The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is getting ever closer all the time and the closer we get, the more teams we get a glimpse of ahead of lights out! The Barni Spark Racing Team continue with Danilo Petrucci for this season and the #9 will have a familiar look to him. The bike is largely the same as 2023, with the instantly recognisable black and red of the team once again on show. Check out the gallery at the top to get familiar with what is sure to be a podium-challenging combination this season.

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There’s changes aplenty in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and one of them is Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who replaces Jonathan Rea within KRT after the six-time World Champion moved to Yamaha for this season. There’ll be a lot to learn for Bassani in his first season back with Kawasaki – he was European Supersport Cup winner in 2016 with them – but one of the youngest riders on the grid is ready for a new outlook as he joins one of the most successful teams on the grid.

THE STORY SO FAR: Bassani rising through the ranks

Bassani started in the European Superstock 600 Championship with Kawasaki in 2015, where he took a podium with P2 at Magny-Cours before going on to be European Cup winner in 2016. He was back in his native Italy on BMW and Yamaha Superbike machinery in 2018 and 2019 but it would be 2021 where Bassani would come to the fore on the world stage again. A podium in the rain in Barcelona in WorldSBK – coming close to the win after leading for the first time – served as a catalyst for the #47 to assert himself as a front-runner.

2022 and 2023 continued to welcome Bassani to the front, mainly for his rivalry with fellow countryman Michael Ruben Rinaldi. The two clashed on numerous occasions during 2023, notably at Barcelona when Rinaldi’s Race 1 ended in the gravel, whilst Race 1 at Jerez saw Bassani out after contact with the #21; this year, Rinaldi will move to replace Bassani at Motocorsa Racing and for sure, it will be a story and dynamic to keep an eye on throughout 2024. Six podiums in total, he’ll plan to add to it in green.

TESTING SEASON: adaptation key to inline four

It’s been a challenge for many riders before Bassani – Scott Redding to BMW and Alvaro Bautista to Honda the key ones – but will ‘El Bocia’ be any different? So far during preseason testing, the 24-year-old has needed time to adapt to riding the bike, with corner entry and braking being the two areas where he needs time. At Portimao, he elevated himself up the order but didn’t trouble the top ten placings. However, Bassani – in his own admission – is not a fan of testing or practice, so let’s see how it goes when the visor goes down and the lights go out in Australia.

One thing is guaranteed; wherever he is in the pack, he won’t think twice about coming through on the rival ahead of him. It’s also worth noting that a first win eluded Bassani at Ducati; with no dry win for Kawasaki since 2022, a win for Bassani in green would be a hard-fought one, although upgrades via the superconcessions system will help the Japanese brand close the gap to the front.

FIRST THOUGHTS: “if we continue working hard and believing, we will arrive”

Speaking after his second test with the bike after Jerez, Bassani stated: “Now, I’ve started to feel good with the bike; it’s not easy because it’s completely different compared to the Ducati but step-by-step, test-by-test, we’re starting to feel good. Having a teammate is good because you can work with them and learn about their riding. It’s nice and they’re always your first opponent! We’re slowly arriving to Alex. We only need to enjoy and find a good way to follow during this winter for next year.”

Continuing after further testing into 2024, he said: “The pressure is normal; like last year, I just want to do my best so it’s normal for me. I’m really happy to be with Kawasaki, a good team, good guys. I want to take my first win but it’s not easy, as the level is super high and all the riders are good riders. We’ll see what happens but if we continue working hard and believing, we will arrive.”

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The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is fast approaching and with it comes a whole heap of stories. One is Andrea Iannone’s (Team GoEleven) debut in the production-based Championship as he makes his return to racing. ‘The Maniac’ has been quick in testing at both Jerez and Portimao and, on the Panigale V4 R, will be hoping this translates into strong results when racing gets underway in just a couple of weeks.

