The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is, wait for it… UNDERWAY! Day one of the season is in the books from Phillip Island and after a lot of time battling weather and even wildlife – with Cape Barren geese causing a short red flag – we got our first look at the stars of 2024 in anger. With lap times already on lap record pace from the start, it was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who shone at the front to end day one as the rider to beat.

ALTERNATIVE STARS AT THE FRONT: Lowes, Bulega and Locatelli, Bautista and Rea outside top 10

In green, Alex Lowes rocketed to lead the way in the closing stages, setting a new lap record – although it is likely to be beaten further if weather permits. Lowes was a race winner for Kawasaki at Phillip Island in 2020 and with upgrades to performance coming into the year, the combination of the #22, new crew chief Pere Riba and Kawasaki’s gains seems to be working well for the #22. For new teammate Axel Bassani, the Italian had some flashes during FP2 but only finished in 15^th overall.

A revelation during testing, P2 went to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) as he got down to business straight away and was competitive from the start and in the top three. Bulega, a double winner in World Supersport at the circuit last year, has been the fastest of the two factory Ducatis since stepping on the bike, with reigning WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) still getting up to speed after an injury-hit pre-season. All was not well with the #1, who was seen shaking his head and gesticulating when returning to pitlane, clearly experiencing problems. He was soon back out and inside the top ten before finishing 12^th overall but was fastest in the final section.

First out on track, Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) did one circulation before coming back in, reporting a vibrating issues. He was soon back out with less than ten minutes to go, getting crucial laps in after rain limited running earlier in FP1. Not quite on the pace that he’d have liked and had enjoyed back at Jerez during testing, there’re still refinements to be done for the #65 and collaboration with Yamaha, only 16^th. However, teammate Andrea Locatelli set a new lap record in FP1 and was inside the top three for the majority of FP2’s running. Working with crew chief Tom O’Kane in a weekend for the first time, ‘Loka’, who always goes well at Phillip Island, is in the mix for strong results, finishing third on Friday.

INDEPENDENT CONTENDERS: Petrucci majestic for P4, Sam Lowes and Iannone impress

In terms of Independent contenders, there were no shortages of places to look, with Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) the best-placed of them in third in FP2, a mega strong start for the #9. He was fourth overall, whilst Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) snatched a strong fifth place in FP2 to put him sixth overall, despite a big save at Turn 2. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) was P7 overall, just ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing).

RAZGATLIOGLU VS VAN DER MARK: the #60 causes a stir

One of the biggest stories coming into 2024, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) journey with BMW officially fired up and after a quiet FP1, he was inside the top five in FP2 for most of the closing stages. He got to have a look at some of his main rivals in FP1, following Andera Iannone (Team GoEleven) and Bautista in what could be a taste of 2024. Toprak towed teammate Michael van der Mark round in the closing stages as both worked together with the Dutchman able to feature inside the top four. The #60 is 1-0 up on his Turkish teammate, finishing ahead on the combined times; fifth for van der Mark, tenth for Toprak, who was just behind home-hero Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in P9.

OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN: Oettl in touch, Honda struggle

Less than half a second from Alex Lowes’ top time was Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) but he was 11^th, impressive times for the #5 despite the position maybe not reflecting it. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was on the front row in third last year but just 13^th on Friday, ahead of the first Honda of Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), who will be flying the flag for the brand this weekend as, whilst he’s participating, Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) is injured and finished 20^th overall. Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 17^th, ahead of Bonovo Action BMW duo Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) and his teammate Adam Norrodin completed the order.

Top six combined after Friday in WorldSBK at Phillip Island, full results here:

1. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’29.042s

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.059s

3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha)

4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.195s

5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.222s

6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.250s

A NEW ERA BEGINS: follow it all in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) claimed a stunning pole position for the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round despite a late crash in the 40-minute Tissot Superpole session. The #99 was fastest from the start at the legendary Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit but a Turn 11 highside brought his session to a premature end, although the Spaniard was still able to claim his first FIM Supersport World Championship pole position.

