Bulega impresses with blazing fastest lap while Bautista explores combined weight set-up

Nicolo Bulega continued to set the pace at Jerez, clocking an impressive 1’37.809s lap time that remained untouched throughout the day.

Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, adjusting to their new teams, concluded the second day with the second- and fourth-fastest times, respectively. Scott Redding claimed the third spot on the timesheets.

Challenges arose for Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK Champion, as he navigated the Jerez test, focusing on adapting to the new weight regulation.

On the second day of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his dominance, setting an exceptional lap record pace, leaving his competitors trailing by more than half a second. In contrast, teammate Alvaro Bautista encountered difficulties, finishing in 16th, lapping in 1’39.583s. Ducati showcased strength with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) securing fifth place while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claiming ninth while Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 15th on his sole day of testing.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased Yamaha’s prowess, securing second place with a 1’38.345s, while teammate Andrea Locatelli completed the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) took 12th.

In a surprising turn, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) surged late to claim third place with a 1’38.572s, pushing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also performed well, securing sixth place. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished 13th with a best time of 1’39.224s.

Leading the Kawasaki camp, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished in 11th place, focusing on race pace, with Axel Bassani improving to 14th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th.

Honda had a challenging day, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) leading the team in 16th, and teammate Iker Lecuona finishing 19th.

The WorldSBK Paddock is set to move to Portimao, continuing its testing program on January 29th and 30th.

Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“It was a solid test. We tried things that I liked. The time attack was very good, and the pace was consistent all day with race tyres. I’m very proud and happy of my fast lap. It’s our first test of the year, and we already have this great feeling with the bike. It wasn’t easy, but when I saw the dashboard with 1’37.8s, I was smiling. I’m happy with all the work done during this first test of the year. I’m already looking forward to the next one. We’ll continue working this way and keep improving the feeling with the bike in Portimao.”

Jerez Test Day 2 Results:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.809, 69 laps

2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.345s, 78 laps

3. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.572s, 77 laps

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.638s, 78 laps

5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’38.744s, 61 laps

6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.832s, 74 laps

7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’38,852s, 91 laps

8. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’38.871s, 76 laps

9. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’38.907s, 73 laps

10. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.943s, 73 laps

2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi (Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took top spot in the World Supersport field with a 1’41.338s, completing 64 laps. He was three tenths clear of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second as he continues his comeback from arm surgery, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P3. With Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fourth, four different manufacturers were inside the top four at the end of Day 2.

More, from a press release issued by Team HRC Honda:

Team HRC preps for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship with a two-day test at Jerez

Team HRC has kicked off preparations for the upcoming 2024 Superbike World Championship with two days of testing at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain.

Benefiting from almost ideal weather conditions on both Wednesday and Thursday, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the time of year, factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of the track time, riding from 10.30am until 6.00pm.

The squad focused on identifying a solid base-setup for the new CBR1000RR-R. This involved testing a series of upgrades made to different areas of the machine, and building on the work completed in November when the bike made its debut outing at Jerez. In addition to this setup work, the team also tested the new E40 sustainable fuel, the use of which is part of the 2024 Superbike regulation, in order to gather data and insights.

Lecuona and Vierge made an impressive number of laps over the course of two intense days, further developing their understanding of the bike’s performance and potential as a result.

Team HRC now looks ahead to its next testing session at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 29-30 January, when the preparations for the upcoming racing season will continue.
 

 
Xavi Vierge  97

“I’m happy to be back working with my squad and all the members of my team. We’ve had two days of ideal weather conditions here in Jerez, which has allowed us to complete a lot of laps and get through a significant amount of work. It’s true that we’ve had a little more difficulty than expected, especially during the traction phase, so one of our main goals here was to improve traction and grip. The overall feeling on the bike is quite good, but as soon as we close the throttle, we cannot exploit the power and have too much spin. We’ve made a number of adjustments to the bike setup and electronics, and now it will be crucial for the engineers to analyze all the data and come up with a solid plan for Portimão, so that we can quickly make progress.”
 
