After Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) stunned in Barcelona to take his first wins with BMW machinery following his switch from Yamaha, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. With his first win coming in his fourth race on the M 1000 RR, we’re now looking at some other riders when they claimed their first win after switching manufacturers, with plenty of big-name riders and brands featuring.

CHILI JUMPS FROM DUCATI TO SUZUKI: a mid-season victory in 1999

Pierfrancesco Chili made his WorldSBK debut on Ducati machinery in 1995 but made a switch to Suzuki in 1999 and it paid off for the Italian. Instantly a top-ten contender, at Donington he broke into the top five and basically remained there all season. However, the first win on the Japanese bike would come in his 20^th race for Suzuki, winning Race 2 at what was then known as the A1 Ring circuit in Austria. It was a commanding performance from Chili, as he beat Troy Corser by almost 18 seconds over the 25-lap race.

A DREAM START IN GREEN: Rea’s Kawasaki switch pays off

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) had shown his potential on Honda machinery since his debut at Portimao in 2008, but it was a move to Kawasaki that, combined with the ZX-10RR, unleashed everything he could do. He took more than 100 wins for the Japanese manufacturer before his bombshell move to Yamaha for 2024, but he didn’t have to wait long for his first for Kawasaki. Rocking up to Australia in 2015, he beat Leon Haslam in a head-to-head duel by just 0.039s for his first win in green.

A DIFFERENT SHADE OF RED: Fogarty moves from Ducati to Honda

Like Chili, Carl Fogarty started his WorldSBK career on Ducati machinery and, like the Italian, he left after a few seasons for a new challenge. The Brit claimed 55 wins for Ducati over two spells but a switch to Honda in 1996 didn’t give ‘Foggy’ the same success. He was able to claim four wins with the Japanese manufacturer, his first coming at the legendary Hockenheim venue when he beat teammate Aaron Slight by 0.300s and Ducati’s John Kocinski by 0.550s in an unbelievable race in Germany.

BIG MOVE PAYS OFF: two rounds for Razgatlioglu to win with BMW

Razgatlioglu made the move to BMW for 2024, and he claimed victory in just his second round – at a track he’s not won at before. A podium in Australia showed early promise, but a strategic masterclass at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he closed down around a four-second gap to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the final few laps to claim his first victory for the German manufacturer, before backing that up with a second, but very different type of win, the next day.

CORSER GOES FROM DUCATI TO APRILIA: early success for the Italian brand

Troy Corser’s early years in WorldSBK were spent on Ducati machinery, although he did have two rounds with Yamaha back in 1992. He won with the Italian brand before making a sensational move to another Italian bike, linking up with Aprilia in 2000. It was a dream start to his Aprilia career, taking victory in Race 2 on home soil at Phillip Island, with an almost two-second gap to Noriyuki Haga behind.

A DEBUT YAMAHA WIN: another Razgatlioglu move pays off

Turkish star Razgatlioglu made his WorldSBK debut with Kawasaki machinery and he did win on his Independent ZX-10RR, but a move to Yamaha paid off for the #54. Race 1 at Phillip Island back in 2020 was a thrilling affair with a four-way fight for victory, with Razgatlioglu starting his Yamaha career with a victory by just 0.007s ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), while Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) – then at Ducati – was third and only 0.041s back from the race win.

A NEW ADVENTURE FOR TOSELAND: success at Honda

James Toseland became the youngest World Champion in WorldSBK when he claimed the title with Ducati in 2004. Finishing fourth in 2005, the Brit moved to Honda for 2006 and claimed instant success with the Japanese brand. Victory at Lusail in 2006 Race 1, his first race with Honda, set the tone for the future, winning the 2007 title with Honda. His first win for them came in a huge fight with Ducati’s Troy Bayliss, with the pair separated by only 0.088s back at the end of the 18-lap race.

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Whilst results may not have come for Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) in the first two rounds of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, pace, potential and a step forward in feeling have. We caught up with the 2020 runner-up as he evaluates his opening six races, whilst also talking about Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) sensational Barcelona victories that propelled BMW back to the top step of the podium.

TWO ROUNDS IN: “From the outside, Toprak winning races is making it look worse for me, but…”

Talking about Phillip Island and Barcelona, the #45 said: “It’s been a little bit difficult with ups and downs; I see a bit more potential in terms of the bike and myself but it’s just not been shown. Phillip Island and Barcelona are my worst circuits in general, even though I love Phillip Island, I just struggle to get results there since I changed manufacturer. I know that so I don’t get too stressed about it anymore, whereas last year, we actually worked on trying to improve the performance of the bike in the long corners which has been my issues. Then, moving to Barcelona, those things we worked on improved. My weak points has always been sector two but this year, we were able to be better there for the first time ever in my life. The stuff we worked on at Phillip Island worked; I felt like it went OK, in Race 2 especially with the tyre consumption and with me being the heaviest guy out there. I felt like I rode really well and that I managed the situation the best that I could. From outside Toprak winning races is making it look worse for me but I feel that I made another step, it’s just not showing as the first two circuits aren’t my style. The team has helped me to not stress when it’s not gone well and instead to work on the bike in a calm manner.”

TOPRAK’S BMW VICTORY: “I could have bet my life that he wouldn’t win a race in Barcelona!”