SUCCESS ON THE WORLD STAGE: Iannone’s MotoGP™ paddock career

34-year-old Iannone spent 14 seasons competing in the MotoGP™ paddock, across the 125cc World Championship before moving into Moto2™ and then MotoGP™. The #29 claimed four wins in five seasons between 2005 and 2009 in the 125cc class, earning him a seat in the new-for-2010 Moto2™ Championship, where he spent three seasons. He finished third in every season, winning eight races in total, before securing a move to the premier class. In total, he spent seven seasons there, winning one race for Ducati in 2016 and taking 11 podiums. However, he was sanctioned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following a violation of an anti-doping rule after a positive test for a banned substance in the following Malaysian GP, coming in from December 17th, 2019, which led to him not racing at all for four years.

RETURNING WITH A BANG: impressive pace in testing

Despite four years away from competition, ‘The Maniac’ was rapid when 2024 testing started straight after the Spanish Round last year. At Jerez in November, he posted a 1’39.335s to finish P5 while he set a 1’38.744s in the January test at the same location. Although he was further down the order at the Portimao test, it was his first time at the ‘rollercoaster’ on a race bike. A 1’40.654s was set by Iannone, 1.465s off Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) pace on Day 2, but it was still a strong showing from the Italian as he adjusted to WorldSBK machinery at a challenging circuit to learn.

A RETURN TO VICTORY? Team GoEleven aiming for podium fights

Team GoEleven are race winners in WorldSBK, having last won with Michael Ruben Rinaldi at the Teruel Round back in 2020. It was a weekend where the #21 was on top form and he was able to fight at the front in all three races, claiming a rostrum in each. Since then, the team stood on the podium with Chaz Davies in 2021 but have been without a visit to parc ferme as a top-three finisher since. Is Iannone the rider who can bring Team GoEleven back onto the podium or the top step? Of course, victory for Iannone would mean he stands on top of the podium for the first time since 2016 and he will be hoping his eight-year wait comes to an end.

IANNONE’S VIEW: “I’m living the dream one more time”

Speaking at the first Jerez test of 2024, Iannone outlined what he’d like to achieve this year. He said: “I’m happy to come back. I’m living the dream one more time. This is beautiful. I’m really happy to come back with Ducati. It’s my preferred bike in life and I get to ride it one more time. I hope we do a really good job. I think the most important thing is that we try to enjoy every moment. I’ve come back and I want to give everything.”

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There have been lots of changes at Team HRC for the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign. A new bike has been introduced and tested, and there are some new faces in the garage. One of these is Jose Manuel Escamez, who takes over the role of Team Manager from Leon Camier following the former rider’s departure at the end of the 2023 season. Escamez, for the team’s launch, spoke about his journey to his current role, the philosophy he’ll bring and much more as he embarks on a new challenge.

MOVING ACROSS: working in MotoGP™ before WorldSBK

Escamez is the third Team Manager that Honda have had since they returned to the Championship as a full-factory outfit, following in the footsteps of Jaume Colom and Camier, who each had two seasons at the helm. Explaining his route to Team HRC’s Team Manager, Escamez said: “I first worked as a mechanic in Barcelona before moving into the racing arena. Most of my racing career to date has been in MotoGP™, where I’ve had chance to work with some great riders and good teams, including several seasons with HRC already. Now, I’m very happy to be the Team Manager of Team HRC in WorldSBK and I am ready to apply all my experience to this new role. The company is the same, and the way of working is also similar, so it’s been a relatively smooth transition, although there are also many new things to familiarise myself with, of course.”

THE PHILOSOPHY: “I want to ensure everyone is able to give their best”

Every team manager will have their own way of working as they look to secure the best possible results for the team. With years of experience under his belt in MotoGP™, Escamez will have found a method that works for him, and he will be hoping this works for riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, as well as everyone else who works within the team. As someone who has held different roles, this will play a part in how Escamez works.

Expanding on his philosophy, Escamez said: “I will strive to keep the team united and working together towards the same goal. I have held various positions within a team throughout my career, both on the mechanical side and in coordination roles. This has given me the opportunity to understand people and their feelings, so I want to ensure that everyone is able to give their best for the team.”

