Loris Baz

Loris Baz began his Superbike career in 2010 when he joined the British Superbike Championship. Baz, who was an FIM 1000 Superstock Cup rider for Yamaha to begin that season, took part in the final three rounds before going on to start the 2011 campaign with Yamaha once again. 

After recording a best BSB finish of fourth at round three (Croft Circuit), the French rider would compete in just eight more races before leaving the series. Baz finished the year by returning to the FIM 1000 Superstock Cup.

A move to Kawasaki for 2012 saw him claim a best Superstock 1000 result of second in the opening race, however, his spell in that championship was once again short-lived as the now 28 year-old made his WorldSBK debut at round four in Donington Park. 

Baz would take a maiden podium in just his ninth race before making that a maiden win two races later. In 2013 Baz was retained by the factory Kawasaki Racing Team alongside Tom Sykes who would go on to win the world title. 

Although 2014 was the first season in which Baz failed to win a WorldSBK race, it was statistically his best season as he claimed nine podiums - five more than his first two seasons combined - and a fifth place championship finish.

A two-time WorldSBK race winner, Baz then made the switch to MotoGP for 2015.

While his lofty height had scuppered his original plan to race with Aspar, Baz gave a glimpse of what it was missing by proving a respectable addition to the MotoGP grid riding an Open class Yamaha for Forward Racing.

Baz gave a positive account of himself relative to his fellow rookies on similar machinery including fellow WSBK convert Eugene Laverty, while he was out-performing highly-rated team-mate Stefan Bradl before he jumped ship to Aprilia in the wake of Forward's mid-season crisis.

A fourth place in the wet at Misano was as unexpected as it was deserved and Baz switched to Ducati machinery at the Avintia team for the 2016 and 2017.

The Frenchman matched his career best fourth at Brno 2016, plus a fifth at Sepang, but couldn't beat eighth place during 2017 and returned to World Superbike having never raced with the latest spec MotoGP machinery.

A surprise chance to do just that arrived in the form of a one-off Red Bull KTM offer to replace Pol Espargaro at the 2018 British Grand Prix but, after qualifying 18th out of 24, heavier rain arrived for race day.

It was the kind of conditions where Baz had traditionally excelled, but the race was cancelled due to poor drainage.

Baz then returned to WorldSBK in 2018 with BMW, the year before the German manufacturer themselves returned as a full factory outfit. While consistently in the points, Baz was unable to build on his tally of 13 podiums, instead two top six results were the best he could manage on an unfavoured S 1000 RR for the Gulf Althea BMW Racing Team.

In 2019 Baz joined the Ten Kate Yamaha team from round six onwards. Baz scored two fourth places (Misano and Donington Park) which were his best results of the year. He then remained with Ten Kate Yamaha for the 2020 season which was just his third full season in WorldSBK, however, it was a very good one as he returned to the podium on four occasions. 

2021 saw Baz leave WorldSBK and join his fifth different championship since 2010 as he agreed a deal to ride for Ducati in MotoAmerica. Whilst a solid first season stateside, Baz was unable to claim a win as former WorldSBK rider Jake Gagne dominated the series aboard an R1. 

Despite several podiums, Baz’ best result of the year came when he returned to WorldSBK as a stand-in rider for an injured Chaz Davies in Jerez and Portimao. Baz claimed a triple podium at the Portuguese round, however, he lost his third position in race two due to late contact with Alvaro Bautista which saw the new Ducati rider crash out. Still, it was an indication of just what Baz is capable of. 

Shortly after Baz was confirmed at the Bonovo BMW team for the 2022 WorldSBK championship.