A praising – but somewhat humbled – Scott Redding then spoke about just how impressive Toprak’s wins were: “From the outside, Toprak’s doing a phenomenal job by performing the way he is. I have to congratulate Toprak because he did something that I thought would never happen: I could have bet my life that he wouldn’t have won a race in Barcelona and he proved me wrong. I think there’s a lot of people in the same boat as me and I think it’s amazing! It’s hard to see someone else beating you on the same bike but at the same time, you have to give respect where it’s due and it gives me motivation too. There’s good and bad but in the end, I’m actually happy for him. I can’t take anything away! The tyre life conservation was huge and he nailed it on the head but with his riding style, he can save a rear tyre more which is helping him more. He brakes so late so he has lap time in the pocket in a race but that’s him and what he has in his toolbox of racing and he perfected it.”

PRESSURE AFTER TOPRAK WINS? “As much as I am happy for him, it’s hard to watch it happen as I feel like I should be the guy winning…”

“There’s always pressure in this game,” began Redding. “As much as I am happy for him, it’s hard to watch it happen as I feel like I should be the guy winning. That’s the sport we’re in: every rider on the grid feels they should win the race. I’ve been fighting a lot in the past years to make the package good and then I feel the package is good but I didn’t get my time to shine. I’m not bitter about it. I want to beat everyone on the track, those on the same bike and my teammate, all the same. That’s why it motivates me, as sometimes, you need to take a loss to find fire and move forwards. I work a little bit like that; I need to be hit about a little bit and get p****d off and then I’ll start racing better!

BMW’S BIG POTENTIAL: “The ball will get really rolling and we’ll be competitive at circuits where we’ve been less competitive at in the past”

With a raft of upgrades, Redding has felt the improvements with the M 1000 RR: “There’s definitely more potential in the bike and you can see that in the results too; the numbers and the papers at the end of the race don’t lie. However, for me, the new fairing helps the bike handle better but then I suffer in a straight line on top speed, which is hindering me a bit. The times are so close now that you can’t afford to lose anytime. There is some give and take but in general, I feel that the package is better; you can see that Mikey has been consistently a bit better. I think there’s more to come in results and BMW have done a good job in growing the package. The people BMW have brought in have helped to get the package moving forward at a faster rate. It’s moving on faster these days so we have to be on the ball.

“When we go to the circuits where we’ve been historically strong, I don’t think it will just be one of them at the front, it will be all of us. Then, we’ll build momentum with the team and the whole project and the ball will get really rolling and be competitive at circuits where we’ve been less competitive at in the past. We want to be in the top five and fighting for podiums and I think we’ll be seeing more of that; the bike has top speed and the handling is there too. It’s just about trying to bring it all together. We worked on the bike to get to stop and turn and we achieved that so I think if we move onto Assen and they work there – which they should – we can start to finish in the top six. That’s where the potential of myself and the machine can be and I’m excited to get to these races.

BMW’S TEST TEAM: “The best move BMW have made”

BMW’s test team have been a vital part of the development and improvement for the M 1000 RR, something Redding had been wanting for a while: “I think the test team have been amazing and it’s something we’ve pushed for since the first year, it just didn’t materialise for a long time. I don’t think the test team is in full swing, they’re just arriving to the point of understanding direction before working on material and testing it. They started from zero which in my opinion, is a great move as over the years with different riders and crew, you can get lost on the way. Chris Gonschor really wanted to build it up and said that it’d take time.

“Toprak coming over to the team means he doesn’t need to worry about that, whereas I was trying to develop a bike that can win and race it, so you get lost in testing and racing. We don’t have to think about testing or how to make it better; we race the bike to see if we can make it faster with the small details which has helped all of the riders. For me, with Michael being out and me being one of the faster BMW riders in previous years, it was always me and what I need and I was kind of captaining the boat, whereas now, there’s someone more in control which is saying what we need as a team, a manufacturer and that’s better. It’s the best move BMW have made.”

BULEGA AND IANNONE: “Great for the WorldSBK paddock”

“Bulega is a good rider and it’s like a sink or swim and he swims,” emphasised the 31-year-old. “He’s been really good from day one and with a lot of confidence. He’s riding the bike stress-free. Perhaps the racing he’s struggling a little bit still – some are fast in testing and others racing – but we have to remember he is in a rookie and he’s doing really well. About Iannone, lots of people doubted him but I believed he would be fighting for the podium or on it in Australia. I’ve raced him all my life, you don’t have that calibre of rider and take a few years away and then lose it. He’s aggressive, he’s battling and he’s great for the WorldSBK paddock.”

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The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has welcomed enormous change on the grid but it’s not been a dream start for Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha). As teammate Andrea Locatelli holds the honour of top Yamaha overall, Rea has only had one points-scoring finish: last time out in Barcelona. We caught up with team principal Paul Denning to chat about that and more.

JR’S START TO 2024: “We haven’t achieved anything like we wanted to… adaptation to race situation required”

A rocky start to Rea’s Yamaha chapter, as Paul explained: “The start of the journey between Jonathan and Yamaha has been positive in terms of him fitting into the team, the working atmosphere and how he’s enjoyed the testing with the bike but unfortunately, the first two race events have been extremely disappointing. They’ve been coupled with a combination of factors, some of which were obvious to see including crashes but also factors which were unseen and hindered his performance quite significantly. This combination means we haven’t achieved anything like what we wanted to achieve in the first two events but the upsides are that he’s physically fit, very motivated after a solid Barcelona test. We have two years as a minimum to achieve what we want to achieve but as an alpha male competitor with the success he’s had, he won’t be wanting to wait too much longer before we’re fighting for the podium and achieving the results that he and the bike are capable of and we’re hoping we’ll be in a position for that to start at Assen.”