THE CHALLENGES IN 2024: “the main challenge is to become competitive with the new bike as soon as possible”

With the introduction of a new machine, Vierge and Lecuona have been testing it with mixed emotions coming from those, with the first test largely positive but running into some problems during 2024 testing. It’s natural that a new bike comes with complications and ups and downs while everyone tries to figure out the best setup and the way to ride it. Escamez believed this would be one of the biggest challenges facing Team HRC in 2024.

“The main challenge is to become competitive with the new bike as soon as possible”, he began. “There are many updates across all areas of the machine, so we need to bring it all together and find a base setup that allows our riders to fully exploit the bike’s potential. The next challenge will be to consistently compete for top-five positions and secure some podium finishes. We are aware that this is a significant challenge, considering the high level of competition in the championship, but we are working tirelessly to achieve that goal.”

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Another team have taken the wraps off their 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship contender. Team HRC have shown off the new CBR1000RR-R with its mew livery, featuring some striking differences from last year. Red is the most prominent colour as it comes in HRC’s corporate colours, but there’s more blue on the bike to make it stand out on track, with the fairing featuring a couple of different shades of the colour.

Both riders discussed the 2024 season as part of the season launch. Explaining his relationship with new crew chief Tom Jojic and his goals for the season, Iker Lecuona said: “To be honest, changing crew chief is never really a problem for me. I think I’m a friendly, open person and so I’m always happy to work with new colleagues and have always had a good relationship with members of my crew. My initial impression is good, and Tom seems to be a very cool guy with a positive, cheerful outlook. So far, so good, and I look forward to developing our relationship throughout the season. The goal is to fight for the podium. We reached the podium in our first year but not last year, which was more challenging. So, our first goal is to develop the bike to a level that allows us to fight at the front and fight for the podium. We want to achieve more top three finishes, and then take it from there.”

Vierge also spoke of his objectives, saying: “Let’s say that we didn’t always live up to our potential in 2023, as performance sometimes depended on the track, the conditions, and whether there was a good level of grip or not. Our potential was great at Indonesia, for example, but perhaps less so at some other tracks, so we want to work hard to achieve a better, more consistent level of performance at different circuits.”

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The covers have come off Kawasaki’s challenger for the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK outfit unveiled their new look featuring even more green than last year. With the ZX-10RR machines now in their race livery, as opposed to the stunning winter test livery traditionally used by KRT in testing, all eyes are turning to Australia with riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani, and Team Manager Guim Roda, previewing the upcoming season, with the team benefitting from a new partnership with Motul.

2023 REVIEWED: one win, and a massive rider change…

2023 was one of Kawasaki’s toughest in recent years, managing only one victory – thanks to a Jonathan Rea masterclass in difficult conditions at the Autodrom Most – and picking up 19 podiums, down from 34 in 2022. With bombshell transfers up and down the paddock, none were bigger than the announcement that Rea would leave KRT after nine seasons, six titles, more than 100 wins and countless records broken.

LOOKING TO 2024: the post-Rea era begins

With riders always looking for a factory ride and competitive bike, KRT turned to Bassani to fill the vacant seat. ‘El Bocia’ had impressed with Motocorsa Racing, taking podiums and using his aggressive style to fight at the front. Bassani had mentioned on several occasions that his dream was to have a factory team seat, and that dream is now a reality. Will the Italian be able to deliver once he adapts to the ZX-10RR? He’ll race in green alongside Lowes, who’s entering his fifth season with the team.

LOWES OUTLINES GOALS: “I come into 2024 with a lot of optimism!”

Alex Lowes explained how the package had changed for 2024, saying: “I really like the new colours for 2024, they are a little bit different. Every other year there have been some small changes, but this is my favourite one yet. I come into 2024 with a lot of optimism. In some ways the bike, the package and the team are the same, but I have some different personnel to work with. We have some small upgrades and we have been working very hard in the winter, especially in our weak areas, making the bike easier to manage over a race distance. I am really happy with the work we have done. Whether it is enough to challenge at the front every week, we will have to wait and see. But I certainly feel that we have made a step forward from last year. I am excited to get going and head to Phillip Island for the final pre-season test and Round 1.”

