9:53 – And just as we say that, Toprak tops the standings, setting a time of 1’34.253s.

9:51 – The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team boys are back! For the first time since Assen, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael Van Der Mark are back on track. 

9:47 – Another Ducati, another fast time! This time, ELF Marc VDS Racing Team’s Sam Lowes heads out on track and snatches P2, with a time of 1’34.708s.

9:44 – Danilo Petrucci heads back out on track.

9:43 – The reigning World Champion makes an appearance! Alvaro Bautista is out for his first taste of the Misano test…and immediately sets the fastest lap of the morning so far, with a 1’34.342s.

9:38 – Nice to see Danilo Petrucci back after his injury! However, the Barni Spark Racing Team rider is back into the pits after just one lap.

9:30 – Yamaha have enjoyed a strong start to their morning, with GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter currently occupying P1 and P3. Pata Prometeon Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli continues his strong from from Cremona, currently occuping P2 after the first half-hour. 

9:00 – Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our live blog of the official WorldSBK test live from Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Misano, Italy. The green flag is out and we are underway!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Nestled in the picturesque valley at the foot of the Alps in the ancient town of Kaufbeuren, ABK (Aktien Brewery Kaufbeuren) boasts over 700 years of brewing tradition and heritage. Established in 1308, ABK has been celebrated for its dedication to quality, using only the finest local ingredients, enhancing the brewery’s reputation for producing superb beers has made it a beloved brand in Bavaria and is now enjoyed internationally as ABK – Since 1308 

As part of the partnership, ABK will receive prominent track signage at all WorldSBK rounds, ensuring maximum broadcast exposure while fans attending races will have the unique opportunity to enjoy ABK hospitality in the Fan Area where they can indulge in beer tastings, experiencing first hand the tradition and craftsmanship that define ABK beers.

Additionally, ABK will host a dedicated experience program for guests, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the championship and an opportunity to savour ABK’s finest brews in a unique and engaging setting.

Both WorldSBK and ABK are dedicated to creating memorable experiences that bring people together, making this partnership a natural fit. Their shared focus on community and enjoyment ensures that fans will have even more reasons to celebrate at WorldSBK events.

“We are delighted to welcome ABK as the Official Beer and Official Sponsor of WorldSBK” said Francesco Valentino, Head of WorldSBK Commercial & Marketing Department. “This new brand partner represents a product, the beer, which is a synonym of gathering, socializing, and friendliness, all attributes which fit perfectly with WorldSBK’s spirit. This partnership not only enhances our event experience but also brings our community closer together.”

Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman of ROKiT said “Partnering ABK Beer with WorldSBK is a fantastic opportunity for us to share our exceptional beers with a global audience. We are hugely excited to extend and expand our involvement with the WorldSBK family and to engage with fans internationally.”

ABK and WorldSBK are committed to promoting responsible drinking. ABK’s range of beers include a variety of low alcohol and alcohol-free options all with the authentic taste of ABK beers. All WorldSBK attendees are encouraged to drink responsibly, prioritize safety and make informed choices about alcohol consumption.

Source: WorldSBK.com

Three rounds in the books. Nine more to go. Already, the battle lines are being drawn for what is sure to be a brilliant season in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Before we return to our regular race programming on June 14^th, we have another two-day test, this time, on the Italian coast at Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” or just Misano for short. Here, we analyse the storylines for each manufacturer ahead of track action on Thursday and Friday.

YAMAHA: Japanese giants jubilant following Cremona

Yamaha enjoyed a very successful recent test in Cremona, Italy. In fact, GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team’s Remy Gardner and Pata Prometeon Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli finished P1 and P2 respectively in the combined standings. Both riders were extremely positive following the test and expressed strong optimism for the remainder of this season. Even Locatelli’s teammate, ex-World Champion Jonathan Rea, was emphatic with how enjoyable the Yamaha R1 was to ride although he’s still looking to make it his own – with only one and a half test days remaining too. Additionally, Gardner, Locatelli, Rea and Dominique Aegerter are all expected to be present for Misano testing, so Yamaha should have a real opportunity to further build on their new-found fortunes. 

HONDA: Can Lecuona and Vierge build on form after successful test with new swingarm?

