WSBK News

Alvaro Bautista says he was more controlled and relaxed during his fiery WorldSBK battles with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea in 2022, while also alluding to Superbike machinery allowing the rider to fight in a different way than MotoGP.

Iker Lecuona has ended the opening WorldSBK test of 2023 in a ‘much happier’ place after brake issues throughout day-one saw him struggle to unlock the Honda's true potential.

Jonathan Rea says ‘I’m not really thinking about' Toprak Razgatlioglu or Alvaro Bautista, but rather what can be done to improve his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, whilst also calling the incoming WorldSBK rookies ‘proper guys’.

Back-to-back top ten finishes during the two-day WorldSBK test at Jerez has left Danilo Petrucci feeling strong about his performance ahead of Portimao, although ‘I still don’t have the bike 100% in my hands’, says the Italian.

Toprak Razgatlioglu continued his stunning form from day-one to top the second and final day of WorldSBK testing at Jerez.

Danilo Petrucci might have been ‘very nervous’ ahead of his WorldSBK debut, however, it did not show as the Italian finished fourth on the opening day of action in Jerez.

WorldSBK rookie Remy Gardner has taken another dig at KTM after stating he had to ride their MotoGP bike ‘like a f***king animal every lap and every single corner’.

Toprak Razgatlioglu started the opening WorldSBK test of 2023 as he means to go on, after finishing fastest from Alvaro Bautista.

With the first WorldSBK test of 2022 fully underway at Jerez, several rookies and a big name returnee have been aboard their machines for the first time this year.

Aruba.it Ducati WorldSBK rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi will be without the coaching of former three-time MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso, after confirming the Italian does not have the time.

Marco Bezzecchi says ‘I didn’t take it well at the beginning’ when it came to the introduction of MotoGP sprint races, however, the Italian now feels as though it could make the championship spicier.

Alvaro Bautista believes the 2022 WorldSBK campaign was the best of his career after addressing areas that ‘maybe I didn’t care about before’.

Former 500cc Grand Prix racer Scott Smart is no longer the FIM technical director for the WorldSBK championship and will be replaced by French engineer Ludovic Reignier.

With Franco Morbidelli’s Yamaha MotoGP contract set to end after this season, as is the case for Toprak Razgatlioglu in WorldSBK, Keith Huewen believes we could find out in 2024 if the Turkish star has what it takes to succeed in Grand Prix racing.

Jonathan Rea admits ‘motivation wasn’t very high’ to test last December at Jerez, but the six-time WorldSBK champion is now refreshed and ready to get ‘stuck in’.

Keith Huewen poses the question of whether WorldSBK could threaten MotoGP’s status as the leading two-wheel championship, after seeing the series make a comeback in popularity.

Alvaro Bautista believes the level in WorldSBK has never been higher after several big name additions to the series for 2023.

Alvaro Bautista knows that the pressure to win will now be ramped up after choosing the #1 over his traditional number of 19 for his WorldSBK title defence.

Aruba.it Ducati officially unveil its 2023 WorldSBK livery as Alvaro Bautista chooses the #1 for his title defence.

Despite former team-mate Scott Redding trying to convince Chaz Davies to become a rider coach at BMW following his glittering WorldSBK career, the Welsh rider remained at Ducati after claiming he had ‘doubts about BMW’.

Alvaro Bautista will get his first impressions of the brand new Ducati Panigale V4 R during next week’s two-day Jerez WorldSBK test, with ‘turning and corner exit stability’ being the main areas he wants to see improved.

Alvaro Bautista has made his decision on whether to defend the WorldSBK title with the #1 plate or #19, which will be announced when Aruba.it Ducati officially launch their 2023 bike on Monday.

After just one test on a Yamaha WorldSBK machine, Remy Gardner has already pointed to areas which allow him to ride more naturally compared to a MotoGP bike.

If there was any suspicion that Danilo Petrucci would be contesting the 2022 WorldSBK season on older or less advanced machinery than factory Ducati riders Alvaro Bautista and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, then think again as such concerns have been denied by Barni Spark Team Owner, Marco Barnabo.