WSBK News

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.

Whether he feels respected by his rivals or not, WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista says ‘it’s not my problem if they don’t want to see the reality’.

Alex Lowes has given himself a grade of 7.5 out of 10 for the 2022 WorldSBK season as he aims to get back to winning ways in 2023.

Aruba.it Racing Ducati has become the first WorldSBK team to confirm its 2023 bike launch, which will take place on Monday the 23rd of January.

Team HRC Manager, Leon Camier, believes Honda are on the right track to becoming a force in WorldSBK, but that ‘super concessions’ won’t make a difference overnight.

Axel Bassani admits he would have been left working on a construction site with his father had he not been competitive in WorldSBK.

Troy Corser believes Remy Gardner can be a big success in WorldSBK after learning ‘a lot in MotoGP’, however, the former world champion believes Superbikes are ‘probably’ harder to ride than MotoGP machines.

Remy Gardner believes KTM ‘did me a favour’ by leaving him out of its MotoGP plans, while Ducati expressed WorldSBK interest before electing to sign with Yamaha for the 2023 season.

Toprak Razgatlioglu chooses not to answer when asked if there’s another WorldSBK machine he would like to try.

After ten full seasons in Moto3, John McPhee will take part in his first WorldSSP campaign with Kawasaki in 2023, ahead of trying to secure a move to WorldSBK.

Leandro Mercado might have taken part in his final WorldSBK race after signing with Kawasaki in the German Superbike series.

Stefan Bradl admits a return to WorldSBK is unlikely and that it would take a very good opportunity to prise him away from his role as Repsol Honda’s MotoGP test rider.

Jonathan Rea has opened the door to remaining at Kawasaki for the rest of his WorldSBK career before switching to a test rider, ambassador or team management role after his career is over.

Iker Lecuona claims Alvaro Bautista is tailor-made for the Ducati but not the Honda, due to the 2022 WorldSBK champion’s style of riding.

Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge become the latest riders to address whether a weight limit should be introduced to WorldSBK, with the former also taking aim at Scott Redding.

Loris Baz claims he could ‘never fully trust’ the BMW M 1000 RR in 2022 and that big changes are needed with regards to electronics and the chassis, if they’re going to be a competitive force in WorldSBK.

A six-time WorldSBK champion and the greatest to ever race Superbike machinery, Jonathan Rea has not been without his challengers, one of which could leave him ‘intimidated’ during a last-lap battle.