BASSANI SAYS: “we can have a really good season together”

Looking ahead to 2024, Bassani stated: “I am really happy to finally show to the world the new KRT livery for the 2024 season. I think it is a really good design and I like it. For sure there is still a lot of green but some different colours. It is also really good to finally see my factory bike in factory colours. It is always nice to have a new look each season. I hope that people like the look of the bike and all the new team clothing. The green of Kawasaki is always special. I think we can have a really good season together. I am looking forward to going to Australia soon.”

HOW DOES THE TEAM FEEL? “the number of great riders on the grid is amazing…”

Speaking about how he expects KRT to perform, and the level of the WorldSBK grid in 2024, Roda said: “We have a very balanced project this year. Lowes, a fast rider with incredible capacity for speed, is trying to extend his performance for 20 laps – right to the end of long races. Axel, a young and talented rider, is learning how to extract the full potential of the Ninja ZX-10RR each time he goes out on track. Races this season will need to be evaluated not only by finishing positions but by the distance between the first placed rider and the others, because it will be so tight. The number of great riders on the grid is amazing. I’m sure this is, by far, the more competitive and exciting season in WorldSBK since we started out on our KRT project in 2012. We are putting on a big show and hope all the racing fans, and especially the Ninja fans, will thoroughly enjoy it.”

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The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is fast approaching and the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK’s colours for the upcoming season have been revealed. Their ZX-10RR in 2024 will feature considerably more green than previous years, even after adding some in 2023, for riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani, who hope to lead the team to glory as the team’s post-Jonathan Rea era starts in earnest. Check out more pictures of Kawasaki’s stunning new livery in the gallery at the top of this article.

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One of the most exciting bits of news – among lots of excitement – heading into the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was the arrival of a new team and rider onto the grid. Sam Lowes, the 2013 WorldSSP Champion, is heading into a new adventure with his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for 2024 as both team and rider stepped across from Moto2™. Lining up with a Panigale V4 R, both Lowes and the outfit will be aiming to keep their successful partnership going.

THE HISTORY OF THE PARTNERSHIP: four seasons, seven wins and a title challenge

Sam Lowes joined the team for the 2020 season, and it proved to be a successful combination from the start. Three wins, coming consecutively at the French, Aragon, and Teruel Grands Prix, hauled the Brit into title contention but he fell just short, finishing behind Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini. Nine points separated the three riders in a dramatic title fight. A year later and Lowes once again recorded three wins, finishing fourth in the title race behind now-WorldSBK rival Remy Gardner, Raul Fernandez, and Marco Bezzecchi.

2022 was an injury-hit campaign for the Brit, but he was still able to take two rostrums despite competing in only 12 races. He finished 19^th in the standings but it was obvious he was way out of position, and he was back to winning ways in 2023. Victory at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto was the highlight of last year, but he ensured he ended his Moto2™ career with a winning season despite claiming 12^th in the classification.

A NEW ADVENTURE: same team, same rider… new everything else

While the rider and the team’s name stay the same, their partnership continues into WorldSBK (the team are also still in Moto2™). Agreeing a deal with Ducati to run the Panigale V4 R this year, Lowes has been adapting to Superbike machinery ever since his last Moto2™ race with tests at Jerez and the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve before the first round in Australia. Lowes has to adapt to the bike but also the tyres, having used a different brand compared to the Pirellis he’ll use this year. There’s also the race format – three races in a weekend, with two on a Sunday. It’s a lot for a rookie to adjust to but, with loads of experience already secured, Lowes will embrace the challenge.

