The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to the Circuito Estoril for what could be a title-deciding Estoril Round. The action kicks off at 09:40 Local Time (UTC+1) with WorldWCR Free Practice, followed by WorldSBK FP1 at 10:20 and WorldSSP FP an hour later. In the afternoon, WorldWCR’s Tissot Superpole is at 14:10, WorldSBK FP2 at 15:00 and WorldSSP Superpole at 16:00. On Saturday, WorldSBK FP3 is at 09:00 followed by Warm Up sessions for WorldWCR and WorldSSP. At 11:00, the WorldSBK Superpole session takes place before racing gets underway: WorldWCR at 12:45, WorldSBK at 14:00 and WorldSSP at 15:15. On Sunday, Warm Up sessions take place from 09:00 before the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race at 11:00. At 12:45, WorldWCR Race 2 takes place followed by WorldSBK Race 2 at 14:00 and WorldSSP Race 2 at 16:15.
We review the Rev’It Xena 4 Two-Piece Motorcycle Suit during the Level I class of California Superbike School. Photo by EtechPhoto.com.
Before heading to the track for the Level I class of California Superbike School, I began my search for a leather motorcycle suit. The school would have some for rent, but my small size meant it was unlikely the school would have a suit to fit me. Instead, I found Rev’It’s Xena 4 Ladies suits.
Rev’It’s Xena 4 Ladies line includes a one-piece suit, a one-piece Pro option, a two-piece jacket-and-pants combo, and a two-piece Pro set. Although the one-piece versions were tempting, I wanted to be able to wear the jacket separately on street rides, so I opted for a two-piece. I also chose the standard version rather than the Pro, which includes a back hump and other features, again hoping it would be a more versatile choice for both track and street riding. To complete the ensemble, I also ordered some Xena 4 Ladies gloves.
The Rev’It Xena 4 Ladies suits are the fourth generation of the Xena line, meaning Rev’It has had plenty of time and experience to perfect them. The outer shell of the jacket is made of synthetic leather, cowhide, and neoprene, and it includes a detachable thermal body warmer and a soft collar for comfort. The pants are made of synthetic leather, cowhide, nubuck, and polyester, with a mesh lining. The jacket and pants zip together at the waist.
These two pieces come with CE Level 2 armor for the spine, elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. For additional safety, both pieces include safety seams in areas of increased impact risk so that the shell holds together even if the outer seam is torn. Ventilation comes in the form of perforations at the upper arms, upper back, upper front, and upper legs.
Photo by EtechPhoto.com.
The gloves are made of 3D air mesh, cowhide, goatskin leather, and neoprene, with a moisture-wicking tri-fleece liner. They include added stretch panels in key areas to allow hands to move freely and reach for levers. They also feature a double-cuff closure and an adjustment strap at the wrist.
During my track day at California Superbike School, I noticed I wasn’t thinking about my gear at all while on track – a sign that everything was working just as it should. The two-piece suit provided enough stretch to allow movement without being baggy or cumbersome, and the perforations provided enough ventilation to keep me comfortable while riding. The gloves’ two-way closures and adjustment straps allowed for easy removal and kept the gloves secure on my hands while riding.
For my needs, the Xena 4 Ladies jacket and pants combo with gloves was the right choice. This gear has provided me with a solid set of leathers for track days along with the versatility to use the gear on street rides.
The Rev’It Xena 4 Ladies jacket ($499.99) and pants ($469.99) are available in sizes 34-36, with the pants having lengths in short, standard, or long. The gloves are available in sizes XXS-XL for $199.99.
Bahattin Sofuoglu has left the MV Agusta Reparto Corse team ahead of the final two rounds of the 2024 FIM Supersport World Championship campaign. Sofuoglu joined the team in 2022 for a WorldSSP Challenge campaign before re-signing for 2023 with a full season, where he claimed one win. This year has been trickier for the Turkish rider with no visits to the podium, and now he and the team have split after three seasons. Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder will replace him for the final two rounds of the season.