 

Iker Lecuona  7

“Over the winter I had a small surgery on my left hand, as I’d been having some issues last season, an after-effect of having broken my hand back in 2021. Although I’ve had to scale back my gym work a little, I’m almost 100% and am now training properly again; I feel strong physically but also mentally and was looking forward to getting on the bike yesterday. I see 2024 as being an important year for me, and so I want to do my best to be ready for it. I feel we’ve taken a step with the aero package, and the bike overall seems to work in a different way, thanks to updated electronics and the like, which helps us to improve in certain areas. Having said that, the bike is new, and we’re still struggling with certain aspects. I wanted to find better front feeling this week, and we worked hard to achieve that but are not there yet. The next two days of testing at Portimão will be important, giving us the chance to understand how the bike feels at a completely different track and to establish the best possible base before we head to Phillip Island.”

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

Bulega in great form at Jerez (P1). Intense set up work for Bautista. Huertas does well in WorldSSP (P3)

The first two days of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season concluded at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).

At the Angel Nieto Circuit, Nicolò Bulega proved to be already at ease on the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, finishing first on both Day 1 and Day 2 and setting an impressive chrono of 1’37.809, the fastest time ever set at the Angel Nieto Circuit by a World Superbike rider.

Extremely intense work by Bautista: for the first time, he was able to test the bike in the 2024 configuration, with the extra kilos of ballast required by the new regulations. The Spanish rider (still not at the top of his condition after the scary crash he was involved in during the previous winter test at Jerez) carried out extensive set-up work with his team, completing 149 laps in two days. The time of 1’39.583 (P17) is not indicative, as Bautista was one of the very few riders not taking to the track on a qualifying tire.

Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)

“I am happy because we took another step forward, even compared to yesterday, and the feeling has grown steadily. We worked well on the time attack and that means I was also able to improve on the qualifying tires. I think it was an important test and now we go to Portimao to continue on this path. Today’s lap time? It doesn’t change anything: I remain a rookie and my objectives are different to the top riders”.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)

“I am satisfied because on Day 1, due to some pain, I didn’t get the best feeling; today things went better and this is undoubtedly a good sign. I can say that my condition has even improved. We worked a lot on the set-up, especially in light of the new regulations, and we got some important indications. We haven’t tried a time attack but that wasn’t the priority of this testing. I am looking forward to being at Portimao to continue on this path and to get further feedback on my condition”. 

WorldSSP

Good start for Adrian Huertas and the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team. The Spanish rider completed 124 laps, lowering today (1’41.942) by more than 6 tenths of a second the time recorded on Day 1 and finishing in third place among the 13 WorldSSP riders on track.

Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)

“I am very satisfied with the work we did. We tried many solutions and we were able to understand which of them could be useful and which ones did not work well. We didn’t focus on the lap time but we will have a chance to do that in the upcoming tests.” 

More, from a press release issued by Elf Marc VDS Racing:

Lowes steps up WorldSBK preparations in Jerez
 

With their debut season in the WorldSBK Championship fast approaching, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and Sam Lowes were back on track for the first time in 2024 to complete a positive two-day test session at the Circuito de Angel Nieto in Jerez.
 

Riding in the stunning new Elf Marc VDS WorldSBK livery for the first time, favourable weather conditions enabled Lowes to continue his adaptation to Ducati’s Panigale V4 R machine in impressive fashion.
 

With the majority of this year’s star-studded WorldSBK line-up on track in Jerez, Lowes finished the test in a hugely encouraging eighth position, with plenty of data and experience gained ahead of next month’s season opener in Australia.
 

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team now leaves Spain to cross the border into Portugal for another two-day test session at the spectacular Algarve International Circuit next week.
 
 

Sam Lowes 
 

/// 8th, 1:38.852, 173 laps
 
 

After the winter break, Lowes was busy on track on day one to complete 82 laps, with his prime focus on finding a base set-up while also gaining crucial experience of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres.
 