HOW’S TESTING GOING? Lots to do, learning quickly…

At the Jerez test in January 2024, Lowes was seventh on Day 2 after posting a 1’38.852s and completing a mammoth 91 laps. A few days later, having travelled west across the Iberian Peninsula to Portimao, Lowes was 11^th on Day 2 with a 1’40.280s and 76 laps recorded. He did have a crash in Portugal on Day 1, something he described as a “Sam needs to learn WorldSBK crash”, but he was still able to show his pace and potential. Testing is all about learning and adapting as a rookie and that’s exactly what Lowes has been doing as he wracks up the miles on his V4 R.

LOWES’ VIEW: “we’ve got a lovely group of people… we can be excited”

“I’m definitely excited and it feels good to be back”, began Lowes when asked about his return to the paddock. “My Grand Prix career was nice but I’m really happy and proud to be here. WorldSBK has always been mega and strong, and I think now is arguably as strong as it’s been in 10 years. The depth of field is amazing, even to be in the top ten is difficult. I’ve got a lot to learn. The Ducati’s a beautiful bike, obviously quite complicated, but very good and beautiful. The format of the weekend, three races, Superpole, the Q tyre, it’s something I’ve never used in my life. We’ve got a lovely group of people and mechanics and I’m really appreciative of that. I think, when you do that together, we can be excited.”

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Riders switching teams in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship often has a knock-on effect as to who they’ll have as their crew chief. For 2024, long term partnerships are continuing while others have been broken up after bombshell transfers which has led to changes in the crew chief market for this season. Rider transfers have had an impact but, at some teams, they have opted to make a change even with riders staying the same.

THE BIG MOVE: Marron follows Razgatlioglu to BMW

Phil Marron and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) have been inseparable since they started working together in 2019 at Kawasaki Puccetti Racing. Marron went with him to the Pata Prometeon Yamaha squad in 2020 and helped the #54 to his title success, before the 2021 Champion opted to move to BMW for 2024. Given their working relationship and the success they’ve had together, it’s not a surprise Marron and Razgatlioglu are together at BMW.

CHANGES FROM MARRON’S MOVE: the knock-on effect at Yamaha

Marron’s move opened up a crew chief vacancy at Pata Prometeon Yamaha, with the team quick to fill that. Andrew Pitt – formerly Andrea Locatelli’s right-hand man – moved to the other side of the box following Jonathan Rea’s shock arrival, with Pitt and Rea having been teammates back in WorldSSP. To fill the empty space on Locatelli’s side of the box, Yamaha brought in Tom O’Kane from the MotoGP™ team as the entire team looks to make a step in every area.

SWITCHEROO AT KRT: Lowes gets new crew chief as Bassani arrives

With Rea departing the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, they also opted to make a change within the box. Having worked with the Ulsterman as he broke almost every record possible, Pere Riba will now be crew chief to Alex Lowes in 2024. That means new recruit Axel Bassani will work with Lowes’ former crew chief, Marcel Duinker, for his first season inside the Kawasaki factory team after getting his dream move.

HONDA AND DUCATI CHANGES: one side of the box has a new crew chief

Following his promotion to the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, Nicolo Bulega brought his crew chief from WorldSSP, and he will continue to work with Tommaso Raponi this season. ‘Bulegas’ has been fast in testing so far and with their previous success, hopes will be high that continues in his rookie season. Down the pit lane at Honda, Tom Jojic has come into the team as Iker Lecuona’s (Team HRC) crew chief as everyone at the Japanese manufacturer looks to make a step forward compared to last year.

INDEPENDENT CHANGES: three big moves…

With the arrival of Andrea Iannone at Team GoEleven, they opted to bring in a new crew chief for ‘The Maniac’. Filippo Burgatti is the person they’ve chosen as Iannone’s right-hand man for his rookie season. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) will have Giovanni Crupi in his box for his maiden WorldSBK campaign. At the Petronas MIE Racing Honda Team, Tarran Mackenzie has a new crew chief for 2024 as he works alongside Antonio Puchades.