SOFUOGLU’S TIME WITH MV AGUSTA: one win, four podiums and a WorldSSP Challenge title
The WorldSSP300 race winner first joined the team in 2022 and finished 14th in the standings as he brought home the WorldSSP Challenge crown. He remained with the team for 2023, claiming sixth in the standings, as well as taking a first WorldSSP win in Race 2 in Barcelona. In total in that season, Sofuoglu claimed four rostrums as he racked up 168 points. Sofuoglu hasn’t been able to match those results in 2024, with the #54 sitting 13th in the Championship standings with a best result of fifth in Race 2 at Assen. For the rest of the season, Sofuoglu will not race with MV Agusta after three years with the team.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Bendsneyder joins WorldSSP
Bendsneyder will make his WorldSSP debut with the MV Agusta Reparto Corse team at Estoril and also race at Jerez. The Dutchman has been a regular Moto2™ racer since 2018 and claimed his first podium in 2023 at the Grand Prix of the Americas when he finished third. Prior to that, he had two seasons in Moto3™ and stood on the rostrum twice: at Silverstone and Sepang, when he finished both. The Dutchman, who runs the #64 in Moto2™ but will have to change it in WorldSSP as Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) uses it, completed two races in the European Junior Cup in 2023 as a wildcard, winning at Assen and the Nurburgring. The 25-year-old will get two cracks at WorldSSP this season on the MV Agusta F3 800 RR machine, alongside Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) at Estoril and Jerez, the final two rounds of the 2024 season.
BENDSNEYDER SAYS: “I’m very happy to begin this new adventure with MV Agusta…”
Discussing his move into WorldSSP for the end of the season, Bendsneyder said: “I am very happy to begin this new adventure with MV Agusta Reparto Corse. I thank Andrea for the trust and for giving me the opportunity to race in these two races. I am ready and very motivated, I can’t wait to start working with the team, to give my best already at Estoril and Jerez.”
FROM THE TEAM: “The next two races will be a sort of dress rehearsal… I thank Bahattin for his work done”
Andrea Quadranti, Team Principal, took a longer-term approach to Bendsneyder coming in for two rounds, saying: “I welcome Bo to the MV Agusta RC team. I am very happy to have him in our team for next year. The next two races will be a sort of dress rehearsal in view of the winter preparation. I thank Bahattin for the work he’s done in these three years with us. We have shared so many exciting moments and I wish him all the best for his future.”
2025 Kawasaki W230 ABS in Metallic Ocean Blue / Ebony
Kawasaki has announced one new and two updated models for 2025. The new 2025 Kawasaki W230 is a small retro bike inspired by the 1965 650-W1, and it joins the W800 in the W series. The Ninja 1100SX ABS sport-tourer and Versys 1100 SE LT ABS adventure crossover get several shared updates, including a larger engine, an upgraded quickshifter, smartphone connectivity functions, and more.
The 2025 Kawasaki W230 ABS is a new retro-inspired motorcycle and the second addition to what Kawasaki is calling its W series, which before now has included only the W800. The W230 is a small-displacement bike inspired by the 1965 650-W1.
The W230 includes several design features that give it its retro appearance. The engine’s cylinder head features rounded and large cooling fins with machined tips. The bike also includes a chrome fuel-injector cover and a teardrop fuel tank. Its peashooter muffler design is decidedly retro and is crafted from stainless steel with a buffed finish. The bike also includes a chrome-plated handlebar and a 3D “W” emblem on the tank.
2025 Kawasaki W230 ABS
It’s powered by an air-cooled 233cc single-cylinder engine with SOHC. It has a bore and stroke of 67.0 x 66.0mm, and Kawasaki says it is tuned to prioritize torque in the low- to mid-range. It has a 6-speed transmission and is fuel-injected.
The W230 has a semi-double-cradle frame with a 27-degree rake and 3.7 inches of trail. Suspension is provided by a 37mm nonadjustable telescopic fork and twin shocks with 5-step preload adjustment. The wheels are spoked, with an 18-incher in the front and a 17-inch wheel in the rear. A single 265mm disc in the front is pinched by a dual-piston caliper, and a 220mm disc with a single-piston caliper slows things down out back.
Kawasaki designed the W230’s ergonomics to be relaxed and upright. It features a seat height of 29.3 inches and a slim seat design for easy reach to the ground. Additional features to enhance comfort are the sculpted fuel tank with knee cut-outs, rubber pads and weights in the footpegs, and bar-end weights to manage vibration. The bike has a low claimed wet weight of 315.3 lb.
A welcome safety feature on the W230 is standard ABS. Instrumentation includes separate speedometer and tachometer gauges paired with an integrated LCD that shows odometer, tripmeter, and a clock. It also features a round LED headlight with separate chambers for low and high beams.
The 2025 Kawasaki W230 ABS will be available in Metallic Ocean Blue / Ebony with an MSRP of $5,599.
2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX ABS and Versys 1100 SE LT ABS Updates
Kawasaki’s Ninja 1100SX ABS sport-tourer and Versys 1100 SE LET ABS adventure crossover both receive updates for 2025, and the Ninja 1100SX SE ABS gets additional suspension and brake updates.