Lowes ended the first day only 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, with continual improvements made throughout, which was reflected in his fast and constant pace in race trim.
 

More valuable set-up work was accomplished in a marathon stint of 91 laps on the second day, which saw Lowes use Pirelli’s super grippy soft rear tyre for his first time attack on the Ducati Panigale VR 4.
  

His performance on softer rubber was particularly eye-catching, with Lowes able to lap 1.3s faster compared to his best time on day one and he ended eighth overall with a fastest lap of 1:38.852 to finish third fastest Ducati on track.
 
 

“This test was full of positives”
 

“I’m really happy with how the test finished. I improved a lot compared to the first day and I felt a lot better on the bike. That’s a normal evolution as I get more used to the Ducati and know what I need to be fast. The team has done an amazing job in helping me understand more how to ride a superbike and I’m starting to feel like this is my bike. I did a lot of good laps on my own and today was the first time I tried the super soft Pirelli tyre. My time was fast, but I only used one tyre, so I’m sure I could go even faster again. We must be happy with the job we’ve done, and I know there is a plenty more to come as we do more laps and get more comfortable with the Ducati. We did a lot of laps in Jerez, and I feel pretty tired now, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We tried a lot of different set-ups to help us get very important information and now I’m looking forward to going to Portimao next week to understand the bike on a completely different track. This test was full of positives and gives me a big boost heading to Portugal.”

The post WorldSBK: Bulega Under Lap Record As Testing Concludes At Jerez appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Ducati’s Rookie Nicolo Bulega stealed the spotlight, clocking the fastest time on the day on soft tyres.

Having recently switched teams, BMW’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Yamaha’s Jonathan Rea delivered on their promises with rapid lap times.

Making their WorldSBK debuts, Andrea Iannone seized the seventh spot, while Sam Lowes holds his ground at 15th, setting the foundation for what promises to be an exciting rookie season.

On day one of the WorldSBK test at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) set the pace with an impressive lap time of 1’38.292s, leaving competitors over a second behind by electing to gain some mileage on the Pirelli SCQ tyre. However, teammate Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) faced challenges, finishing tenth as he strategized for the new 2024 weight rules.

In the Kawasaki camp, despite health issues, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured the second position with a fastest lap of 1’39.474s, while teammate Axel Bassani finished 14th, familiarising himself with the ZX-10RR setup. Independent rider Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) aimed for progress with a factory bike from KRT.

BMW had a noteworthy day, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claiming third place with a time of 1’39.521s, and Michael van der Mark securing fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and teammate Scott Redding made significant contributions to BMW’s testing program, securing the eighth and 13th positions, respectively.

Yamaha showcased strength, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) leading in fifth place with a time of 1’39.679s, closely trailed by newcomer Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) in sixth. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) just missed the top ten, securing 11th place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) claimed 12th.

Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge focused on adapting to the new CBR1000RR-R machine, with Lecuona finishing 16th.

Notable performances from Independents included Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) in seventh, Danilo Petrucci (BARNI Spark Racing Team) in ninth, and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in 15th.

More on worldsbk.com

Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“I had a good feeling today. I could push almost 100%, so this is important. I had fun today with my bike and my team. We are starting to understand each other well, we’re on the right path, and we just need to spend more time on the bike. Today, I focused on my position on the bike because I need to adapt my body to the bike. We tried some different things to have a good base. Tomorrow, we’ll continue the work we did today, try to keep improving, and maybe improve with used tyres.”