Managing the situation and the difficulties it has entailed, Denning’s experience plays a crucial part: “The motivation is the same as always and super high. The danger when you have challenges like we’ve had with Jonathan in the first rounds are to overreact and do the wrong things. The trick is to not start playing the blame game but to assess problems rationally and to stick to the process, making sure that we do the right things to recover the performance. It’s a challenge when things aren’t going in the right direction as you can find yourself wanting to do more and overcompensate for problems which then creates more problems than it solves. Clearly, there’s an adaptation in a race situation required from him as well and particularly – unusually for any rider – as he’s been on the same bike and in the same team for so long. The adaptation perhaps has been a bit more challenging than it might have been. I don’t think it’ll take too much more to grow that last big of confidence and to start having the confidence to over-extend himself and to start trusting the bike and to have the additional bit of performance to start challenging for the podium.”

CREW CHIEF CHATTER: Loka’s “very next step has to be to win”, Pitt-Rea working relationship

For Rea’s teammate Locatelli, he’s top Yamaha in the standings and made a big step forward: “Whilst there’s been frustrations on JR’s side of the garage, it’s a positive message for him that clearly, the bike is capable of running at the front. As his confidence continues to grow, the very next step has to be to win a race and to take that step of believing you can do it to doing it and repeating it. The level at the front of the field being more stacked than ever before in terms of talent. He’s enjoying working with Tom; he’s very close to Andrew Pitt and still is on a personal basis. Perhaps they came too close in their working relationship. If you’re too close to someone on a personal basis, then you can speak to that person in a certain way that you wouldn’t do at an arm’s length professional basis. Tom has a very clever and calm approach to the process and hasn’t been changing the bike too much at all, doing a super-detailed, quality job. I can’t say that it’s a better job than what Andrew did, it’s just different. He has responded very well to that difference but ultimately and genuinely speaking, the bike he nearly won on in Australia is the same in terms of the setting balance that Andrew gave him a year ago in Australia, with small refinements and detailed changes. Nothing has been turned upside down but Tom’s way of working in a very structured, step-by-step basis – always with significant engineering reasoning and knowledge behind it – seems to be suiting Andrea really well.”

With Pitt moving to work with Rea and the two being good friends, how is that dynamic working? “I would say really well despite the results, responded Denning. “Obviously, everyone had a super difficult test and race in Australia. When a rider has a big crash and then another at the same corner and things aren’t flowing that tensions are felt. However, AP has responded really well to it and during the test and the race, I thought he did a really solid job. The issues he we had in Race 1 and Superpole, Andrew could have done nothing about from his side in order to prevent or improve those situations. He’s doing his best in order to keep everything positive and calm. Jonathan has a really good trust with Andrew and his work ethic, the way he motivates the guys in the box and his desire to do well. For JR, his character is one whereby he really responds to that desire of everyone in the garage to do well and Andrew is very much a competitor. I think in a new team, the fact that they knew each other for so long and very well personally, gave Jonathan a level of trust and comfort which he may have otherwise not had. We may not have had a positive start to the story but if we keep working in a positive way, then we can have a good middle and end to the story.”

DOES LUCK COME INTO IT? “I’m always very wary of relying on that…”

With more than 25 years running high-level race teams, Denning’s seen almost every situation imaginable but how much is luck a variable in the outcome? “Good luck and bad luck does exist but I am always very wary of relying on that as any form of justification for a good or poor result, particularly in the case of a poor result, your not doing anything proactive to try and improve. Unfortunately, on JR’s side of the garage, on top of issues that we could have been on top of and done better with, sometimes when you’re in trouble, the world conspires to make it a little bit more difficult for you by throwing in more bad luck on top. Ignoring Jonathan’s travails, on Loka’s side of the garage, it would be easy to it was ‘bad luck to be ran off the track’ on the first lap in Barcelona but if we’d qualified better and he’d been in the first six, he’d not have been run off the track. So, qualify better – whether it’s use a better strategy or have more ultimate performance in the bike – whatever it is, to be further up the grid and then he’d not have been in that position. Luck does come into it but if you dig in, then there’s always something as a group you could have done to avoid it.”

YAMAHA’S RACING FUTURE: ‘Yamaha’s commitment in Japan and Europe is absolute’

Following the news that Yamaha’s R1 production would be halted for 2025 and beyond, Denning said on how that can be a positive for the racing side: “There are disadvantages to a bike that effectively, remains the same but there are also great advantages to that in terms of development, clear targets and knowledge of the engineers. The fact is that for 2025, the R1 is available in the European markets as a race/track day only machine and that it will be sold to customers in the same way a motocross bike is, as a leisure/racing machine. I don’t know any details at this stage but it’s logical that if a manufacturer isn’t having to invest in the emissions side of things and the continuous updates of the road legalities, there is the scope to make it more attractive as that racing/sport machine. Let’s wait and see and as I say, I don’t know any details but what I do know is that Yamaha’s commitment both in Japan and in Europe to the R1 is absolute and there are no intentions that the R1 remains anything other than the halo of the Yamaha range. From a racing perspective, that’s good for the ongoing specification upgrade.”