2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX ABS in Metallic Carbon Gray / Mettalic Diablo Black
The inline-Four that powers these models gets a bump in displacement to 1,099cc, up from 1,043. It has a bore and stroke of 77.0 x 59.0mm, with an additional 3mm of stroke than before. Additionally, 5th and 6th gears have been lengthened on both bikes.
The Ninja 1100SX ABS and Versys 1100 SE LT ABS share an inline-Four that now has a displacement of 1,099cc, with a longer stroke than before.
They also benefit from an update to the Kawasaki Quick Shifter, an up/down quickshifter that now functions at lower revs than previously. Other changes include a new USB-C outlet and a 10mm-larger rear brake disc. The bikes pair to a smartphone via Kawasaki’s Rideology app, which now supports voice commands for using the app without needing to take hands off the bars.
2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS in Metallic Graphite Gray / Metallic Diablo Black
The Ninja 1100SX SE ABS now sports Brembo M4.32 front brake calipers, a Brembo master cylinder, and Brembo discs. It’s also equipped with an Öhlins S46 rear shock with a remote preload adjuster. It’s visually distinguishable from the non-SE with its gold-colored front and rear wheels and gold-alumite finish on the front fork outer tubes. The SE also gets heated grips.
2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE ABS in Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black
The 2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX ABS will be available in Metallic Carbon Gray / Mettalic Diablo Black with an MSRP of $13,699. The SE version will be available in Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black with an MSRP of $15,399. The 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS will be available in Metallic Graphite Gray / Metallic Diablo Black with an MSRP of $19,499.
While the battle for the Riders’ Championship in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship rages on, the Manufacturers’ Championship was wrapped up at MotorLand Aragon. Kawasaki have now won the last two titles with their Ninja 400 machine and six in total, with riders on the machine fighting for this year’s Riders’ Championship crown, while a Kawasaki-powered team lead the Teams’ Championship.
Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) and Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) still have a chance of this year’s Riders’ Championship heading into the season finale at Jerez, and the pair have made significant contributions to the manufacturer’s success this season. The duo have five wins between them out of a possible 14 so far, although they’re not the only riders to win on the Ninja 400.
Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) has three wins – two at Portimao, one at Aragon – although is out of title contention. Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) also has two wins, adding to a successful season for Kawasaki, while Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki duo Petr Svoboda, and his replacement rider following the Czech rider’s injury, Carter Thompson, have all added valuable points to Kawasaki’s tally, as did Italian rider Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo-PL Performances).
In total, Kawasaki have 10 wins and 22 podiums in seven races this season and, with a round to spare, have an unassailable lead over Yamaha. Kawasaki have amassed 302 points in 14 races this season, with Yamaha railing them by 72 points with 50 available across the Spanish Round that concludes the 2024 campaign.
Steve Guttridge, Race Planning Manager at Kawasaki Motor Europe, said: “Kawasaki is understandably proud to have added to our existing Championship success in WorldSSP300 by achieving the manufacturer title honour once more in 2024. This is now our sixth success as a brand from eight attempts, but the real credit has to go to our teams and their riders for delivering such consistently strong results on the Ninja 400. With no less than four riders sharing the top step of the podium so far in 2024, this Championship provides real excitement and – being part of the WorldSBK paddock – creates a great ladder of opportunity for aspiring riders. For now, we will celebrate… and tomorrow we make plans for further manufacturers’ titles!”
With the Spanish Round at Jerez to go, Kawasaki have two competitors fighting for the Riders’ Championship crown, although neither lead the way heading to Jerez. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) is P1 in the standings and the Indonesian rider holds a 16-point lead over Veneman, while Iglesias sits 32 back from the Yamaha rider. Although it’s an advantage for Mahendra at Jerez, it’s possible Kawasaki walk away with the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Championship, while MTM Kawasaki also lead the Teams’ Championship with a round to go.
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) will remain on the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid in 2025. The British rider made his debut this year and has shown good pace although it’s been mixed in with disappointing results at times as he adapted to the Ducati Panigale V4 R, some new circuits and Pirelli tyres. The #14 has secured his future in WorldSBK for next year, extending his stay with a team he’s enjoyed so much success at in Moto2™.
SEASON SUMMED UP: a rollercoaster campaign
Lowes’ best result in 2024 so far was a P6 in Race 2 at Assen, although he took a front-row grid slot and led in Barcelona. He’s taken five top-eight finishes in his rookie season, but he’s found results harder to come by in recent rounds. Crashes and an ultra-competitive field mean he’s struggled to break into the top ten, with his last top-ten finish coming in the Tissot Superpole Race at Donington Park.