Jerez Test Day 1 Results:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’38.292s, 71 laps

2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’39.474s, 31 laps

3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.521s, 74 laps

4. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.531s, 72 laps

5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’39.679s, 83 laps

6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) 1’39.682s, 72 laps

7. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’39.664s, 67 laps

8. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’39.763s, 73 laps

9. Danilo Petrucci (BARNI Spark Racing Team) 1’39.773s, 66 laps

10. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’39.847s, 68 laps

The WorldSSP field was led by Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) as the German posted a 1’42.015s to claim P1 ahead of Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) with just a tenth separating the two. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was third as he took to the track on his ZX-6R featuring upgrades, while the Turk was also building up fitness following surgery on his arm over the winter. He was only 0.015s behind Manzi, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the top four.

The post WorldSBK: Rookie Bulega Best On Day One Of Testing At Jerez appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The 2024 WorldSBK season has officially kicked off for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team who unveiled the new liveries of the Panigale V4R together with those of the Desmosedici GP machines of the Ducati Lenovo Team of MotoGP.

For the second year in a row, the Palacampiglio in Madonna di Campiglio (location linked to Audi by a strong and active partnership that has lasted for 11 years) set the stage for a presentation that will undoubtedly go down in history. In fact, three reigning World Champions were the protagonists of the traditional unveiling: Francesco Bagnaia, of the Ducati Lenovo MotoGP team, and the two Aruba.it Racing – Ducati riders Alvaro Bautista and Nicolò Bulega , who triumphed in the 2023 season in World Superbike and World Supersport respectively. Together with them, of course, also Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) to form an exceptional quartet.

The ceremony was followed with high enthusiasm by authorities, sponsors, and guests in attendance, as well as by many Ducati fans and enthusiasts – via live coverage on Sky Sport MotoGP and streaming available on www.arubaracing.it and on the team’s social networks – then, riders and team representatives will be in Piazza Sissi in the afternoon to receive the warm embrace of the many fans who have come to Madonna di Campiglio to meet their favorites.

But the celebration time for Alvaro Bautista and Nicolò Bulega is already over. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will in fact move as early as tomorrow afternoon to Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) where the first private tests of 2024 will be staged on 24 and 25 January, to be followed by two more days of on-track action at Portimao (Portugal) on 29 and 30 January.
 
The first round of the 2024 WorldSBK season is set for the weekend of 23-25 February at Philip Island (Australia) and will be preceded by two days of official testing at the iconic Australian track on 19 and 20 February.

 
Stefano Cecconi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team Principal)

“The 2024 season will certainly be interesting.  We will face important challenges due to the new regulations and the new scenario of our competitors, and this will be an additional stimulus for us. I have no doubt, though, that the team will keep working with the same determination to try and achieve great results again. We will rely on the best line-up a team can field: two reigning world champions. On the one hand, Alvaro, who certainly needs no introduction, and on the other Nicolò, who has repaid immediately the trust we gave him. We’ll also have the extraordinary support of Ducati on our side and that’s why we start this season with all the credentials to be protagonists again”.

Claudio Domenicali (CEO Ducati Motor Holding)

“It is a great pleasure to inaugurate another Ducati racing season in Madonna di Campiglio, a location that perfectly expresses the values of “Made in Italy” of which we are proud ambassadors and which last year represented the starting point of an unforgettable season. The path that has led us to be the best in the world in racing is undoubtedly made up of the hard daily work of these years, but also of our ability to work as a team and have fun while putting our maximum effort into what we do. One of the strong elements of our brand is the ability to create a system and today we demonstrate this by jointly presenting the official teams for the 2024 racing season: the Ducati Lenovo Team, the Aruba.it – Racing Ducati Team and the novelty represented by the Ducati Corse R&D – Factory MX Team. Seeing the three bikes next to each other was a great emotion for me because, although different from each other, they are part of a single project. This belonging is underlined by the basic color of the liveries, Ducati Red, the same for all, and also by a completely new graphic sign that recalls the curve present in the Ducati logo, inspired by the most exciting part of riding a motorbike: the bend. At the same time, these bikes are also an expression of the path that Ducati has taken in recent years, investing in its future. The entry into motocross is in fact a clear example that our will to improve and our desire to win have no limits. In these two days we will have the opportunity to give ourselves the right energy for a season that promises to be full of challenges, in which we will try to confirm our leadership in the main track racing world championships and demonstrate our capabilities in a new terrain such as specialist off-road. Challenges have always encouraged us to bring out the best and we feel absolutely ready”
 

Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager Ducati Corse) 

“Last year, we celebrated Alvaro Bautista and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, who successfully brought back the World Superbike Riders’ World Title to Borgo Panigale, completing an extraordinary Triple Crown by also securing the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ World Titles. It would have been difficult to imagine a better performance, but the 2023 WorldSBK season surpassed our expectations, writing a new chapter in Ducati’s history. Alvaro Bautista retained his Superbike World Champion title, and Nicolò Bulega, aboard the Panigale V2, became Supersport World Champion, marking a historic first Riders’ World Title for Ducati in this category. Adding to the significance of these victories are the Manufacturers’ Titles in both categories, accomplishments that fill us with pride. As we approach the new Superbike season, we do so with the best possible lineup, featuring two World Champions riding the Ducati Panigale V4 R machines. For sure, the 2024 season is full of challenges; the competition is increasingly fierce, and there are new hurdles to overcome. However, these challenges motivate and push us to do better. We are eager to see Alvaro and Nicolò hit the track in their new colours this year, starting with the upcoming tests at Jerez and Portimão in the next few days”.
 

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)

“It is a big satisfaction to be back in a beautiful place like Madonna di Campiglio to present the bikes with which we will face a 2024 championship that will be extremely challenging, with so many changes both in terms of technical regulations and in terms of competitors. We will immediately have to work hard to adapt to the new rules, but I believe that in any case, it will be a very enjoyable season. The goal is to reach our maximum potential as soon as possible so that we can then have fun in every round. There will also be changes in the garage with a new team-mate: Nicolò is young, strong, and has already proven to be fast. I would also like to welcome the new sponsors who will accompany me aboard a really beautiful bike. The hope is that we can all do a great job together and for that, I want to wish the guys in my team the best of luck”.
 

Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)

“I am very happy to have had the privilege of taking part in this ceremony. I remember very well when as a child I used to follow the Ducati team presentation in Madonna di Campiglio: being now among the protagonists of this event fills me with pride.  I thank the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team for believing in me and giving me the chance to ride this Panigale V4R that I find beautiful. Let me make a joke: usually, when a bike is beautiful it must also go fast. That’s why we have high expectations for this season. I’m sure we can do well. The package we have is excellent, I’m very excited and I’ll try to give my best right from the start”.

The post WorldSBK: Aruba.it Racing Ducati Officially Introduced In Italy appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Althea Racing continues its sporting tradition and renews itself by presenting its programs for 2024.

Protagonist on the track since 1996 with numerous national and world successes in Superstock1000, Supersport and Superbike, including a world rider title in the premier class, two rider titles in Superstock, and two manufacturer world titles brought to Ducati, Althea wishes to continue his commitment to international racing.

In the next season, the team from Civita Castellana will double its presence in the Supersport world championship where it will be at the start with two riders, the Italian Niccolò Antonelli and the Pole, Piotr Biesiekirski.

Niccolò Antonelli, born in 1996, former Italian 125cc champion, boasts solid experience in the world championship in Moto3 and Moto2 while Piotr Biesekirski, Polish, born in 2001, has experience in the national championships and in the CEV Moto2.

Althea Racing’s solid bond with Ducati continues and the two riders will be entrusted with a Ducati Panigale V2, a bike that has already allowed victories and podiums in the last championship.

The Team Manager of Ecosantagata Althea Racing, this is the new name of the team, will be Moreno Coppola, a technician with a lot of experience and equally important results achieved with Althea.

Althea will also be a protagonist in the Enduro GP world championship.

Swede Lucas Lucas Vågberg, 24 years old, his first experience in the premier class but already a protagonist in the 2023 Junior World Championship, will fight to excel in the top class riding a 2024 Husqvarna 450.