Elsewhere, with riders moving teams, there’s been some changes. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) will work with Bela Kujundzic, who was with the team as Loris Baz’s crew chief last season. Philipp Oettl’s move to GMT94 Yamaha means he’ll work with Manuel Cappelletti in 2024. Adam Norrodin’s crew chief for 2024 at the Petronas MIE Racing Honda outfit will be Flavio Prodolliet, who was at the team last year as Eric Granado’s crew chief. Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s move to Motocorsa Racing means he works with Simone Corsini, who he worked with previously at Team GoEleven, with Corsini staying at the team after being Bassani’s crew chief previously.

REMAINING THE SAME: nine rider-crew chief partnerships stay together

Double Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will continue working with Giulio Nava in 2024. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) stays partnered with Marcus Eschenbacher, and Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) will work with Gorka Segura again. At the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, both crew chiefs remain in place. Andrea Oleari and Damiano Evangelisiti will continue with Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner respectively. Leslie Pearson continues his strong relationship with Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), and Danilo Petrucci’s (Barni Spark Racing Team) second season in WorldSBK sees him continuing with Luca Minelli. Pietro Caprara stays with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Tito Rabat, while Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) stays with Pietro Cassara.

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Five rookies are set to take the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship by storm. Domestic Champions, MotoGP™ race winners, two WorldSSP Champions and more are joining this year’s grid, all looking for success in their new challenge. All eyes will be on how the five rookies perform during their maiden season with testing giving an indication of who could be where in the pecking order.

THE MANIAC RETURNS: what to expect from Iannone?

One of the biggest rookie names to hit WorldSBK is Andrea Iannone, who joins with Team GoEleven. It’s his first year back in competition and he’s opted to come to WorldSBK on an Independent Ducati Panigale V4 R. ‘The Maniac’ was quick at Jerez during two tests at the Spanish venue and wasn’t far off at Portimao despite it being his first time there on a race bike. With several wins already under his belt, including one in MotoGP™, and three Moto2™ title fights to his name, Iannone will be aiming for the top in 2024.

BULEGA TO CHALLENGE BAUTISTA? An impressive start throughout testing…

After two seasons in WorldSSP, including claiming the 2023 title in stunning style, Nicolo Bulega was promoted straight into the factory Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team for 2024. He’ll partner double WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista. 16 wins came last year on his way to the title and his adaptation to the V4 R has been incredible. In four days of 2024 testing, ‘Bulegas’ topped three days. Is he setting himself up for a shock start to his new adventure?

MACKENZIE LINKS UP WITH HONDA: can the 2021 British champion stun in WorldSBK?

Tarran Mackenzie (Petronas MIE Racing Honda) is finally in WorldSBK on a full-time basis, after taking a route that took him from British championship glory to WorldSSP to WorldSBK. He opted to race with the same team last year in WorldSSP and it was a challenging season despite a race win at Most in difficult conditions. He’s graduated back to Superbike machinery, on the Honda CBR1000RR-R, and will be aiming to have a strong rookie season when he re-adjusts back to a big bike, and he gets his hands on the full 2024 package.

SAM LOWES BACK IN THE PADDOCK: new rider, new team…

Sam Lowes will make his WorldSBK debut in 2024 with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team, who are also new to World Superbike. It’s a return to where he became World Champion, when he won the 2013 WorldSSP title before his move into the MotoGP™ paddock. A Moto2™ stalwart, plus a season of MotoGP™, Lowes faces a new adventure this year on the Panigale V4 R. For extra fun in 2024, he’ll be competing against twin brother Alex on the world stage. Which of the two brothers will come out on top, and how will Sam fare in his rookie season?

NORRODIN STAYS WITH MACKENZIE: staying together in WorldSBK

Mackenzie and Bulega are not the only riders moving up from WorldSSP, with Adam Norrodin also joining World Superbike. The Malaysian stays with the Petronas MIE Racing Honda outfit after racing with them in WorldSSP last year alongside Mackenzie. Norrodin does have some Superbike experience from his time in the Asian championship, but WorldSBK will be a step up from what he’s raced before having been on CBR600RR-R last season.

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