BEFORE WORLD SUPERBIKE: success in Moto2™, WorldSSP and in British Supersport
Prior to his team in WorldSBK, Lowes competed in 155 Moto2™ races, including four seasons with the Marc VDS squad from 2020. He finished third in the standings in his first season with the team, before backing that up with fourth the season after. Two trickier seasons followed but the team remained committed to Lowes for 2024, making the switch to WorldSBK with the Ducati Panigale V4 R. He also had a season in MotoGP™, taking part in 18 races and scoring five points.
The 34-year-old is already a World Champion after he claimed the 2013 WorldSSP title before he made his switch to the MotoGP™ paddock. He won six races that season with a total of 11 podiums in his first season with Yamaha in the Championship. He’d previously spent two full-time seasons on Honda machinery, the same brand he claimed the 2010 British Supersport title on with five wins and 10 podiums.
AIMING TO CONTINUE SUCCESS: a big 2025 to come?
For 2025, with a year of learning under his and the team’s belts, and not having to learn the bike or tyres, Lowes will hope he can become a regular top-ten finisher or fight for podiums in his second season as he looks for success with the Independent Ducati team. It would continue their success as a partnership, having taken multiple wins in Moto2™ and fought for the title.
LOWES HOPING TO END 2024 ON A HIGH: “I’m looking forward to getting some strong results in the final part of the season”
On renewing his partnership with the team, Lowes said: “I’m very happy and proud to be continuing for one more year in WorldSBK with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team. The goal for me and the team was always a minimum two-year plan due to the massive difference between Moto2™ and WorldSBK. The last races have been complicated after my shoulder injury, but the first rounds were really enjoyable as we made good progress, so I am looking forward to getting some strong results in the final part of the season.
“We will focus a lot over the next races to make some steps forward, so we can start the 2025 season at a much higher level. I am enjoying the challenge of racing in WorldSBK. I am enjoying the bike, and the technical differences compared to Moto2™, so let’s first enjoy the end of the 2024 season before focusing on future challenges. I have to say a big thanks once again to Marc van der Straten and everybody connected to the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for their trust and support.”
VAN DER STRATEN SAYS: “I am convinced that next year his name and Elf Marc VDS Racing will shine at the top of the Championship”
Team Owner Marc van der Straten added: “Sam’s dedication and determination to improve day by day and earn himself a place among the fastest in WorldSBK has been admirable. New beginnings are always complicated, as it’s not easy to adapt and move forward every day. That’s why I’m proud to continue with Sam for the 2025 season. I am convinced that next year his name and Elf Marc VDS Racing will shine at the top of the Championship standings.”
Just a couple of days after the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visited MotorLand Aragon, Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was on track again. He and the team ventured across Spain to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for two days of testing, with Bassani the sole KRT rider on track. Alex Lowes did not test as he continues to recover following his Tissot Superpole Race crash at Aragon.
Conditions were very hot in Andalusia, with air temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius and track temperatures peaking around 15 degrees higher. With the incredibly hot conditions, the #47 was limited to 120 laps by his team but he was still able to work on both race pace and one-lap pace. KRT reported that Bassani was ‘even faster’ than when he tested with the team at Jerez in January.
It was good preparation for the season finale which takes place at the same circuit in a few weeks, although conditions may differ between the test and the round. It will be Bassani’s first race weekend on the ZX-10RR machine at Jerez but with tests at the start of the year and now a test not long before the round, he’ll feel confident heading into the round.
Reflecting on the test, the Italian rider said “We have now finished two days of hard testing, which we started very soon after the previous round in MotorLand Aragon. Physically, it has not been so easy because we had a race weekend so recently. But they worked a lot and worked well to try to improve the bike in these hot conditions. We improved in some areas, and I am happy with what we did together in the team. I have to thank all the guys for the big effort they put in over these two days. I think we went in a good direction and now we can relax a bit before we head to the next round in Estoril.”
His Crew Chief, Marcel Duinker, added: “It was an interesting test because, especially today, it was hot. Really hot. That made it very suitable to help us work towards race weekend, but at the same time, it helped us understand the other areas we needed to improve in. That’s what we did, and it was also interesting because Axel was faster in the 50°C track temperatures than he had been in winter testing at Jerez. Axel was riding with a lot of confidence on both race and Q tyres, and he was really on top of his job. We did what we needed to do, so we will be ready not just for the Jerez race weekend, but also the next round at Estoril.”
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s visits to the Cremona Circuit and MotorLand Aragon have concluded with some incredible overtakes, some coming at corners you wouldn’t expect. From high-speed changes of direction to big moves under braking, there were some unforgettable passes across the two rounds.