Niccolo Antonelli, Rider

I am very happy to be here in one of the teams that has made the history of Superbike and Supersport with great results. This will push me to give 200% every time I get on the track. Finally today is the presentation and I can’t wait to get to work.

Piotr Biesiekirski, Rider

For me it’s a new category and a new championship and so I’m a curious because I don’t know what to expect exactly.

The Ducati is a different bike to those I have always ridden and therefore curiousI will need a bit of learning. After coming to Italy and testing the bike with the team, all my doubts went away. I fell in love with the riding style of the 955 and the team surpassed all my expectations. I am sure that we have an amazing package – both on the technical and personal side. Now I am focused on preparing myself as well as possible and I cannot wait to start the season in Philip Island!

Lucas Vagberg, Enduro GP Rider

I would like to thank Genesio for this great opportunity and I am sure that with his and their help I will be able to give satisfaction this season. I’ll do my best, I can’t wait to get started at full throttle!”

Genesio Bevilacqua, General Manager

We continue to believe in Supersport as a reference category because it allows our work group to be able to interact with opponents of different levels and potential, while developing the bike entirely within our racing team.

We are focusing on the rebirth of Antonelli and on a young man from Eastern Europe but with a Latin temperament.

However, 2024 will not just be about the track. It will be intense also thanks to the choice, after years of MotoGP and Superbike, to also compete in the World Enduro GP.

For me, another motorcyclist’s dream comes true, that of a passionate enduro practitioner, an absolutely satisfying discipline which allows me to spend my free time in nature and with the riders who are often my guests.

Ecosantagata Althea Racing also means off-road.

The post World Supersport: Althea Racing Presents Its 2024 Riders appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

“I have exciting news,” 29-year-old Dobbs said in a video she posted to social media on January 16. “I’ve been quiet about my 2024 racing plans because we were waiting on confirmation from FIM. I applied for the Women’s World Championship back in October [2023], and they told us that they would let us know between then and February 15. I just got an email this morning that says that I was accepted. I’m so excited.”

Dobbs, who is a Project Manager for a civil engineering firm in between races, participated in the full 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport and Super Hooligan Championships and took a best finish of 14th in the extended Supersport race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and placed 10th in the Super Hooligan Championship thanks to three top-seven race finishes.

The WCR series will include 24 experienced female racers like Dobbs competing on Yamaha YZF-R7 spec motorcycles in two races during each of six FIM Superbike World Championship rounds in Europe.

The series supplies Yamaha racebikes, an official GYTR race kit, Pirelli tires, fuel, and technical support, and charges each competitor an entry fee of €25,000 ($27,156 USD). Dobbs is currently seeking additional sponsor support to run in the series, which will be televised globally, according to FIM.

For more on Dobbs’ racing plans, go HERE.

The post MotoAmerica Racer Dobbs Selected For FIM Women’s World Championship appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, along with BMW Motorrad factory riders Toprak Razgatlioglu, Michael van der Mark, Scott Redding, and Garrett Gerloff, present themselves to the public in Berlin.

Visit to the BMW Motorrad Plant Berlin, the heart of BMW Motorrad production, and birthplace of the BMW M 1000 RR.

Many fans also follow the event in the new BMW Motorrad Welt.
 

Berlin. About five weeks before the season opener at Australian Phillip Island, BMW Motorrad Motorsport presented the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) line-up to the public in Berlin (GER) on Wednesday. The two teams, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, as well as the four BMW Motorrad WorldSBK factory riders Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), Michael van der Mark (NED), Scott Redding (GBR), and Garrett Gerloff (USA), unveiled their BMW M 1000 RR superbikes for the WorldSBK 2024 for the first time. The event took place at a special location, in the new BMW Motorrad Welt at the BMW Motorrad Plant Berlin. This plant is the heart of the BMW Motorrad production and the birthplace of the BMW M 1000 RR.
 