Honda has very much been a mixed bag this season. Whilst results have not fallen their way so far, the latest WorldSBK test in northern Italy provided some cause for optimism for Team HRC and their riders. Xavi Vierge, despite finishing P14 by the end of the test, was very positive about the new swingarm developments made by Honda. Iker Lecuona, who finished just outside the top ten in Italy last week, was slightly less optimistic but emphasized the need to analyse the data to extract any potential benefit ahead of Misano. Petronas MIE Racing Honda riders Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin will also be present for testing at the Adriatic track. Misano’s test has often been a place where new parts are showcased for Honda; will 2024 be any different?

DUCATI: Full steam ahead for Bologna manufacturer

Like Yamaha, Ducati also enjoyed a successful test last week at Cremona, with three of their riders finishing within the top six. Ducati are expected to be fully represented in their home country, with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista and Nicolo Bulega continuing to test the Panigale V4 R at a track they know so well. ELF Marc VDS Racing Team’s Sam Lowes, who finished in an impressive P4 during Cremona’s test, will also be present, as will Team GoEleven’s Andrea Iannone and Barni Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci. For Petrucci, it’s much more of a fitness test than it is a bike test, as he returns from injury. Expect Michele Pirro to also make an appearance in red for testing at Misano. 

BMW – Bavarians hoping to make waves on the Adriatic Coast

Interestingly, Bonovo Action BMW’s Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding participated in testing last week, whilst ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael Van Der Mark weren’t present. Whilst we have not seen the latter two riders since Assen, that will not be the case come Misano, as the #54 and #60 are both present and accounted for. The Bonovo Action team, who, interestingly, will not be present at this Misano test, enjoyed a positive end to their participation in testing in northern Italy, as Scott Redding was ultimately able to round out the top five, whilst American Gerloff finished in a respectable P7. For Toprak and van der Mark, it’ll be a vital test to prepare for the round in two weeks. 

KAWASAKI: back in action and going green

Like their German counterparts, Kawasaki have not seen on-track action since the Dutch Round at Assen. Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK’s Alex Lowes has enjoyed a very impressive start to this season and he will be optimistic about enjoying a successful test in Emilia-Romagna. Likewise, teammate Axel Bassani has shown cause for promise and optimism and he too will be hoping to impress at the Adriatic facility come testing time. Don’t forget, this was Bassani’s breakthrough circuit in 2021 and the place of his first 2023 podium 12 months ago. Puccetti Kawasaki’s Tito Rabat, who completed an incredible 233 laps of the new Cremona circuit during last week’s testing, is also expected to be present at Misano to continue testing for Kawasaki, with the factory-spec swingarm seeming to help the Spaniard a great deal.

Follow the entirety of the 2024 WorldSBK season with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Volume 5 of the WorldSBK essential races has landed so that you can enjoy more classic races from a variety of eras. So far, volume 1 showcased classics across the decades. Volume 2 gives you the opportunity to relive the 2002 ‘Showdown at Imola’ amongst others, whilst volume 3 serves up modern era classics from 2004 up to 2013. The most recent instalment, volume 4, emphasises the importance of victory with some of the closest, most emotional victories.

Now, volume 5 will complete 25 of the most iconic WorldSBK races. In this, it’s a focus on some of the fiercest battles between 2014 and 2018, starting with team orders and tactics from Race 1 at Magny-Cours, as Aprilia and Kawasaki battled for the title. In 2015, it was a last lap showdown on worn tyres between Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies in Malaysia at Sepang in Race 1. 2016 sees Tom Sykes defeat teammate Rea in Race 2 at Buriram, whilst it was last lap drama between Davies and Rea at Misano in Race 1 for 2017. Finally, 2018 saw Dutchman Michael van der Mark make history as the first Dutch winner in WorldSBK at Donington Park, before going on to complete the double.

You can enjoy more WorldSBK classics with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

During last week’s MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship test at Cremona, Italy, most of the teams in the WorldSBK paddock took the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new surroundings of the Cremona track. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), however, took the opportunity to test some new technology; namely, a new swingarm.

At the start of the 2023 season, Team HRC started out with a classic style, underslung racing swingarm. Then, during last season, the team introduced a more stock-style overslung swingarm. Interestingly, Vierge appeared to prefer the newer swingarm, whilst his teammate Lecuona preferred the more conventional, underslung swingarm.

That brings us to this Cremona test. HRC appear to have brought a newer swingarm which is unbraced, compared to the other, previous swingarms which are braced. Both riders have had slightly different reactions to this new swingarm. The swingarm tested was the same as the one used by Honda’s British Superbike team – who were also there with Tommy Bridewell and Andrew Irwin.