Aragon’s Turn 5 left-hander comes right after Turn 4 where riders are continually reducing speed, but that didn’t stop Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) releasing the brakes and jabbing it down the inside of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) there to reclaim the lead of Race 1, before going on to win the race.
The Tissot Superpole Race at Aragon went down to the last-lap, as Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made moves at Turn 15. First, ‘El Turco’ sent it on the inside of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) there to move into P1, before Bautista followed suit on his teammate. Then, on the final lap, it was Bautista vs Razgatlioglu as the reigning Champion overtook the BMW rider.
After losing out at the start of Race 2, Bulega was on the charge as he looked to recover to a podium. Turn 7 seemed to be one of his favourite passing places, as he got ahead of Iannone and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) there, while he also got ahead of Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) on the run to Turn 8.
Turn 4 at Cremona is the first right-hander of the track, but it isn’t a place you’d consider to be an overtaking opportunity – unless your name is Andrea Iannone. After catching Bulega through the final sector of the first lap, he surprised the #11 by going up the inside to briefly moved into the lead of the race.
The last turn at Cremona is a left-hand hairpin but its design lends itself to overtaking despite a short run into it. The off-camber corner allows different lines and Lecuona took full advantage of this, pulling off an unexpected move on Iannone to move up the field.
Reigning Champion Bautista could only manage 13th in Tissot Superpole but he was soon fighting his way through the field. He carried speed through Turn 1 and set up a move on van der at Turn 2 to move up the field; he eventually went on to finish third.
The title fight in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship will go down to Jerez after a dramatic Tissot Aragon Round full of twists and turns. Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) claimed victory in Race 1 as he slashed the deficit in the standings at MotorLand Aragon, and he was joined on the podium by Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki), while Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) was second in Race 2 while his title rivals faltered.
Starting with Championship leader Mahendra, the Indonesian claimed fifth in Race 1 while his rivals were ahead of him. However, in Race 2, the tables turned. Mahendra battled his way from 11th on the grid to the podium spots to finish in second, although he narrowly missed out on victory. He was just 0.006s away from claiming the win, which was taken by Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) on the run to the line.
Looking back on his podium, and previewing the title decider at Jerez, Mahendra said: “This race was incredible for me. I started from 11th and tried to push but, at the beginning of the race, we had a red flag. I started again from 11th and I tried to push because I knew it was only seven laps. I tried to push and I got the second place, and so close to the win. For Jerez, I will take care and try to have a good race. I’ll try to get a podium for the Championship.”
Iglesias was the only one of the title contenders to take victory at Aragon with the Kawasaki rider winning Race 1. He was just 0.010s clear of Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) in second, with Veneman third and half-a-tenth away from victory. Race 2 was a disaster for Iglesias though, with the #58 given a double Long Lap Penalty in the closing stages of the race for irresponsible riding, dropping him from the lead group into 18th place and allowing Mahendra a 20-point gain in the title fight.
Discussing his win, Iglesias said: “I wanted to come back to the podium after a few rounds with a little bit of bad luck. I’m back here. The race was crazy, like all the races in WorldSSP300. I tried to always be in the top positions, and I felt my teammate, Carter, helping me. He was with me fighting with the other guys. I needed to win here at my home round. I tried to push like hell on the last lap to try and get the victory.”
When asked about the title fight on Saturday in Spain, he said: “My first goal was to keep the Championship alive. I went for everything. I told my team before that we had to do everything to get that Championship. I think I deserve it. I’ll fight for the top positions on Sunday and then we’ll see at Jerez, a track that I like a lot.
Veneman showed his consistency at Aragon with third in Race 1, missing out on the win by 0.041s, and fifth in Race 2 despite some fierce fights. The Dutchman has scored points in all but one race this season as he looks to take the crown from fellow Dutchman Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing), although the #7 will need results to go his way at Jerez.
Discussing his podium, Veneman said: “It was a pretty good race. My start was perfect so I could go into the first corner in first place. I could keep it like that almost for the whole first lap. In the end, I had a few problems with running wide or aggressive overtakes so sometimes I feel back and had to catch the group again. In the end, I still finished P3 and overtook Aldi around the outside of the last corner, so I was happy with that. I’m really happy with how the title fight is going. Unfortunately, Inigo won. I hoped he didn’t, and Julio won! These things happen.”
In a weird quirk, the top three are in reverse order in terms of wins in 2024. Mahendra is P1 in the standings with one win, Veneman is second with two and Iglesias third with three. Mahendra holds a 16-point lead over Veneman and 32 points over Iglesias, meaning he can win the title in Race 1 if he’s 25 or 26 points clear, depending on the number of wins in the event of a tiebreak.
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