On Tuesday, Razgatlioglu, van der Mark, Redding, and Gerloff were guests at the BMW Motorrad Plant, and during an exclusive autograph session, the employees had the opportunity to personally meet their racing colleagues from the BMW Motorrad family. On Wednesday, the four BMW Motorrad WorldSBK factory riders gained closer insights into the production of the bikes, including their racing machines, during a tour of the plant.

The actual team presentation took place afterwards in BMW Motorrad World, the new “Home of the Brand” in Berlin, opened in autumn 2023. The official start of the 2024 WorldSBK occurred with the unveiling of the BMW M 1000 RR superbikes, which Razgatlioglu, van der Mark, Redding, and Gerloff will ride in the upcoming season with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team.
 

A special feature of the team presentation in Berlin was that in addition to invited guests, fans also had the opportunity to witness the event live on-site. Many of them seized the opportunity, secured the coveted free tickets for the event, and could personally interact with the four BMW Motorrad WorldSBK factory riders during the subsequent autograph session.
 

In preparation for the 2024 season, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, the two teams, and the riders will be back on the track soon. The next test sessions will take place at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on January 24th and 25th. The first race weekend of the season is scheduled from February 23rd to 25th at Phillip Island (AUS).
 

Quotes after the Team Presentation in Berlin.
 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “First of all, I would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation. It was an absolutely cool event here at BMW Motorrad Welt. It was very nice to show the team managers and riders what we do here in Berlin. We haven’t done this in this form before. The atmosphere among all involved was fantastic, and that is also extremely important for performance because we have this one team mentality. The presentation itself in BMW Motorrad Welt was also very successful. I am confident for the new season. We still need a few tests; last year, we didn’t necessarily have the best conditions but we have prepared a lot of things. Now there is not much time left until Phillip Island. Although the first two events take place on tracks that haven’t necessarily been our strong suit in the past, I am still optimistic that we will have a good start, carry this positive energy into the first races and through the entire season.”
 

Shaun Muir (Team Principal ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “First of all it is an outstanding venue for such a presentation. It think it really captures the spirit of what BMW Motorrad are trying to achieve here so I am super proud to be part of that. The tour around the plant was sensational. A big round of applause to all the guys, everyone in the factory; they really welcomed us. Moving on to the championship as such, I think it is absolutely clear that the combination of Michael and Toprak brings some special qualities. I think that is something we are really looking forward to working with. Already we can see what Toprak requires in terms of a package and a bike. It is a little bit different, not an awful lot, we just need to steer in a slightly different direction to give Toprak what he needs. And I say that in terms of letting him amplify his strengths which is hard on the brakes, corner entry, balance on the bike, something we know the BMW M 1000 RR can work well with. We want to put ourselves in a strong position, we want to compete for the podium in Australia. Can we get a podium? It’s a tough question, but Toprak’s personal aims are that he thinks he can and we give him all the support to do that. Michael has missed large parts of the past two seasons, and he does not underestimate what he is up against but he is definitely up for that challenge. I feel that Toprak can bring a lot of strengths out of Michael. I am looking forward to seeing that because we saw how good Michael can be when things go well. The bike is getting better, there is a development team behind us. From where the project started in 2019 to where we are now is night and day. I hope we can take advantage of that and get our rewards.”
 

Michael Galinski (Team Manager Bonovo action BMW Racing Team): “The team presentation was truly impressive. Many people attended, and it was very interesting at the BMW Motorrad plant and in the BMW Motorrad Welt. It was my first time at the plant itself, and it was fascinating to see the engine department and how all the motorcycles are assembled. It was great to take a behind-the-scenes look and also to present ourselves here as a team. We are very happy with our rider duo. They are two real top riders. Scott is the Vice World Champion, Garrett had a very strong second half of the season last year. Our goal is to move further forward, and with the BMW Motorrad family, this is certainly possible this season. So much manpower has been added that we are really happy now. Of course, we still need a bit of time, but we are confident that we will move forward this year.”
 