When asked about the new swingarm, Lecuona said: “Honestly, similar. We need to check the data. Now we need to learn what is positive, what is negative; what works and what does not.” Regardless, the #7 was positive about the test overall, as well as the general direction of Honda’s development: “Yes, yes 100%. During the tests here, we have had several more Japanese engineers. But this is the most productive test we’ve had, and we’ve learned a lot. We are happy with the job, and we need another two days at Misano. So, let’s see in if we can keep that positive and interesting form for us.”

Contrastingly, teammate Lecuona was extremely positive about the new developments from the Japanese manufacturer. Speaking about his experiences with the new swingarm, Vierge said: “One of the most positive tests with Honda…if we analyze it well, we can take a big step!” Speaking about the new swingarm, Vierge said: “Yes, I tried the new swingarm, but not enough time unfortunately! The feeling was really good, and we also tried many different things with some big changes.” You can watch the #97 rider’s full reaction to the Cremona test here!

Make sure to follow all the action from this 2024 season here on the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Friday saw the curtain brought down on the first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Cremona, Italy. Yamaha were among the big names missing from the opening day of testing, but they certainly made up for it by the end of the day on Friday. One rider who got valuable track time under his belt was ex-World Champion Jonathan Rea. Despite finishing P12 in the combined standings, Rea took a lot from the test, and saw it as a key opportunity to build further momentum for the remainder of the season.

Speaking about only having one day to test at Cremona, Rea said: “It’s nice to get back on the bike. It was important to test out this track before we race here in September. We tried to start finding the limits with the R1 and get more comfortable. Some of the settings worked a lot better compared to what I’ve been using from the start of the season.” Following on from this, Rea further elaborated on next steps, saying: “I think the next step is to get me even more comfortable on the bike, in order to get a little closer to that feeling of being on the limit. It’s frustrating, but it’s also positive because I know that there’s margin to improve.”

Ulster native Rea was also very transparent about his need to get more time onboard the Yamaha R1. Rea said: “Yeah, I need laps. It’s so positive that the other Yamahas are fast…but it’s not my bike. I love the bike, and I love riding the bike, but I still need to put my stamp on it. I want to use all the benefits of the Yamaha R1, but also use all of the benefits of my riding style, so we’re just trying to find that match right now. The team are working really well and are trying to push it along further.”

The Yamaha rider offered a further fascinating insight into the technical aspects of riding his new Yamaha R1. The #65 rider outlined that: “It’s hard to explain. It’s as if you have to ride the bike hard, but then you almost have to massage the bike around the track. But you can see from Remy and Locatelli that the bike has so much potential.”

Lastly, the ex-World Champion had a special message of thanks for the hundreds of fans who commuted to Cremona for testing. The Yamaha man said: “Yeah, it’s really nice. Even in difficult moments, especially in this day and age of social media, it’s the fans who give me the energy to keep pushing. Thanks to everyone and hopefully we see a great turnout here in a few months’ time.”

Make sure to keep up to speed with all the action in 2024 with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Friday brought the curtain down on two days of testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Cremona, Italy. One rider who featured heavily on Friday was Nicolo Bulega, with the Factory Ducati rider putting together a time of 1’29.223s during the afternoon of Friday’s session. Whilst this was ultimately enough to secure sixth place in the combined standings, Bulega was far from buoyant.

When asked how he felt testing went, the #11 rider said: “I feel not so bad, but also not so good. I didn’t have my 100% feeling. I was missing something in the front. We have to work on it to try and improve this part of the bike. I want to stay focused on the next test, and then I hope to have a better bike/setup for the next time we test here in Cremona.” Interestingly, Bulega attended a track day at Cremona the week before on a stock bike. When asked if there was much difference between the stock bike and the Superbike, the Italian said: “Yes, because this bike is a bit faster. With this bike, the circuit seems a bit smaller. We have to adapt, because this is maybe the smallest circuit that I ride on with this bike.”

Switching gears, Bulega discussed the upcoming Misano test. Following Assen, where he struggled (and coincidentally, it was the first track with no prior testing), Nicolo was more positive about the prospect of being able to test at Misano, saying: “Next week, we have a very important test. It will also be my home race. We are very lucky to have this test before the race…I will do my job as always, to try to improve the feeling of the bike and to have fun.”

Lastly, Bulega discussed having fans present during the Cremona testing, especially the positive impact that they had over the course of testing at Cremona. The #11 rider said: “Today was like a Sunday race with a lot of people. It’s always nice to have fans. In Italy, we have a lot of support, so it’s nice!”