TOPRAK’S BMW WIN: “It was a painful watch from a team and Yamaha perspective”

Having won 37 races together – the most of any rider in Yamaha’s WorldSBK history – Denning spoke of how Toprak’s first win with BMW: “We never said at any time that he wouldn’t be competitive on whatever bike he was riding but honestly speaking, it was a painful watch from a team and Yamaha perspective, there’s no getting away from it. Toprak when he’s feeling it has a depth of talent that can do many things; he surprised me and us because Barcelona has always been a circuit that has been difficult to manage the tyres on. We’ll see. I think there’s a lot of racing still to be done and as we’ve already touched on, I don’t think we’re going to have either one, two or three riders that you can pick from that are going to be winning at a particularly track.”

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With a historic win at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in just his fourth race, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) brought BMW back to the top in just his fourth race with the team. Not only is this earlier than any of his wins in the last three years with Yamaha, it was a sign that bigger things are coming. Crew chief Phil Marron stated that he and Toprak are “only just scratching the surface” with the package but how has the story been from the start?

2023’S BIG SIGNING

MONDAY, MAY 22^nd: out of the blue and going to BMW

With just one win so far in 2023, ‘El Turco’ had taken part in a MotoGP™ test for Yamaha but the comments were mixed, with Toprak’s style needing to adapt to the MotoGP™ needs. With a door seemingly shut – for the moment – Toprak stated that if he is to stay in WorldSBK, then he needs a new challenge. That challenge came in the form of BMW with one of the biggest transfers the Championship had ever seen.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1^st: “I hope we win the Championship”

As round five at Misano beckoned, it was our first chance to talk with Toprak and key BMW people about the move. Toprak eluded to the reasons, saying: I say if I stay in WorldSBK, I need a new challenge. This is good motivation for me, I’m feeling more than 100% motivated. First, I am happy I have signed with a new team. I see people say, ‘this is not a winning bike, this is not easy’. This motivates me more because I listen to some people and I feel more motivated now because now my dream is that, after the first win, I can just ride. It’s possible this is a winning bike. It’s a big dream for me and a big new challenge.” BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers also shared his view, saying that is was “very exciting” amongst other things.

HAVING THEIR SAY: “I don’t know what he can bring… maybe he’s the missing link”

Toprak’s move caused a stir and eventually, was the catalyst for one of the biggest silly seasons of all-time, with his rivals not shying away from what they thought of the transfer. Scott Redding, who would be the rider Toprak replaces at BMW stated he ‘didn’t know’ what Toprak would bring to the project whilst fellow titanic trio members Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea were open-minded about it. Bautista hailed it as “not a crazy idea”, whereas Rea even spoke of the #54 perhaps being the “missing link” for the German manufacturer.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3^rd: the first laps with BMW – “On the first lap, I was just smiling”

After having to wait to see out his Yamaha contract, Toprak’s first taste of the BMW M 1000 RR came at Portimao in December, 2023. After a mechanical issue in his first run, Toprak was able to hit the track with his first words being that “on the first lap, I was just smiling”, something that clearly showed good signs from the start. For the likes of Shaun Muir, team principal, he said that with the positive first comments, “our time has to come” and how right he’d go on to be.

2024’S NEW ERA

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17^th: BMW’s team launch in Berlin – “The mission is clear”

Germany’s capital was the stage for the 2021 World Champion’s livery unveiling alongside good friend Michael van der Mark as well as the Bonovo Action BMW team of Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff. However, those who were talking about Toprak, such as Muir, Bongers and BMW’s Technical Director Chris Gonschor, were all excited with what is a new era for the German manufacturer. Muir said that “Toprak brings a certain quality to the team that we’ve perhaps not had before”, whereas Marc Bongers stated that “the pressure is on but we don’t crack under pressure and we go for it.” However, it was Gonschor who set out the big claim from the start: “The mission is clear; we want to win the Championship title.” A stark warning for BMW’s competition…

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25^th: Razgatlioglu’s first podium in maiden weekend with BMW

A fine performance in the Tissot Superpole Race from Toprak saw him hold off Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in a straight line on the last lap – the irony from the last races of 2023 – to take third in just his second race with the manufacturer. It was an impressive performance from Razgatlioglu but a Race 2 engine failure meant his maiden weekend was “50/50”.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23^rd: THE FIRST WIN – “It’s been my dream”

In an absolute classic World Superbike race, one of the greatest we’d ever seen, Toprak stormed to victory in a mesmerising last lap. Coming from over four seconds adrift in the last six laps in what was a battle of tyre wear, the Turk pounced on Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), after the rookie went too hard and too soon. Speaking of the win, Toprak hailed it a “dream” to win in Barcelona for the first time and to do it at what had historically been BMW’s worst track. Read all of BMW’s key personnel’s thoughts!

SUNDAY, MARCH 24^th: A Superpole Race classic – “That was a Rossi job!”

In a final lap battle for the ages, Razgatlioglu left it until the final corner to pass Alvaro Bautista after the showdown to end all showdowns, emulating Valentino Rossi’s famous Grand Prix-winning pass against Jorge Lorenzo in the 2009 Catalan MotoGP™ event. The #54 was on top ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) who pounced, whereas Bautista could only manage third – again beaten by Razgatlioglu but this time in a last lap fight – something that hadn’t happened since San Juan’s Superpole Race in 2022.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Two rounds and six races down in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and there’s an idea of who’s impressing and who needs to find form. While the spotlight has been on race winners, rookies and podium contenders, some riders have found themselves wanting, and needing, more in the early stages of the season. Let’s take a look at some riders who will be hoping the TT Circuit Assen really starts their 2024 season.

