WSBK News

Laguna Seca has undergone circuit improvements ahead of the 2018 season including fan amenity updates and a new bridge over the start/finish straight.

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has launched its World Superbike and World Supersport squads in preparation for the 2018 season and revealed Leon Haslam is lined up for a wildcard outing at the Imola round.

Northern Ireland will host the World Superbike championship from 2019 after the Lake Torrent Circuit secured a three-year deal with organisers Dorna.

Milwaukee Aprilia team boss Shaun Muir has underlined his squad’s predicted 2018 gains by hinting at the Aprilia factory developments made with its RSV4 RF over the winter.

Jonathan Rea says despite curtailed running on the final day of the Portimao test he was able to complete his full testing programme with Kawasaki ahead of the 2018 season opener in Australia.

Leon Camier says he’s gained a confidence boost from the progress made at the pre-season tests at Jerez and Portimao with his new Red Bull Honda package but accepts plenty of development gains are still required to catch the front-runners.

Jonathan Rea has topped the timesheet on both days of the Portimao test for Kawasaki but saw Red Bull Honda’s Leon Camier and Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes close the deficit.

Jonathan Rea has sent out a warning shot to his World Superbike rivals with stunning lap times on the opening day of the Portimao pre-season test as he topped the timesheet by almost half a second from Tom Sykes.

The 2018 World Superbike championship will welcome a small tweak to its free practice schedule with three practice sessions run on Friday plus a new fourth session on Saturday morning before Superpole qualifying.

Loris Baz is gearing up for his World Superbike championship return having joined Gulf Althea BMW as its sole rider for the 2018 campaign and is content with the progress made at the Jerez test adapting back to the series.

Tom Sykes says he’s approaching the 2018 World Superbike championship with a different mindset having grabbed the headlines by topping the timesheet at the second day of the Jerez pre-season test.

Leon Camier has hailed the early 2018 developments his Red Bull Honda squad has made on the Fireblade with chassis and exhaust upgrades at Jerez and will switch focus to race runs at the Portimao test.

Full World Superbike test results from day two at Jerez

Full World Superbike test results from Jerez

The start of World Superbike track action in 2018 has seen the maiden outing of the race-specification Ducati Panigale V4 being tested by Lorenzo Zanetti.

Triple World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea says he’s ready for “a step-by-step” return to action at pre-season testing in preparation for the 2018 World Superbike championship.

Yonny Hernandez says he’s determined to “do a great job” on his rookie World Superbike campaign having signed for Pedercini Kawasaki, amid rumours linking him to the MotoGP Tech 3 Yamaha ride to replace Jonas Folger.

New Red Bull Honda rider Leon Camier has revealed the team will run an unchanged livery for the 2018 World Superbike championship as he gears up for pre-season testing.

Daniel Falzon has been announced as one of three World Superbike wildcard entries for the 2018 season opener at Phillip Island.

Toprak Razgatlioglu – Puccetti Kawasaki, World Superbikes

Reigning European Superstock 100 champion Michael Ruben Rinaldi has been handed his World Superbike debut by the Aruba.it Racing Ducati Junior Team with a deal to contest the European rounds in 2018.

Donington Park is undertaking a major upgrade plan this winter including a new restaurant, circuit office, grandstands and rebranding having been acquired by the MotorSport Vision Group (MSV) this year.

Jonathan Rea has finished runner-up in 2017 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award behind winner Sir Mo Farah, with Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton also nominated for the honour.

Christian Gamarino will fill-in for the illegible Gabriele Ruiu for the opening five rounds of the 2018 World Superbike championship at Grillini Suzuki before handing over from Donington Park onwards.