WSBK News

The new-look factory BMW Motorrad World Superbike squad, run by Shaun Muir Racing, has made its test debut at Almeria with the new S1000RR as it begins its preparations for the 2019 campaign with Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger.

The Laguna Seca round has returned to the World Superbike championship calendar for 2019 after initially dropping off the plan.

The World Superbike Commission has officially confirmed and explained the radical format shake-up which arrives in 2019.

Alvaro Bautista has detailed how he’s adapting to the World Superbike championship with Ducati over the winter ahead of his switch from MotoGP in 2019.

Yamaha Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli says expanding the manufacturer’s efforts in World Superbikes must improve its development pace to catch the front-runners and has warned the teams “we need to fight at the front rather than fight with each other.”

Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna says launching the new Panigale V4 R not only centralises the Italian brand’s operations but also raises its support above its rivals in both MotoGP and World Superbikes.

Jordi Torres will return to the World Superbike championship in 2019 after securing a deal with Team Pedercini Racing.

Gigi Dall’Igna says purely racing motivations were behind Ducati’s switch to the V4 engine over its V-twin and doesn’t expect “any problems with this configuration” ahead of its World Superbike debut.

Ten Kate Racing has declared bankruptcy and started legal proceedings following the last-minute split from Honda in the World Superbike championship.

The timesheets may suggest otherwise, but Jonathan Rea believes he still has to rekindle his “love with my bike again” as he got to grips with Kawasaki’s newly homologated 2019 ZX10RR at a two-day World Superbike test at Jerez.

Chaz Davies feels the potential from his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R is vast but has a “mountain” of development work due to change in Ducati method from its outgoing V-twin.

Eugene Laverty will start testing the new Ducati Panigale V4 R in January with the Go Eleven World Superbike squad, as Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall’Igna confirms the details of the deal are being finalised.

Alvaro Bautista says he’s pleasantly surprised at his debut day on the Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 adapting to life in World Superbikes for 2019 having ended his first day just three-tenths of a second off pace-setter Jonathan Rea.

Eugene Laverty will remain in the World Superbike championship after securing a new Ducati Panigale V4 seat with the Go Eleven team.

Alessandro Delbianco will make his World Superbike debut in 2019 with an Althea MIE Honda entry separate to the factory squad revealed earlier this month.

Heavy rain at Aragon restrained the track activity on the concluding day of the first World Superbike test ahead of 2019 with just two riders setting representative lap times.

Chaz Davies says his opening test day on the Aruba.it Racing Ducati V4 R “felt like Christmas” as winter preparations got underway for 2019 at Aragon.

The 2019 World Superbike provisional race calendar has been officially released with Laguna Seca set to be replaced by an unconfirmed event in mid-July.

Michel Ruben Rinaldi will contest his first full World Superbike campaign after securing a move to Barni Ducati for next season.

Marco Melandri will remain in the World Superbike championship next year after signing a deal with GRT Yamaha alongside Sandro Cortese who steps up to the premier class as World Supersport champion.

Honda Racing Corporation will step up its efforts with a factory squad in partnership with Althea and Moriwaki for the 2019 World Superbike championship with riders Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari.

BMW Motorrad has confirmed its official return to the World Superbike championship in 2019 with factory backing for Shaun Muir Racing who has signed Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger to form an all-new rider line-up.

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 545 points 2. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 356 points 3. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 333 points

The final race of the 2018 World Superbike season has been cancelled at Qatar due to track conditions. A rain storm delayed Saturday's schedule, with the shortened World Supersport title showdown getting underway despite numerous streams of water crossing the otherwise dry track.