A DIFFICULT START TO LIFE IN BLUE: first points come in sixth race…

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) moved to Yamaha for 2024 with aspirations of fighting at the front, but that’s not happened after two rounds. Rear chattering issues in Australia left him out of the points until Race 2, where a crash dropped him out of contention. He returned for Barcelona but a clutch issue in Race 1 forced him to retire, and he finished 13^th in the Tissot Superpole Race. Eighth in Race 2 meant he secured his first points, but it’s not the season the team, rider or manufacturer hoped for so far. With Assen up next – a circuit the Ulsterman won a track record 17 times at – can his 2024 kickstart in Round 3?

NEW BIKE, POOR RESULTS SO FAR: can Honda turn things around?

Honda introduced a new CBR1000RR-R machine to much fanfare at the 2023 EICMA show, but the results haven’t come through yet. Just a single top ten is their best, which came in Race 1 in Australia, and even the usual happy hunting ground of Barcelona was a struggle: 13^th in Race 1 the best result there. Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge will be hoping for more and Honda will be aiming to make some big leaps soon. They have a podium at Assen thanks to Lecuona so maybe the legendary Dutch circuit will be the catalyst they need this year.

BASSANI’S ADAPTATION: aiming to find a step

Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had a big move for 2024, leaving behind the Panigale V4 R machine and stepping on Kawasaki’s ZX-10RR. It’s a huge change for ‘El Bocia’ and there’s been little to shout about for Bassani so far. Tenth, in Race 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, is the Italian’s best result so far while teammate Alex Lowes has won two races. It’s no surprise the #22 is ahead given his experience on the bike, but Bassani has shown his potential during his first three seasons in WorldSBK, and he’ll be looking to make steps as soon as possible.

GERLOFF AND REDDING: on the back foot?

Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) ended 2023 as the fastest BMW rider, securing a stunning pole position at Magny-Cours before fighting close to the podium in the final few rounds. Fast forward to 2024, and Gerloff’s been in the top ten on three occasions but not near the podium. It’s been a tricky start for the Texan, and not just for him at the team. Across the box, Scott Redding is yet to secure a top-ten finish, with a best of 11^th. Both know they are capable of fighting at the front, on a bike that has two race wins in 2024, and they’ll be hoping there’s a breakthrough sooner rather than later.

MIXED RESULTS SO FAR: Rinaldi strong in Australia, not in Barcelona

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) left the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad for 2024 but found a new home at Motocorsa Racing, still on the Panigale V4 R. He showed good pace in Australia, taking sixth in Race 2 and fighting close to the podium places. However, in Barcelona, he was outside the top ten at a circuit he’s won at and been in podium contention a lot, which culminated in a retirement in Race 2 after a crash with rival Bassani. The #21 will be looking to be a consistent runner in the top ten as he’s shown he can do in his WorldSBK career.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

With two rounds completed in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, a picture begins to emerge about who is coming out on top against their teammates – with some early surprises in store. Here, we explain who’s coming out on top in the opening stages, where riders are impressing but also losing ground.

SURPRISES IN STORE: Bulega leads the Championship, Bautista ahead in races

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has shown impressive speed so far in his rookie campaign, racking up 87 points and one win. However, Alvaro Bautista holds the advantage overall, leading ‘Bulegas’ 4-2 in races. Interestingly, Bulega beats Bautista when taking Race 1 in isolation, leading 2-0, but the #1 responds on Sunday, holding a 4-0 advantage over the Sunday races held so far. Bulega’s results in Superpole – first and second – mean his average result is the best with 1.5, while Bautista’s is 10 thanks to ninth and 11^th in Superpole results (not including any grid penalties). In races, it’s much more evenly matched: Bulega averaging 3.0 in races, Bautista 4.67 despite an anomaly of 15^th in Australia Race 1 thanks to a crash.

RAZGATLIGOLU SURGES INTO THE LEAD: new team, new bike, no problem

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) already has two BMW wins to his name, and he’s also got the upper hand over teammate Michael van der Mark so far. The #54 leads van der Mark 5-1, with the Dutchman only finishing ahead in Race 2 in Australia when Razgatlioglu had a technical problem. 2021 Champion Razgatlioglu averages 3.0 in Superpole while his teammate averages 10 but, again, it’s closer in races they’ve finished: 2.6 for Razgatlioglu, 8.5 for van der Mark who, aside from one race, has been consistently in the top ten and showing his best form following his return to full fitness.

EARLY ADVANTAGE TO LOWES: a whitewash against Bassani so far

Kawasaki have enjoyed a strong start to 2024, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) taking two wins and finishing in the top six in every race. It means he has a 6-0 advantage in races over new teammate Axel Bassani, as the #47 adapts to the ZX-10RR. Lowes has an average finishing position of 3.83, compared to Bassani’s 11.6 and it’s a big gap in Superpole too: an average of 5 for Lowes in the results, 15 for Bassani. It’s also one of the biggest average gaps when setting the grid, with the #22 0.810s faster than Bassani in the two Superpole sessions so far.

LOCATELLI LEADS REA: an early surprise at Yamaha?

