The moment we’ve all been waiting for; the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is finally here. The testing stops, the off-track talking halts and the on-track talking takes over. From Australia in February to Spain in October, 36 races at 12 circuits around the world will see how the new era of WorldSBK takes shape. History beckons on multiple fronts and it all starts Down Under at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Time and time again, this circuit has delivered the goods and 2024 won’t be any different. From the closest finish of all-time to emphatic debut wins and rookie sensations bursting onto the scene, all those stories – and more – are possible this weekend and to frankly, we don’t know where to start!

HEAVYWEIGHT HEADLINES: the big day nears for the movers and shakers

Let’s start with the obvious; there’re major changes on the grid with Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) switching from Kawasaki and replacing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who left the Japanese brand to join BMW. Both have been fast in testing, with Rea getting stronger all the time whilst before heading to Australia, Razgatlioglu led the way at Portimao. However, in the Official Test at Phillip Island, whilst Toprak was still fast, Rea didn’t seem to be quite at ease and suffered a highside at Turn 11 on Tuesday. Just days before the season starts, it’s the knock that the six-time World Champion didn’t need.

Behind the two giants – although in front of them at various stages in testing – two of the star rookies: Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven). Bulega steps up as reigning WorldSSP Champion and has topped more tests than anyone else throughout pre-season, whilst ‘The Maniac’ is back after four years away and returns to a circuit where he’s always gone well at before in MotoGP™. Flying high and right on Bulega’s case on Tuesday at the test – despite both suffering crashes at Turn 4 – Iannone has been one to watch, lighting up the timing screens. He really isn’t just a big name to make up numbers, he means business.

THE ESTABLISHED STARS IN THEIR USUAL COLOURS: Bautista to turn testing form around?

So, what about the reigning World Champion? Well, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) hasn’t had the easiest ride of things coming into 2024. An injury sustained in the very first pre-season test at Jerez in November has left him with neck and shoulder pain all the way through until Phillip Island. As well as that, there’s a 6kg ballast to be added to his Ducati Panigale V4 R due to the new weight rules and a general struggle to get used to that in testing, Bautista hasn’t topped a single test. However, of the nine races he’s had on Ducati at Phillip Island, he’s won eight of them – the only he didn’t win being a flag-to-flag in 2022’s Race 1. Don’t be surprised if he’s right back where you’d expect him to be on Saturday.

There are other riders who haven’t changed teams but have shone extensively in the build-up to the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) has been in mighty form and after a podium at the track last year, will Phillip Island see him contend for a first win? Then, there’s Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who was P3 in Portimao’s test and in podium contention in Australia last year, although an upgraded ZX-10RR will leave him hoping that he can convert it this year. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has been fast throughout testing and now, with him being fully fit, he’s hoping to be right with teammate Toprak as BMW make strides to the top. There’s also Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) who is keen to get going and he believes he’ll be far more competitive this year at Phillip Island than last, given that he’s got a year of valuable experience under his belt. Having ended 2023 so strongly with a pole in France and podium challenges, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) hopes he can return to the rostrum in 2024 at the track where he debuted at in 2020.

NEW HONDA READIES FOR DEBUT: Lecuona and Vierge gear up for 2024 challenges

Whilst the new Honda may feature split throttle bodies, a lighter crank and refined aero package, both Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and Xavi Vierge have yet to find a base setup. Both were comfortably inside the top ten last year at Phillip Island and hopefully for them, the track’s new surface will help them in their quest to find more grip, something they’ve struggled with throughout pre-season. For Lecuona himself, he crashed at Turn 11 and missed the afternoon of testing on Tuesday and had his arm in a sling, so his 2024 hasn’t got off to an ideal start. Also with the new Honda is Britain’s Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONIAS MIE Racing Team), who will look to mix it with the factory outfit on occasion, whilst he’s got Adam Norrodin as a teammate for 2024, the Malaysian stepping up to WorldSBK.

DARK HORSES: Phillip Island’s unpredictability could be favourable

The home crowd will be cheering for Remy Gardner (GTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Australian ready for a second season and hoping to be a regular challenger in the top five. Teammate Dominique Aegerter comes into 2024 having not tested besides the Official Test just days ago due to illness but he was on the front row during his debut last year. Two podiums at the end of the year will spur him onto big things for this year. Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) may be chasing a first win in his career and living the dream as a factory rider but he’s still adapting to Kawasaki machinery. Perhaps a race about tyre management could bring him into play? Don’t forget, he was fourth last year in Race 2, just holding off Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha), who has also left the Ducati family. He’s shown good potential already on the inline four of Yamaha.

Both were behind Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Motocorsa Racing) last year on the factory Ducati but the #21 has replaced Bassani at Lorenzo Mauri’s team for this year and will hope to be competitive from the start. Don’t discount Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) or Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) for surprises either, with Ray at Phillip Island for the first time and Rabat with a factory-spec Kawasaki.

A NEW ERA BEGINS: watch 2023’s Season Review for FREE here, get the 2024 Season Preview FREE here, the Official Programme for Australia here and follow the racing with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com