THE FIRST HALF: lap record pace for the newest polesitter

With the threat of rain hanging over the field, there was a rush to get an early lap time in to the 40-minute session, with Huertas smashing the lap record with a 1’31.934s to take provisional pole, ahead of Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), although Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) also went sub-1’31s as he set a 1’31.954s, just 0.020s behind his fellow Ducati rider. However, in his second stint, Huertas posted a 1’31.519s to extend the gap to fourth tenths.

THE RAIN FALLS… AND STOPS AGAIN: a 10-minute flurry at the end of Superpole

Around halfway through the session, drops of rain were reported in sector one before all sectors reported precipitation just a few minutes later, meaning Huertas’ time remained unchallenged until the final 10 minutes, when Montella set a 1’31.566s to close the gap to 0.047s. Huertas started his third stint later than the #55 as he went a tenth quicker before trying to improve on his next lap. However, he had a highside through Turn 11 which ended his session; he was taken to the medical centre following the crash and declared fit. Huertas becomes the 57^th different rider to claim pole in WorldSSP and the second rider to have pole position in both WorldSSP300 and WorldSSP. 

ON THE SECOND ROW: Manzi close behind his rivals…

With rain coming down in sectors one and two in the final minutes, the session came to an effective early end as riders were unable to improve their lap times. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) will line up from fourth on the Race 1 grid, ahead of Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha), with the French duo showing impressive speed after their switch of teams for the 2024 season.

THIRD ROW START DESPITE CRASHING: Sofuoglu, Caricasulo and Navarro all tumble

Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was seventh after his session was cut short by a crash at Lukey Heights on the lap after he set his best time. His best time was 1’31.219s to claim a third-row start for Race 1, but he was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following his crash and later declared fit. He’ll be joined by Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) on row three, with ‘Carica’ also crashing during the session. He went down at Turn 11 but was able to bring his bike back to the pits and re-joined the action later on. Jorge Navarro (WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph) will start ninth ahead of Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team). Navarro crashed at around the same time as Caricasulo but at Turn 4 and was able to re-join the action.

HOUSEKEEPING: dramatic opening ten minutes

It was a frantic start to the session, with Navarro, Caricasulo, and Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) crashing at roughly the same time at different corners, with van Straalen coming down at Turn 2. Meanwhile, Niccolo Antonelli (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) had stopped at Turn 8, halting his first Superpole session, before he re-joined the session but had to pull off the track on the start-finish straight. Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) will start 20^th after he took a Turn 4 tumble.

The top six from WorldSSP Superpole, full results here:

1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’31.407s

2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.159s 

3. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.412s

4. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.598s

5. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.634s

6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.744s

Don’t miss Race 1 on Saturday at 14:30 Local Time (UTC+11) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The moment we’d all been waiting for took a little bit longer, after a rain shower right at the start of the session. Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was the first rider to hit the track and set a lap time but it wasn’t really representative, nearly 30 seconds off the pace. A few minutes later, the whole field was on track and on the pace, getting down into the sub-1’30s. It was a frantic final ten minutes but the order was all jumbled up. Come the chequered flag, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was fastest with a fast lap right at the end of the session.

It was the last roll of the dice for ‘Loka’ that saw him fly up the standings to take a new lap record, albeit slower than the Official Test at the start of the week. He stood in the way of what would have been a Lowes 1-2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was originally on top after his late lap ahead of identical twin brother Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), who made an emphatic debut. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was up in P4, a fine first session of the year for him at home in Australia. One of the headlines was in fifth place; Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), who was originally the first rider out at the start of the session, sitting in behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the closing stages. ‘The Maniac’ is back and on the pace from the start.

Elsewhere, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) made it three Independent Ducatis inside the top six, one place ahead of rookie and his factory Ducati replacement, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The reigning WorldSSP Champion, a revelation during testing, took seventh, ahead of teammate Bautista. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was ninth whilst Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was tenth, although he only set five laps. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) split him and rival Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in P12. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) was best Honda in 16^th.