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) came into the Yamaha team hoping to fight at the front on a consistent basis, but that’s not happened in 2024 yet. Without points until Race 2 in Barcelona, the #65’s struggles coupled with Andrea Locatelli’s rapid pace mean the Italian leads 5-1 over Rea, with the six-time Champion finishing ahead in Race 2 in Barcelona when ‘Loka’ was caught up in someone else’s accident. Locatelli has an average finishing position of sixth, but that’s lowered when considering his Barcelona Race 2 result of 13^th, while Rea’s average is 12^th when finishing races.

STRUGGLES AT HONDA: one top-ten finish, only Barcelona compared

With Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) ruled out of action for Australia, it’s only fair to look at the Catalunya Round when comparing him to Xavi Vierge. The #97 leads Lecuona 2-1 in races, with Lecuona 1-0 up in Superpole and, as usual, their gap is very close. In Barcelona, only 0.020s separated the duo in the Superpole results. Honda’s best result in 2024 is tenth, which came in Race 1 in Australia courtesy of Vierge, with his average finishing position 13^th and Lecuona’s 17^th (Vierge’s average includes the opening round).

THE NEW ERA CONTINUES: follow every moment from 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has ignited over the first two rounds, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya the latest to host thrilling action. The Tissot Superpole Race in Barcelona will live long in the memory after the Valentino Rossi-style pass at the final corner, as well as the incredible racing across all 10 laps. With the race in the record books, now it’s time to look at the best Superpole Races in history…

INCREDIBLE ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END:  three-way last-corner showdown in Barcelona

There’s no better place to start in this list than the most recent one at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led on the final lap until Turn 14, before Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) barged his way through to claim the lead, with Bautista demoted to third when Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) found a gap. That last lap came after Lap 5 was barely believable too. At Turn 9, Razgatlioglu pulled off two overtakes in one corner as he passed Iannone and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) at a corner it’s hard to pass one rider at. It really was a race for the ages.

SHORTENED DISTANCE, NO SHORTAGE OF ACTION: a 2021 Catalunya thriller

After a red flag following a crash involving Tom Sykes, the race was restarted from scratch over a five-lap distance. Half the laps didn’t mean half the drama, though; if anything, there was more. The opening lap was a bar-banging affair, before Razgatlioglu – then at Yamaha – beat Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea and Ducati’s Scott Redding with half-a-second between the trio.

THREE RIDERS WITHIN A TENTH: 2020 kicks off in style

Australia hosted the 2020 season-opener and it set the tone for the season, with three incredible races. The Superpole Race was memorable for various reasons, with three riders separated by less than a tenth. Jonathan Rea claimed victory for Kawasaki, ahead of Razgatlioglu and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), both of whom were in their first weekend for their new teams at the time.

16^TH TO FIRST: Razgatlioglu’s remarkable fightback

The 2019 French Round was the scene of Razgatlioglu’s first two WorldSBK wins, but he didn’t make it easy for himself. A wet Tissot Superpole session left him down the order in 16^th but, in Race 1, he battled his way to a first win over 21 laps. You’d think that would be difficult, if not impossible, over a 10-lap Superpole Race, but the #54 had other ideas. Up to eight by the end of Lap 1, fifth on Lap 2 and in the podium places on Lap 3, the 2021 Champion made light work of the challenge when racing for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit.

A BRILLIANT BATTLE AT MOST: Rea and Razgatlioglu’s last-lap fight

The Autodrom Most has provided plenty of drama over its short history on the calendar, and 2022 was no exception. Razgatlioglu and Rea were once again the protagonists, fighting tooth and nail for top spot in the 10-lap race. Although the gap at the end was just over two seconds in Razgatlioglu’s favour, their last-lap battle featured hard racing including Rea making the most of his off-track skills to stay on track and keep second.

A LAST-LAP DECIDER: Razgatlioglu vs Rea in Portugal

The 2022 Estoril Round had three last-lap deciders, including the Tissot Superpole Race. Razgatlioglu was leading through the final lap, but he lost the front of his Yamaha at Turn 9, allowing Rea to close and pass. In true ‘Toprak style’, the Turkish star was immediately fighting back through Turns 10 and 11, but he was unable to re-pass Rea and had to settle for second in mixed conditions.

TITANIC TRIO BATTLE IT OUT: Bautista, Razgatlioglu and Rea go head-to-head

It had been expected to be Bautista territory, but both Razgatlioglu and Rea made the #1 work hard for victory in the 10-lap Aragon race. The trio were separated by half-a-second when the race finished, with less than two tenths keeping Bautista and Rea apart. They were level-pegging heading down the long back straight and into the final corner, with the #1 utilising his advantages to move into first and claim a hard-fought win.

A PRE-CURSOR OF WHAT WAS TO COME: Portimao provides a rollercoaster…

Race 2 at Portimao from 2023 will go down in history, but the Superpole Race a few hours before gave an idea of what was to come. Razgatlioglu and Bautista were inseparable during the 10-lap race, with only 0.142s separating the two at the flag. Razgatlioglu was leading on the final lap but, like Aragon, Bautista was able to use the power of his Ducati on the run to the line and claim victory.

HISTORY MADE: the first Superpole Race, Australia 2019

Bautista started his WorldSBK career with a stunning Race 1 victory at Phillip Island way back in 2019, and he backed that up on Sunday morning in the Superpole Race. He resisted Rea’s challenge to make it two wins from his first two races by just over a second ahead of Rea, a perfect start to his rookie campaign.

