WSBK News

Garrett Gerloff leads Saturday morning Free Practice 3 session at the 2022 Donington Park World Superbike round.

A first top three finish in any WorldSBK session this season, Scott Redding and BMW have seemingly made big strides forward at Donington Park.

Even a small crash couldn’t dampen Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s enthusiasm after following up his Misano WorldSBK rostrums with more podium pace on Friday in Donington Park.

While reigning WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu finished second on day-one at Donington Park, the Yamaha rider was left unhappy at the lack of performance relative to that of Jonathan Rea.

Alvaro Bautista has hit back at claims made by Scott Redding that a minimum weight for rider and bike should be introduced to the WorldSBK championship.

After suffering his first winless weekend of the season at Misano, Jonathan Rea responded with an imposing half-second advantage over the field during Friday practice for this home UK round at Donington Park.

A class apart - Jonathan Rea was in ominous form as he finished WorldSBK FP2 at Donington Park half a second clear of Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Toprak Razgatlioglu leaves it late to get the better of Jonathan Rea during FP1 for round five of the 2022 WorldSBK championship at Donington Park. Series leader Alvaro Bautista finishes fifth for Ducati. 

‘I’ll be on the grid next year and I can’t wait’ - Jonathan Rea will remain a WorldSBK rider in 2023 although it remains to be seen with whom.

British Superbike champion Tarran Mackenzie believes a full-time move to WorldSBK in 2023 ‘depends a lot’ on how he gets on during his delayed world championship debut this weekend.

Xavi Vierge, Lucas Mahias and Oliver Konig have been passed fit for round five of the 2022 WorldSBK championship at Donington Park, although Christophe Ponsson will be re-evaluated after FP1.

‘I don’t think he had a choice’ - Former WorldSBK champion James Toseland believes Scott Redding’s move to BMW last season, which has so far proved unsuccessful was as a result of Ducati wanting to move on, not the other way around.

After racing against the legend that is Valentino Rossi - on circuits he had no prior experience on - former two-time WorldSBK champion James Toseland details the challenges he and any current WorldSBK rider could face if they switched to MotoGP.

Participation numbers and success remain extremely high within WorldSBK, however, that’s far from the case in MotoGP which is without a British rider for the second consecutive season. So what is the cause of this - Sam Lowes shares his thoughts.

“The last time we spoke was at Jerez in 2019… so, if you crash out this weekend, you can blame me for bringing you bad luck.”

Following Toprak Razgatlioglu’s recent Yamaha MotoGP test and potential switch to Grand Prix racing in 2024, former two-time WorldSBK champion and MotoGP rider James Toseland spoke to Crash.net about the differences between both classes and why MotoGP requires a higher ‘skill level’.

A formidable force so far in 2022, Ducati believes Alvaro Bautista has all the ingredients necessary to win a first WorldSBK title, their first since 2011.

With just four rounds of the 2022 season complete, reigning WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu is already 79 points behind championship leader Alvaro Bautista, with Jonathan Rea splitting between the two. 

FHO Racing BMW will make its official WorldSBK debut next weekend after confirming a wildcard entry for Isle of Man TT winner Peter Hickman.

A six-time world champion, Jonathan Rea has achieved everything there is to achieve in WorldSBK, but what makes the Kawasaki rider so good every race weekend?

With time Scott Redding believes BMW has what it takes to challenge the very best in WorldSBK, ‘but unfortunately I don’t have any patience. I’m here to win’.

Could Ducati pull the trigger on a WorldSBK 'dream team' or does retaining Alvaro Bautista end any hope of Jonathan Rea jumping aboard a Panigale V4 R.

After missing his first scheduled WorldSBK wild-card in Assen, reigning BSB champion Tarran Mackenzie will now make his world championship debut at Donington Park next month.

World Superbike title leader Alvaro Bautista has signed to remain with Ducati for the 2023 season.