Make sure to keep up to date with all of the action from Misano and beyond with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Friday saw the conclusion of Cremona, Italy hosting two days of testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Yamaha were noticeable absentees from the first day of testing, but they certainly left an impression by the end. Among the most noteworthy performances was that of Italian Andrea Locatelli, who finished second only to GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team rider Remy Gardner.

Friday morning saw the 27-year-old finish sixth in the standings, putting out a time of 1’30.528s. However, the afternoon session saw Locatelli lift off, improving his time by over 1.5s to 1’28.919s, a result which saw him leapfrog the field and finish second in Friday’s combined standings.

Discussing what proved to be a successful day of testing, the #55 rider said: “I have a really good feeling! I enjoy quite a lot the first sector and the last sector…I think here in Cremona they make amazing work. It’s not a big track, so it will not be easy to overtake during the race, but let’s see.”

The Bergamo native was also asked if the track suited the natural strengths of the R1, given both his and Gardner’s impressive outings at Cremona. Discussing this, Locatelli said: “Yeah, we try to make an improvement every time. It was something positive and interesting to learn the track. I think we did well…this is the most important thing.” The Yamaha rider also discussed the upcoming Misano round, revealing his dreams and ambitions of succeeding at that track. The #55 said: “When we are there, we will try to make another step, to understand the bike and the track. It is also my dream to do well at Misano…we’ll arrive competitive and strong!”

Speaking about the presence of so many fans across both days of testing, Locatelli was more than impressed. He remarked that: “We see the people are really passionate on the bike. I think that what the track and city are doing…creating the possibility that people can come, take a picture with us and see the track…is something very positive.”

Make sure to catch all of the upcoming action at Misano, as well as the entire 2024 season with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Friday saw the second and final day of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s test at Cremona, Italy. Among several standout performances was that of Bonovo Action BMW’s Garrett Gerloff, who finished the combined standings on Friday in a highly respectable seventh place.

Friday morning saw Gerloff push for a best time of 1’30.459s, a result that left him in twelfth place heading into the break. In the afternoon, however, Gerloff found over a second of extra pace, pushing his time to an impressive 1’29.325s. This leapfrogged Gerloff five places in the combined standings, ultimately finishing in seventh place by the end of Friday’s test, racking up 59 completed laps in the process.

Discussing what the team can take forward from the test, Gerloff said: “I really like the track; it’s got a cool flow to it. I didn’t feel bad at all. We’re just doing circles a little bit. It’s been confusing why something that should work doesn’t, and why something that probably shouldn’t work does. I don’t know what, this year, has been going on. We’re making progress. It’s just we expect to be higher than we are. We’re doing our best to regain everything we need to get back to where we should be. We went back to a setup that we used at the beginning of the year that worked really well at Jerez but didn’t work at all at Portimao or in Australia; that was pretty terrifying, I thought it was me! We went back to it and at this track it feels good. We used it all day today. We’ve been scratching our heads a bit, but I feel good here so that’s a positive.”

After showing strong pace, Gerloff was asked if this track suited the natural strengths of the M 1000 RR. Teammate Scott Redding also displayed progression and improvement over the course of the two day test, improving from 1’30.389 to 1’29.215 by the end of the afternoon.

 Discussing this, Gerloff stated: “I don’t know, it really depends on how the next few rounds go and what we learn from that and what we show up with here. We might show up with the same setup or something completely different. As far as it goes about whether it’s a BMW track, I think it could be. At least for Toprak for sure, he can ride anything! It’s a stop and go track, at least in the beginning and the first sector, so I think that’ll suit him pretty well. I don’t feel bad, we just need to keep making improvements because I know we can be faster than we are.”

Make sure to follow all the action in 2024 with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the fastest man on a Friday test which saw several red flags at Cremona. The Australian rocketed to the top of the combined times in the afternoon session, ultimately proving to be only one of two riders to break into the 1’28s, alongside fellow Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha). Ducati riders Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and rider Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) made up the rest of the top five.

YAMAHA SHOW SPEED AT CREMONA: Gardner P1, Locatelli P2; Rea continues to adapt

Yamaha enjoyed a very successful Friday at Cremona, with three of their four riders occupying spots in the top eight. Gardner was a lowly 15^th place in the morning test session but rebounded back in a big way to clock a time of 1’28.860s, claiming top spot. His teammate, Dominique Aegerter, rounded out the top eight with a strong time of 1’29.506s.