IN-RACE AND POST-RACE DRAMA: Razgatlioglu penalised after beating Rea…

Magny-Cours’ 2021 Superpole Race will go down in history, both for the on-track and off-track drama. Rea passed Razgatlioglu at Turn 11 on the final lap to claim top spot briefly, before the #54 fired back immediately at Lycee to take victory, or so he thought… A post-race penalty for a last-lap track limits infraction at Turn 10, demoting Razgatlioglu to second place and denying him a maiden WorldSBK hat-trick.

A NEW ERA HAS BEGUN: watch every single moment from 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was the scene of a historic MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship round as Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his first two wins with BMW machinery. A strategic masterclass in Race 1 was followed up with an incredible last-lap, last-corner pass on Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the Tissot Superpole Race. Speaking after the two victories, Razgatlioglu’s manager, Kenan Sofuoglu, gave his thoughts as well as outlining why he believes the 2021 Champion can win this year’s title.

THE FIRST THOUGHTS ON VICTORY: “everything’s going well now”

Giving his immediate thoughts on the Turkish superstar’s victories, five-time World Supersport Champion Sofuoglu said: “Last year, we made a big decision to BMW, and I gave a lot of support to Toprak to make this decision. So many people thought we made the wrong decision. As a rider, I believed the BMW was a very good bike. The first meeting I spoke to BMW, the team and the manager spoke about it, and I thought they had a very good bike. I thought, ‘You have one very nice puzzle, and one piece is missing’ which is Toprak. Everything’s going very well now, he’s winning in the second round.”

EMULATING ROSSI: “I asked him why he didn’t try at the place he’s strong!”

Razgatlioglu’s Superpole Race win came in spectacular fashion, replicating Valentino Rossi’s 2009 move on Jorge Lorenzo at Turn 14 to take victory at the final corner. Speaking about this, Sofuoglu revealed he asked the 27-year-old why he didn’t pass Bautista at Turn 10, a corner that usually suits his strengths: “I believe Toprak is one of the strongest riders for the last lap especially. In Barcelona, you need to make your last attack in the hairpin before the last part of the track. Toprak couldn’t do it and I asked myself why he didn’t try, because I know he normally does in that kind of corner. He releases the brake, manages to stop the bike and he couldn’t. I was thinking about second position. In the last corner, he found a place to enter, and he did it. I asked him why he didn’t try at the place he’s strong, he said, ‘There was a big gap, I couldn’t try but I didn’t give up, waited until the last corner’ and he managed it.”

THE GOALS: “After testing, I thought, ‘Toprak can win the Championship this year

Despite a delayed start to his M 1000 RR testing programme, Razgatlioglu was immediately up to speed as he adapted to the new bike. Fast at every circuit he tested at was followed by a podium in Australia before the wins in Barcelona. Discussing whether these wins came sooner than expected, and the possibility of a title charge is on the cards for 2024, Sofuoglu explained he was thinking Assen or Donington for the first win, but his expectations changed after testing.

He said: “We believed a lot, but we weren’t sure when we can win. After winter testing, I started to believe more. But I was believing we can win at Assen or Donington, I didn’t expect it in Barcelona! Barcelona’s not Toprak’s favourite track but he’s so strong. Toprak’s in his sixth season in WorldSBK and if I look at all the winter testing times, Toprak is stronger this year with BMW, and I understand he’s going to be favourite for the title.”

When asked whether the goal for 2024 is the title, Sofuoglu replied: “Definitely. When we signed, it was for two years but we didn’t know when; first year or second year. We were believing more for the second season. After winter testing, I thought, ‘Toprak can win the Championship this year with this bike’. The bike is nicer than we expected.”

BAUTISTA VS BULEGA VS RAZGATLIOGLU? “The main competition is Bautista… he’s got a hard time too!”

Four riders have already won in 2024, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) joining Razgatlioglu and Bautista on the top step in the six races so far. Discussing who he thinks the competition will be this season, Sofuoglu stated: “I think still the main, hard competition for us is Bautista. He gave us a very hard time on Sunday, we beat him in the last corner. He’s a hard rival. Bautista’s got a hard time too, because Bulega arrived from WorldSSP and is immediately making lap records everywhere and I can understand Bautista’s situation; you are the #1 in the garage and the newcomer, the new teammate makes you feel less confident in your garage. This is very normal in racing. It’s good for us, honestly!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

WorldSBK has some exciting news! Read the full announcement from Dorna and MotoGP™ below:

Liberty Media Corporation has announced an agreement to acquire MotoGP™. MotoGP™ is the pinnacle of two wheels, with 22 of the fastest riders competing on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, reaching top speeds above 360 kilometers per hour/223 miles per hour. From the first season in 1949 that staged six rounds across Europe, the sport has grown to comprise more than 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.

This new agreement will see Dorna Sports S.L., the exclusive commercial and television rights holder of MotoGP™, remain an independently run company attributed to Liberty Media’s Formula One Group tracking stock. Carmelo Ezpeleta, who has been CEO since 1994, will remain in his position and continue to run the business with his management team. The business will remain based in Madrid.

Dorna also holds exclusive rights to other motorcycle racing series, including MotoGP™ feeder series Moto2™ and Moto3™, the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the new FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.

