Countdown to Spherical 1: WorldSBK heads to Phillip Island
- The WorldSBK grid could have a last alternative to fine-tune their setups earlier than the season opener with a single day of testing scheduled at Phillip Island on Tuesday.
- Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega and BMW’s Toprak Razgatlioglu, presently the quickest in pre-season assessments, will deal with the Australian circuit with their new bikes.
- Alvaro Bautista, discreet throughout pre-season as he adapts to new weight laws, will deal with readiness for the opening spherical of the season.
The 2024 WorldSBK grid sees main modifications, with solely 4 groups unchanged from final yr.
Toprak Razgatlioglu departed from Yamaha to affix the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Workforce, the place he groups up with Michael van der Mark. Jonathan Rea ended his longstanding partnership with Kawasaki to affix Pata Prometeon Yamaha alongside Andrea Locatelli, bringing a contemporary dynamic to the grid.
Nicolo Bulega‘s promotion to the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati crew, partnering with Alvaro Bautista, got here after a powerful 2023 WorldSSP marketing campaign which noticed him clinch the title. Axel Bassani stepped as much as the Kawasaki Racing Workforce WorldSBK after Rea‘s departure, transitioning from Ducati. Out of the 5 manufacturing unit groups in 2023, solely Workforce HRC have stored the identical line-up as final yr, aligning Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge.
Moreover, Sam Lowes and Andrea Iannone made their much-anticipated debut in WorldSBK with Elf Marc VDS Racing Workforce and Workforce GoEleven respectively. With these seismic shifts within the WorldSBK grid, the stage is about for a fiercely aggressive season.
The Official Check at Phillip Island serves as a vital platform for groups and riders to evaluate their readiness for the season forward, as pre-season testing has already supplied insights, setting the stage for Spherical 1.
Toprak Razgatlioglu‘s transfer to BMW proves promising, with a robust tempo and important enhancements famous. Jonathan Rea impresses regardless of missing outright velocity, showcasing constant efficiency throughout testing. In the meantime, Alvaro Bautista‘s adaptation struggles and damage setbacks distinction with Nicolo Bulega‘s standout performances for Ducati
WorldSBK | KEY STAT
18 Phillip Island is the house for thrilling finishes: a minimum of 18 races right here have been determined by lower than 0.1 seconds.
- As the ultimate pre-season check approaches earlier than the kickoff of the 2024 season, contenders within the WorldSSP class are gearing up for the Official Check which is able to happen on Monday.
- Stefano Manzi and Marcel Schroetter are decided to safe the Championship they missed final season, whereas Can Oncu is decided to reclaim his place on the prime of the grid.
- Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Workforce, the reigning champions of WorldSSP, have enlisted Adrian Huertas to exchange Nicolo Bulega, aiming to defend their title.
Stefano Manzi, the 2023 runner-up, continues his journey with the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate outfit, now joined by Glenn van Straalen. Marcel Schroetter, who secured third place in final season’s standings, stays with the MV Agusta Reparto Corse outfit, alongside Bahattin Sofuoglu. Regardless of dealing with challenges within the 2023 season, Can Oncu returns for his fifth marketing campaign with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit. In the meantime, Yari Montella, a podium finisher in 2023, stays dedicated to the Barni Spark Racing Workforce.
Making a return to WorldSSP are Lorenzo Baldassarri (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha), keen to construct on their previous successes.
Thrilling debuts await at Phillip Island, with new riders and groups getting into the WorldSSP enviornment. Niccolo Antonelli joins the Ecosantagata Althea Racing Workforce, whereas Triumph expands its presence with a second crew within the collection, WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph, that includes Jorge Navarro and John McPhee.
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