Top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’29.197s

2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.106s

3. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.520s

4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.558s

5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +0.688s

6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) +0.727s

A NEW ERA BEGINS: follow it all in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 FIM Supersport World Championship season officially started on Friday at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) leading the way ahead of Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by just a tenth as riders smashed the existing lap record. The session was cut short by a few minutes due to a red flag in the sole session before this afternoon’s Tissot Superpole session for the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round.

Manzi put in a 1’31.939s to smash the existing lap record, set by Andrea Locatelli back in 2020, although it had been beaten by Schroetter earlier in the session. In his first run, the German rider posted a 1’32.028s to top the timesheets in the early stages, before Manzi went 0.089s faster to claim top spot in a session that was cut short due to track conditions after a technical problem for Yeray Ruiz (VFT Racing Yamaha) in the final five minutes. In third place was Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team), with the Spaniard three tenths behind Manzi.

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) came into the sole Free Practice session for the WorldSSP field after setting the pace in testing, and he finished practice in fourth place after setting a 1’32.278s, less than a tenth behind Huertas. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was fifth on a strong start for MV Agusta, within four tenths of Manzi’s record-breaking pace, while Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) was sixth as he returns to the Championship on a full-time basis.

Jorge Navarro (WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph), making his debut on the Street Triple RS 765 following his switch from Yamaha, was seventh with Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) in eighth. ‘Carica’ is also making his debut with a new manufacturer, having opted to leave Ducati to race with the MV Agusta F3 800 RR this year. Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) was ninth with Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) completing the top ten.

There were several technical issues during the 40-minute session which impacted the field. Home hero Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) didn’t set a lap time thanks to two technical issues, including in the first five minutes, while Kaito Toba (Petronas MIE Racing Honda) also had an early tech problem but was able to set a lap time, taking 23^rd place. John McPhee (WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph) had to pull over when he had a technical issue, while Nicolo Antonelli (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) was the sole crasher in the session when he went down at Turn 6.

The top six from WorldSSP FP1, full results here:

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 1’31.939

2. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.089s

3. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.320s

4. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.339s

5. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.382s

6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.466s

Watch the first Tissot Superpole session of 2024 at 14:55 Local Time (UTC+11) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) is thrilled to unveil the lineup of broadcasters set to bring the excitement of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to fans worldwide for the 2024 season. With new partnerships and renewed agreements, the Championship is poised to captivate audiences across the globe. Additionally, the debut of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship in June promises to further enhance the racing experience for fans.

NEW BROADCASTERS AND PARTNERSHIPS: renewals and new signings

• USA: MAVTV joins as the new broadcaster for the USA for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
• Turkey: RedBull TV enters as the new broadcaster, focusing on live coverage and collaboration to enhance the Championship’s awareness in the territory. The contract initially spans the 2024 season, with a strong emphasis on promoting national riders.
• Renewed Partnerships: Servus TV (Austria, Germany) and Arena4 (Hungary) have renewed their commitments, while ITV (UK) has extended the highlights package for two more seasons.

EUROPE: lots of broadcasters remain in place

Eurosport remains a cornerstone broadcaster for the Championship, delivering WorldSBK action to enthusiasts several countries in Europe via Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2, and the Eurosport Player. Notably, Eurosport UK will provide comprehensive coverage of all rounds, including the UK Round in July, supplemented by a 46-minute highlights package on the ITV network. Italian fans can catch the thrilling races on Sky Sport, with free-to-air coverage on TV8. Spanish viewers can follow the action on DAZN and RTVE, while Portuguese fans can tune in to Sport TV. GIB Telecom remains WorldSBK’s broadcast partner in Gibraltar.

Servus TV has renewed its partnership for three years, ensuring continued coverage for fans in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with Servus also offering on-site coverage at European Rounds. Arena4, having renewed its commitment for two more seasons, will continue to cater to fans in Hungary. Ziggo Sport will broadcast highlights for Dutch fans, while Nova Sports and Pop TV are set to continue providing coverage for fans in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia, respectively. Belgian fans can tune in to RTBF to catch every thrilling moment of the Championship race, while RTL will maintain its coverage of WorldSBK for viewers in Luxembourg. Auto1 will be airing WorldSBK action in Ukraine through a 46-minute highlights package.