Liberty Media will acquire approximately 86% of Dorna, with Dorna management retaining approximately 14% of their equity in the business. The transaction reflects an enterprise value for Dorna/MotoGP™ of €4.2 billion and an equity value of €3.5 billion, with MotoGP’s™ existing debt balance expected to remain in place after close.

“We are thrilled to expand our portfolio of leading live sports and entertainment assets with the acquisition of MotoGP,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media President and CEO. “MotoGP is a global league with a loyal, enthusiastic fan base, captivating racing and a highly cash flow generative financial profile. Carmelo and his management team have built a great sporting spectacle that we can expand to a wider global audience. The business has significant upside, and we intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”

“This is the perfect next step in the evolution of MotoGP, and we are excited for what this milestone brings to Dorna, the MotoGP paddock and racing fans,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna. “We are proud of the global sport we’ve grown, and this transaction is a testament to the value of the sport today and its growth potential. Liberty Media has an incredible track record in developing sports assets and we could not wish for a better partner to expand MotoGP’s fanbase around the world.”

The acquisition is expected to be completed by year-end 2024 and is subject to the receipt of clearances and approvals by competition and foreign investment law authorities in various jurisdictions.

Investor Call
Liberty Media’s President and CEO, Greg Maffei, and Dorna’s CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, will host an investor conference call at 8:30am ET / 2:30pm CEST on April 1, 2024 to discuss the acquisition in more detail. The call can be accessed by dialing +1 (215) 268-9864 (United States), +34 900 834 876 (Spain) or +44 (0)800 756 3429 (United Kingdom), confirmation code 13745617 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. For a full list of international toll-free access numbers, please visit https://www.incommconferencing.com/international-dial-in. The call will also be broadcast live across the internet and archived on Liberty Media’s website. Presentation materials to be used during the investor call will be posted to the Liberty Media website in advance. To access the webcast and accompanying presentation materials go to https://www.libertymedia.com/investors/news-events/ir-calendar. An archive of the webcast will also be available on Liberty Media’s website after appropriate filings have been made with the SEC.

About Liberty Media Corporation
Liberty Media Corporation operates and owns interests in a broad range of media, communications and entertainment businesses. Those businesses are attributed to three tracking stock groups: the Liberty SiriusXM Group, the Formula One Group and the Liberty Live Group. The businesses and assets attributed to the Liberty SiriusXM Group (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK) include Liberty Media’s interest in SiriusXM. The businesses and assets attributed to the Formula One Group (NASDAQ: FWONA, FWONK) include Liberty Media’s subsidiaries Formula 1 and Quint, and other minority investments. The businesses and assets attributed to the Liberty Live Group (NASDAQ: LLYVA, LLYVK) include Liberty Media’s interest in Live Nation and other minority investments.

About Dorna Sports, S.L. & MotoGP™
Dorna Sports became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991. Based in Madrid, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome, Dorna is a leader in sports management, marketing and media, and has seen continued growth over the years, expanding from solely MotoGP™ to include other leading motorcycle racing championships across the globe. Dorna holds exclusive rights to MotoGP feeder series Moto2™ and Moto3™, MotoE™, the Superbike World Championship and the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.

MotoGP™ is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, with 22 of the fastest riders competing on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks. MotoGP features top speeds above 360 kilometers per hour (223 miles per hour) and lean angles of over 60 degrees. Since 1949, the sport has grown to comprise more than 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including certain statements relating to the proposed transaction and its completion and statements relating to our expectations regarding the Formula One Group business, and Dorna and its MotoGP business and prospects. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “possible,” “potential,” “intends” or “expects” or other words or phrases of similar import or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or similar variations. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, but not limited to: historical financial information may not be representative of future results; there may be significant transaction costs and integration costs in connection with the proposed transaction; the parties may not realize the potential benefits of the proposed transaction in the near term or at all; the parties may not satisfy all conditions to the proposed transaction, including the failure to obtain regulatory approvals; the proposed transaction may not be consummated; there may be liabilities that are not known, probable or estimable at this time; the proposed transaction may result in the diversion of management’s time and attention to issues relating to the proposed transaction and integration; unfavorable outcome of legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the proposed transaction; risks inherent to the business may result in additional strategic and operational risks, which may impact Liberty Media’s risk profile, which it may not be able to mitigate effectively; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in periodic reports that Liberty Media files with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Liberty Media expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Liberty Media’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Please refer to the publicly filed documents of Liberty Media, including its most recent Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports Liberty Media subsequently file with the SEC, for additional information about Liberty Media and about the risks and uncertainties related to Liberty Media’s businesses which may affect the statements made in this press release.

Source: WorldSBK.com

2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) underwent surgery on Thursday, 28th March at the Oglio Po Hospital (Cremona). Performed by Professor Alessio Pedrazzini to address chronic exertional forearm compartment syndrome (arm pump), a common surgery in motorcycling racing, it was decided that after previous issues, to be solved before the third round of his rookie season.

The issue has been present since last winter and worsened during the Australian Round for Bulega and was aggravated last weekend in Barcelona, where severe pain threatened to limit the performance of the reigning Supersport World Champion. For this reason, in agreement with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, the decision to perform surgery on Bulega’s right forearm has been made. He will now have plenty of time to recover from the operation and to get in the best condition for the third round of the 2024 WorldSBK season scheduled for April 19-21 at the TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands.

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024’s new era with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com