Final week, it was introduced that former MotoGP common Danilo Petrucci determined to not return to the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC and can as an alternative strive his luck within the Superbike World Championship with Barni Spark Racing Ducati.
Contemplating the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R was Petrucci’s in 2023 if he wished it, now crew leaders and Ducati have to determine who will change the Italian rider. Here’s a listing of some attainable candidates.
Josh Herrin
The listing of candidates seemingly begins with 32-year-old Josh Herrin, who not solely gained the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship for Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC and is already beneath contract to the crew however he has beforehand gained the MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike Championship in 2013. Herrin is aware of the crew, the tracks, the tires, and the competitors, however the Panigale V4 R Superbike is completely different than the Panigale V2 Supersport machine.
Cameron Beaubier
As of publish time, five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier remains to be an unsigned free agent. Beaubier, age 29, examined a Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR Superbike at Buttonwillow in mid-November, turned aggressive lap occasions, and mentioned he and the crew had been shifting in the identical path for the longer term, nevertheless it’s attainable that Beaubier could possibly be lured away on the final minute to trip for Ducati.
Hector Barbera
If Beaubier elects to go along with Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW, that will imply 36-year-old Spaniard Hector Barbera, who rode for the BMW crew in 2022, would seemingly be off the crew. A longtime MotoGP racer, Barbera has already confirmed he can compete for podium finishes in MotoAmerica Superbike whereas on non-public groups’ Superbikes, so it could be fascinating to see what he may do on a factory-supported Ducati.
Kyle Wyman
One other confirmed MotoAmerica Superbike podium finisher and one with latest Ducati Panigale V4 R expertise is 32-year-old Kyle Wyman. Whereas Wyman’s present employer Harley-Davidson would seemingly think about letting him race a Ducati in MotoAmerica Superbike it’s not clear if Ducati would permit Wyman to proceed racing a Harley-Davidson in MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers. And that could possibly be a deal breaker.
Lorenzo Zanetti
Lorenzo Zanetti was the primary particular person to race Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Panigale V4 R Superbike and the 35-year-old Italian gained a MotoAmerica Superbike race at Indianapolis in 2020, giving the crew its maiden Superbike victory and Ducati’s first Superbike win within the U.S. since 2010. Since then, Zanetti has been racing and profitable on a Broncos Racing Ducati within the CIV (Italian) Superbike Championship.
Michele Pirro
Italian Michele Pirro, age 36, is a six-time and reigning CIV (Italian) Superbike Champion on his Barni Racing Ducati and sometimes races as a wild card within the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships. So, he’s nicely certified for the job, however he additionally has a job as a check rider for Ducati’s extremely profitable MotoGP program and racing full-time in America would possibly complicate issues.
Chaz Davies
Though he formally retired on the finish of the 2021 Superbike World Championship, 35-year-old Chaz Davies hasn’t stepped fully away from racing and took half in some FIM Endurance World Championship rounds in 2022. Earlier than that, he gained 32 World Superbike races, together with 28 throughout his eight years with Ducati. And earlier than that, the Welshman raced a number of seasons within the U.S., profitable the 2008 Daytona 200. Though Davies is at the moment working as a rider coach with Aruba.it Racing Ducati and helped Alvaro Bautista win the 2022 Superbike World Champion, Ducati might be able to persuade him to return to racing in America.
Xavi Fores
Xavi Fores is a 37-year-old Spaniard who at the moment races for Ducati’s official crew within the Endurance World Championship and has served instead rider for 2 completely different World Superbike groups in 2022, together with doing the ultimate three rounds with Barni Spark Racing Workforce. He additionally has expertise within the MotoE World Cup and British Superbike Championship and could possibly be thought-about one other good candidate for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC crew.
The publish MotoAmerica: Who Will Journey For Ducati In 2023? appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Bike Driving, Racing & Tech Information.