Additionally, a new partnership with RedBull TV in Turkey will focus on live coverage and collaboration to enhance the championship’s awareness in the territory.

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA: a new home for WorldSBK in the USA

Exciting developments await fans in North America with the introduction of MAVTV as the new exclusive broadcaster for the USA for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Canadian fans can continue to enjoy coverage on REV TV. Brazilian broadcaster Bandsports TV will continue to show WorldSBK in Brazil. In Latin America, Fox Sports Mexico will air all classes, while ESPN will cover all other LATAM territories.

ASIA: Trans7, SpoTV and Douyin the places to watch

J-Sports will continue to bring WorldSBK to Japanese fans, while Trans7, maintaining its broadcast rights, will continue to air WorldSBK in Indonesia. SpoTV will offer coverage across Pan-Asian territories, including Korea, Hong-Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. Chinese fans will have the opportunity to follow the series on the Douyin platform.

MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, CENTRAL ASIA AND OCEANIA: a new five-year partnership

Exciting developments continue in these regions with SMC (Saudi Motorsports Company) securing the rights for MENA territories, including free-to-air coverage on MBC channels and SSC’s TV channels and OTT platform (Shahid) for the next 5 years.

Supersport will provide coverage across multiple Pan-African territories. Eurosport will broadcast in various Central Asian countries, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan all enjoying coverage.

Fans in Australia can catch all the action on Fox Sports, while SBS will provide highlights. In New Zealand, Sky Sport will continue to broadcast all three classes.

WorldSBK VideoPass

In 2024, fans from all across the globe will once again have the opportunity to enjoy every exhilarating moment of the WorldSBK season with the WorldSBK VideoPass. Providing live and uninterrupted coverage of every session and every class, along with a vast archive of historical action, the VideoPass ensures that viewers never miss a beat. Additionally, fans can enjoy races OnDemand, giving them the flexibility to watch the action whenever and wherever they are.

With these broadcasters and partnerships, the 2024 WorldSBK season promises to deliver unparalleled excitement and coverage to fans around the world.

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is one of the most talked about campaigns in the history of the Championship; with fresh rookies, a massively different line-up and all the usual statements and claims, this season promises to be like no other. Ahead of the first round starting, we caught up with all of the heavyweights – old and new – to get their thoughts going into the weekend.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “Winning is my dream… when I think a lot, this doesn’t come true”

Readying for his first weekend with BMW, Toprak Razgatlioglu said: “I’m not feeling pressure but I feel excited because it’s my first round with BMW. It looks like we’re ready, but we’re not 100% because I’m still learning the bike and the electronics. The traction control is OK but we’re still working on engine braking. In the test, we made a good lap time and everyone is very happy but I’m just focusing on the race because when we finish on the podium, or maybe win, I’ll be happier. Tomorrow, we’ll try some different setups because we need to be stronger. The bike looks like it’s working here. It’s not an easy track, it’s not for my style, but we started the test very strong. This is motivation for me. The race looks like it’ll be fun because everyone will be watching a slightly different race as we have a flag-to-flag. I hope we don’t make a mistake and it looks like we’re fighting for the podium. Winning is my dream, but I don’t like to talk like this before the race. If I’m feeling good in the race, I’m fighting for the win. This is my target but I’m always dreaming of winning the first race. When I think a lot, this doesn’t come true.”

