appearance at Mandalika, Danilo Petrucci believes this weekend’s second round of the WorldSBK campaign will be ‘one of the most complicated races’ this season.
Toprak: ‘Bike felt different at Phillip Island, again! Completely changing…’
Toprak Razgatlioglu says his Yamaha R1 ‘felt different’ at Phillip Island, just as it did when WorldSBK raced at the Australian circuit last November.
Rea: ‘Target is much more than fight for the podium, I want to win a race’
After a disastrous Sunday in Phillip Island, six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea is hoping to get back amongst the podium fight in Mandalika, although winning remains his main objective.
Rinaldi: ‘I’ve sacrificed a lot, no more parties, I was in bed at 10’
Michael Ruben Rinaldi says major changes have taken place over the winter break as he looks to continue his strong start to the 2023 WorldSBK campaign in Mandalika.
Lecuona ‘ready to fight again’, Vierge ‘I love the track’
Injured at Mandalika last season, Honda WorldSBK rider Iker Lecuona returns to Indonesia ‘ready to fight again’ after and build on a pair of top sixes at the Phillip Island opener.
Rea ‘expects to be stronger’, Lombok ‘more of a gauge’
After a tough opening WorldSBK round at Phillip Island, Jonathan Rea believes he’ll be able to more accurately gauge Kawasaki’s level of competitiveness in Indonesia this weekend.
Rinaldi ‘upset’ after Race 1, ‘followed the plan’ to make up for it with podiums
Michael Ruben Rinaldi fulfilled his pre-season testing potential by recovering from a disastrous Race 1 at Phillip Island to finish best of the rest behind WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista.
Rea: ‘All of a sudden, bang! I had no grip - bit of a head scratcher’
Six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea admits Sunday’s double-header in Phillip Island was a ‘head scratcher’ after lacking performance in both the sprint and longer race.
Petrucci: Superpole Race ‘like a fight in a bar, they really slammed my face’
Danilo Petrucci has admitted he needed to ‘wake up’ following the opening lap of the Superpole Race in Phillip Island, after being caught out by the aggressive nature of racing in WorldSBK.
Gardner: ‘A long time since I’ve taken another rider down, doesn’t feel good’
Remy Gardner apologies to teammate Dominique Aegerter after a mistake under braking at turn four cost the two WorldSBK rookies a potential double top five for GRT Yamaha.
Lowes apologises after costly mistake, Razgatlioglu ‘said it wasn’t my fault’
Alex Lowes has revealed he apologised to Toprak Razgatlioglu following their incident in Race 2 at Phillip Island, whilst also confirming that the 2021 WorldSBK champion said ‘it wasn’t my fault’.
Bautista sets new record - ‘Maybe we can change the name to Baustralia’
Alvaro Bautista has overtaken Jonathan Rea for the most WorldSBK hat-tricks after completing the perfect Sunday at Phillip Island.
McPhee claims WorldSSP podium in debut, Rea ‘yipping it up in the garage’
A stunning first race in WorldSSP for John McPhee ended with the Kawasaki rider taking his first podium in the series, whilst getting a new fan in the form of six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea.
Petrucci given one-place penalty for last-lap collision with Vierge
WorldSBK rookie Danilo Petrucci has been awarded a one-place penalty after being deemed to have run Xavi Vierge off the track during their final lap battle at Phillip Island.
Bautista ‘couldn’t see anything’ due to spray, ‘was riding on ice’
Alvaro Bautista says the spray when following Jonathan Rea in Race 1 of the 2023 WorldSBK season-opener left him unable to ‘see anything’.
Rea: ‘I had to re-learn how to ride’ after gear shift issues
Despite taking the lead of Race 1 on the opening lap and remaining there for over half the race, six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea was having to fend off gear shift problems throughout.
Petrucci ‘nervous, excited, curious’ about first Superpole, Race in WorldSBK
Danilo Petrucci says a flurry of emotions come to mind when thinking about his first-ever Superpole and Race in WorldSBK, which take place on Saturday.
Rea: ‘I didn’t feel good at all, had zero grip’ - Toprak in difficulty as well?
As track temperatures ramped up in FP2, both Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu ran into difficulty, leaving the pair scratching their heads as WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista had no such issues.
‘I felt strong, could adapt my style’ - Bautista takes control in Phillip Island
Just like the two day test earlier this week, reigning WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista proved to be too strong for the rest of the competition during Friday practice.
Petrucci: ‘Why don’t I watch WorldSBK races closer?’
Former MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci has joked that his decision to join the World Superbike championship was motivated by the chance to watch the thrilling racing more closely.
Rea, Toprak warn: ‘#1 is heavy’, Bautista: ‘I don’t think I’m the favourite'
Alvaro Bautista has been a world championship rider since 2002 in the now defunct 125cc Grand Prix class. However, 2023 will be the first time the reigning World Superbike champion has raced with a #1 plate.
Razgatlioglu ‘struggling’ - Bautista not convinced, ‘I don’t think he pushed’
Alvaro Bautista has played down suggestions that he’s the clear favourite heading into this weekend’s WorldSBK season-opener at Phillip Island.
Redding ‘not confident, would be happy if I could get some top six results’
Scott Redding says a top six finish during the season-opener in Phillip Island would be a success for BMW after their WorldSBK pre-season woes.