On the other side of the Japanese manufacturer, Locatelli enjoyed a very consistent Friday. In the morning session, Locatelli secured sixth place with a time of 1’30.076s. He ended the afternoon session on Friday with a vastly improved time of 1’28.919s, enough to secure second place behind Gardner. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) suffered a technical issue in the morning session which forced him off track but managed to secure seventh place. In the afternoon session, Rea continued his search for consistency in the afternoon, ultimately managing a best time of 1’30.027s.

DUCATI SETS THE PACE: Rinaldi fastest for Bologna bullets, Bulega and Bautista not far behind

Rinaldi had been one of the top performers throughout the entirety of the past two days at Cremona. Friday saw the #21 finish fourth overall in the morning session, setting a time of 1’29.663s. He then smashed his own time in the afternoon session, clocking a time of 1’29.047s to claim third overall. Elsewhere within the Bologna manufacturer, Lowes set the pace during Friday morning, topping out the session (after 63 laps) of 1’29.137s. Lowes did not reappear for the afternoon session of testing, with the Marc VDS Ducati squad opting to leave with what they have already. Like the other Ducati members, the priority of the Lowes camp was track familiarity and track time as opposed to testing of new parts.

Ducati continues to enjoy testing success at Cremona, with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista being consistently strong on Friday, their only day of testing at Cremona. Both Bulega and Bautista set very impressive times, coming in at 1’29.501s and 1’29.518s. Throughout the two-day test, the emphasis has been centered around both riders getting to grips with the track, as well as having as much track time as possible.

REDDING AND GERLOFF EVENLY MATCHED: lots of data for BMW at Cremona

Bonovo Action BMW’s Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff have been BMW’s sole riders at Cremona, given the absence of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark. Both Redding and Gerloff have been very similar in terms of pace, with the riders clocking in times of 1’30.389s and 1’30.459s respectively in the morning. In the afternoon, both Redding and Gerloff improved on their times, clocking 1’29.215s and 1’29.325s respectively. Redding suffered a mechanical issue early in Friday’s session, with Redding potentially testing a couple of items today but focusing on the setup of his M 1000 RR.

RABAT IMPRESSES AT CREMONA: busiest rider, consistently towards the top

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Tito Rabat has been one of the standout performers during the Cremona test, repeatedly coming in towards the top of the timesheets during testing. Rabat clocked a time of 1’29.663s on Friday morning, enough for a top five place. He has also been one of the most active riders on track, completing 121 laps on Day 1, whilst completing 112 on Day 2; a total of 233 laps across both days. Rabat ended the day with an improved time of 1’29.543s. Rabat and Puccetti Kawasaki were working on new configurations and setup from the Japanese manufacturer, and they were the only Kawasaki representatives on track.

HONDA LOOK FOR GAINS: Lecuona and Vierge make subtle improvements

Honda entered Friday’s Cremona test seeking to test different swingarms, as well as to gain familiarity with the track. In the morning session, Iker Lecouna (Team HRC) clocked a time of 1’30.229s, enough for eighth place. In the afternoon session, his time improved to 1’29.787s. It was a similar story for teammate Xavi Vierge, who clocked a time of 1’30.293s in the morning but managed to improve his time in the afternoon to 1’30.135s.

On the other side of the Honda setup, PETRONAS MIE Racing’s Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin had a good day. Mackenzie enjoyed a strong start in the morning session, clocking a time of 1’30.646s, but he could not improve that time in the afternoon, recording a best time of 1’31.165s. Norrodin, on the other hand, managed the opposite, improving from a 1’32.846s in the morning to a time of 1’31.591s in the afternoon.

HUERTAS LEADS WORLDSSP FIELD AT CREMONA

For the second day in a row, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the fastest of the WorldSSP riders on display during the Cremona test. The Aruba.it rider showed some good pace over the course of Friday’s test. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed second with Khairul Idham Bin Pawi (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) in third. His teammate, Kaito Toba, was fourth with Ivan Goi (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) rounding out the field WorldSSP field.

The top six from Friday at Cremona, find the full results from Friday’s test at Cremona here:

1 Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’28.860s, 112 laps

2. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), +0.059s, 72 laps

3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), +0.187s, 70 laps

4. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing), +0.277s, 63 laps

5. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW), +0.355s, 73 laps

6. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), +0.363s, 94 laps

Follow all the action from the 2024 season using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com