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “The overall feeling is mixed… we need to improve”

In blue for the first time ever, Jonathan Rea’s Yamaha debut is nearing: “I’m feeling more or less OK, not 100% but I woke up yesterday morning feeling quite sorry for myself. Today was much better and I hope tomorrow we can make another step. We start tomorrow for real; I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. It’ll be a nice moment to roll down pitlane for the first official session of 2024 and get stuck in. The overall feeling is mixed. I enjoy riding the bike and working with the team. I’ve been fast, but to be really, really fast, I’m still demanding some feeling. Track by track, we’re getting there. The new surface threw us a bit of a curveball, it’s a completely different feeling. It’s got a lot of grip, so that riding style that I normally use on the bike isn’t quite working here. Right now, no. I feel my ultimate pace hasn’t been so fast. Even my race rhythm is not fast, and we need to improve. I really enjoyed Jerez and Portimao, but we need to make a step here. Right now, winning a race here, is a dream. The reality is we have a lot of work to achieve that but we won’t give up.”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Testing is testing, racing is racing”

A tricky pre-season, Alvaro Bautista has found form just in time: “After the last day of testing here at Phillip Island, I felt a bit better especially because my physical condition improved a lot from the test before. I’m quite happy because it was the first time in pre-season that I started to feel the bike more, work on the feeling and try to increase my performance. It’s been a tough winter. At home, I worked a lot to recover as soon as possible but it was really slow. I don’t have any expectations for this weekend. It’s the first round of the season. It’s a long Championship. It’s difficult because testing is testing, and racing is racing. This year’s grid is really competitive, there are a lot of very fast riders. Honestly, I wouldn’t bet on any rider because anything can happen! The Championship is long. We are at Round 1, a very strange one for everything; my condition, the new schedule… we will try to do our best here, get the maximum and then think about the next one.”

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I don’t have targets”

Fast in testing, reigning WorldSSP Champion Nicolo Bulega has been a revelation: “I’m feeling good. I’m happy and proud to be here with this team. I’m happy the tests are finished because I prefer races. It was a very good pre-season because the worst result was second. I think the last one here we did a couple of days ago was the best one for me because I was able to ride a lot with used tyres and I had very good pace. I’ve adapted to this bigger bike but nothing special, I just wanted to ride to understand it better. Alvaro missed some fast laps, but if you see his race pace, he’s always very good. I think he will be at the front. I don’t have targets. I’m enjoying riding this bike a lot. What I want to do is enjoy and stay towards the front if possible.”

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “We want to try and fight with the best riders… this is what I loved for all of my life”

He’s back and ruffling feathers but can Andrea Iannone wow us all this weekend? “I don’t know what to expect because everything is new for me. I think that the format is totally different; I spoke with my team manager and he explained the rules, the way to start the Championship and everything. In any case, I’m very excited. It’s a strange feeling to be back but I’m happy to be back with all of you, the riders etc. This is what I loved for all my life. The pre-season isn’t bad; I’m a little bit surprised because the speed in general is high. We weren’t sure at the beginning because I didn’t ride the race bike but in any case, it was a good pre-season for us. We want to try and fight with the best riders but the top ten positions are our target. Step-by-step, we need to improve and in each race, we’ll improve.”

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): “I feel like I’m a little bit more competitive than what I anticipated”

Is there a 3D photocopier? Alex Lowes has someone who is identical-looking to him on the grid this year – his twin brother, Sam: “It’s been a nice pre-season. I’m excited and proud of this moment. It’s a big thing for me to get here. I had a lot to learn and still do, coming into this weekend with the format, the setting of the bike and how to race the bike, and it’s going to be a different race here with many things to learn but I’m positive. I feel like I’m a little bit more competitive than what I anticipated. I think we can look at this season in a good way. I want to get into the season before making a big statement about my goals, but I feel like I can be competitive and fight for the top five and the podium and then see where we are.”

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “It’s all about the last 5-7 laps”

Alex Lowes himself is excited to get going: “It’s been interesting to work with Pere Riba; obviously, Jonathan moved on at the end of last year, so the dynamics have changed in the team a little bit. The winter was spent trying to get to know each other and trying to get more out of myself and the package. Any teammate you’ve got, you try to work together to give the team the best chance of being competitive. Axel’s come in from some fantastic years on the Ducati; he finished sixth in the world last year, so he did a better job than me! He’s trying to prove himself in a factory team and brings the knowledge from the Ducati. He’s helping as well; he’s been a great teammate. He believes in himself a lot and it’s going to be a nice dynamic in the team. It’s all about the last 5, 6, 7 laps. The guys that look after the tyres the best get the best results. We spent 90% of the test focusing on used tyres and trying to make the tyres last on the new surface.”

Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team): “Hopefully, we can put on a good show for the home fans”

Home-hero Remy Gardner has high hopes for a strong result this weekend: “I’m excited and looking forward to it; with one year of experience, it’s nice to not be looking for the way to ride a bike. Everything is a bit more natural now. This is a nice place to start with the home race; I love the track and hopefully, we can put on a good show for the home fans. Pre-season was pretty good and I think we’re ready to go racing. A podium this year would be nice.”

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “We still don’t understand the bike”

Still not confirmed as riding in the full weekend, it could be a tricky round for Iker Lecuona: “I had a big highside at Turn 11 and dislocated my shoulder; I need to say that until last night, I can’t ride the bike because it’s too much. However, when I woke up, I felt quite good. I spoke with Jose and did a check with the medical team here. I am ‘fit’ for tomorrow morning but this track is hard on the shoulders with the speed, the wind and the bumps. With the Honda, we have to work more than others on other bikes. I’ll try and then make a decision if I continue. I haven’t had time to try the bike in Australia properly but honestly, from what we expected, three or four out of ten, quite low… it’s a new bike and we need a lot of time to understand and take the most from it. We still don’t understand it and we still don’t have a good pace. The target is to find it here in Australia.”

A NEW ERA BEGINS: follow it all in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The start of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is here and, with it, comes the traditional Chevron photo on the pit straight featuring the stunning backdrop of the Victoria state coast. All 23 riders in WorldSBK and the WorldSSP field took part in the photoshoot, which is one activity that marks the start of the season, and you can view the photos from this iconic moment in the gallery at the top of this page.

Watch the start of WorldSBK’s new era in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship kicks off this weekend at the legendary Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, a venue that has been kind to Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) over the years. However, the double WorldSBK Champion is expecting this year’s Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round to be different as he comes into it on the back of a difficult off-season as well as a new surface which he believes is impacting his riding style.

THE BACKSTORY: why is Bautista playing down expectations?

Bautista has been almost unbeatable at the venue when riding a Panigale V4 R, completing a hat-trick in 2019 and currently on a run of five consecutive wins at the historic circuit from the 2022 Tissot Superpole Race onwards. He’s won eight out of nine races on the Ducati machine in Australia, with his only non-win coming in a flag-to-flag race in Race 1 in 2022, when he finished in fifth place. However, the #1 is expecting the 2024 Australian Round to be a different story.

The Spaniard comes into 2024 recovering from a neck injury sustained in testing at Jerez back in November and, while he believes he’s better now, it has impacted him throughout the winter and his testing programme. Speaking on Tuesday after the Official Test, Bautista explained that he felt “much, much better” although on Thursday, he played down his chances of winning at Phillip Island and continuing his incredible streak.

HIS THOUGHTS ON THE OPENING ROUND: “I don’t have any expectations…”

He said on Thursday: “After the Test, I felt a bit better because my physical condition improved a lot from the test before. I’m quite happy because it’s the first time this pre-season I’ve been able to feel the bike more, work more with my feeling on the bike and work more to increase my performance. I don’t have any expectations about this weekend. This is the first round of the season and it’s a long Championship. We don’t have to become crazy. We’ll try to do our best, start to recover the feeling with the bike and that’s all. No expectations, no results, and no pressure, just try to do our best and get the maximum we can.”

ADDING MORE: “I don’t have the trust or confidence that we can be at the top in Round 1”

Bautista then expanded on why he has no expectations when speaking to Servus TV shortly after, saying: “I don’t have any expectations right now, because I didn’t have the best possible pre-season due to injury. I spent basically the whole pre-season recovering my neck and, in the tests, I couldn’t work a lot with my bike. For the start of the season, I think I’m not one of the favourites to win because I have a lot of things to recover, like the feeling with the bike and I’m still a bit far from my best performance. Let’s see if I can close the gap step by step with the best Bautista and fight for good positions. Right now, I don’t have the trust or confidence that we can be at the top in Round 1.”

PLAYING RESULTS POSSIBILITIES DOWN: “We’re in a different situation to last year…”

When asked by Servus TV whether three wins was a realistic goal, Bautista replied: “Phillip Island is always good for us, but the Phillip Island from now is a bit different because there’s a different asphalt. The way you have to ride the bike is different. With a lot of grip, you can’t make the bike spin like in the past. You cannot make the bike turn. Phillip Island was really good for my riding style but, right now, my riding style isn’t working with this surface. We have a really challenging weekend ahead of us, and I’ll try to work as hard as possible to be competitive. Right now, we’re in a different situation to last year.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The first round of any season in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is always key, let alone one that’s shaping up to be as unpredictable as 2024. One aspect that is vital is the tyres that Pirelli bring to the round, and the Italian company have announced their solutions for the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round. With a new surface to contend with at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, there are limitations in place on tyre usage as well as flag-to-flag races in both WorldSSP and WorldSBK being announced.

AVAILABLE TYRES IN WORLD SUPERBIKE: hardest compounds selected

Pirelli have opted to bring the hardest compounds to Phillip Island, a circuit that, due to its fast corners and high speed, is demanding on tyres. At the front of the bike, riders can choose from the SC1 and SC2 standard tyres, while there are two SC0 rear tyres available to use in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session. Due to the compulsory pit stop and flag-to-flag race, two more sets of tyres can be used compared to the normal allocation. In the recent Official Test, several riders were able to go under the existing lap record, with the first ever 1’28s completed.

SAME CHOICES: two front tyres, one rear in WorldSSP

In WorldSSP, it’s a similar story to WorldSBK. There are two front tyre choices – the standard SC1 soft and SC2 medium compounds – for running in the dry, while there’s only one rear option. The SC1-A debuted at this circuit two years ago and has become a vital part of the allocation. Like in WorldSBK, due to the flag-to-flag races, extra sets of tyres are available to the WorldSSP competitors for their first round of the season. In the Official Test on Monday, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) went under the existing lap record as he utilised the new surface to its potential.

RACE CHANGES: pit stop windows for both Championships

Both WorldSBK and WorldSSP will feature pit stops in Race 1 and Race 2. In WorldSBK, a reduced 20-lap distance (down from 22) means the pit window will be open between Laps 9 and 11 while in WorldSSP, where the race distance is the original 18 laps, it is between Laps 8 and 10. Riders will have to change their rear tyre during their pit stop, while changing the front tyre will be optional.

PIRELLI SAYS: “It was a difficult decision to take”

Explaining the decision behind the race format changes, and Pirelli’s allocation, the company’s Motorcycle Racing Director, Giorgio Barbier, said: “We know this track very well, nevertheless every year it’s a whole other story because at Phillip Island the variables that can influence tyre behaviour are many and often unpredictable. This year the most critical element is represented by the new asphalt which has almost completely reset the references we had. I remind everyone that the tyres for this race were shipped from Europe at the end of November while the resurfacing of the circuit was completed only a few weeks ago. Therefore, in the absence of data on which to base ourselves, we thought it appropriate to rely on the racing solutions used successfully in the last two seasons.

“We have seen in the tests that the asphalt offers a lot of grip, to the advantage of the flying lap time, but on the other hand it is very aggressive with the tyres, especially at high temperatures, causing unusual peaks in tread compound temperature on the left side with consequent tyre degradation: we detected up to 160 degrees Celsius in pit lane which we estimate could reach operative peaks of more than 200 degrees. Considering this evidence, in agreement with Dorna, FIM and Race Direction, we have decided that for the races of both classes it will be mandatory to make a pit stop to change tyres. It was a difficult decision to take, also because, as always happens in these cases, some teams would have wanted to try racing over the full distance. However, Pirelli believes that the safety of the riders must be the absolute priority in such circumstances.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com