Garrett Gerloff (#31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team): “It has been exciting. There has been a really cool energy here at Berlin. It’s great to be in Berlin, it’s really nice to see all the amazing people that work here in the plant, that develop and produce the BMW M 1000 RR that we race. So it’s really cool to have the team presentation here. It has been really nice to see Scott, Toprak and Michael and to get together after a couple of months of holidays and seeing family and friends. I can tell that we are all excited to get back on the track and to start testing again. In just over a month we are going to be racing in Australia. Everything is going to happen really fast from here on but I’ve been doing my part to make sure that I am ready for the season and I am excited to get started. I think we have a really good base now. I have one year behind me with BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, so a lot of information and I think we can come up with solutions faster than last year if we do have a problem. It is going to be good to go to every track with a higher potential, and I think it can be a really good season. My goal is to work on qualifying and to be a bit better there and that can help me in the beginning of the races and then at the end of the races, when I am strong, I think we can make some real progress and be up front.”
 

Toprak Razgatlioglu (#54 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I am very happy to join the BMW Motorrad family. When I arrived at Berlin on Monday and left the airport I was really surprised because everyone spoke Turkish. Also at the plant, there a so many Turkish employees. I am very happy for this. In general, I am very positive. Especially today, there were a lot of people and I understand that a lot of people like me. A lot of people came here to see me, also many Turkish guys, and a lot of them came from very far away. Everyone can’t wait for the season, and that also goes for me. My focus is now on the season. I realized that the people believe in me, but it is important that you believe in your bike. Many people say that the BMW is not ready to fight for the championship but I believe that my bike is ready to fight for wins and the championship. We just need my setup, because my riding style is complete different. When we have this, we can easily fight for the win. Now I am just focusing on the test next week. It is really important for me. I need to adapt to the bike and I believe that we can fight for the podium and the wins this season. I am excited. I signed with BMW but I am also a part of the family. This is something I saw today again and it is great. I will give more than 100 percent, I will try to win with BMW. Everyone is working hard and this is a great extra motivation also for me. If we keep doing this, we will win the World Championship.”
 

Scott Redding (#45 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team): “It’s good to come here to Berlin. To come into the plant and to see how everything is made is always interesting, seeing the people in action at their work is always good. It’s also very interesting to see where the engines are built and how they do it, so it’s really nice to be here and to witness how everything is made. A launch is also always great, to unveil the colours of the bikes and the suites, together with the team-mates and the teams. Speaking about the coming season, for me it would be nice to have our bike to be more consistently competitive which I think we can do. We’ve had some good changes made and obviously Toprak is coming over. We also have a test team which makes a big difference. I think we are going in the right direction, which is important. It would be nice to stand on the podium again this year and more frequently, and to try to make our bad weekends not so bad and have a good, consistent year.”
 

Michael van der Mark (#60 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It’s nice to start the season, it’s great to be here in Berlin. We all know that BMW is a big company but we got a nice tour through the plant and I must say that it is really impressive. It was also great to see where they prepare the race engines and I am really ready to start the season. I can’t wait to go testing again, I feel one hundred percent fit, I got a new teammate that seems to be really fast – so I am looking forward to it. Like I said, I am fit again, the bike is getting better and better, Toprak is pushing the project even more and I think we want to win races and be on the podium as soon as possible.”

The post WorldSBK: BMW Introduces Its 2024 Teams In Berlin appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Jerez will once again play host to the final of the 2024 WorldSBK season, with an adjustment to the initially slated dates.
 

Responding to the dynamic demands of the local events calendar and the request of the township of Jerez de la Frontera, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and WorldSBK agreed to delay this year’s curtain closer by one week.
 

The Prometeon Spanish Round is now scheduled to unfold on October 18th-20th at the famed Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto.

The post WorldSBK: Date Of Season Finale Changed appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Godspeed Anthony Gobert.

Suzanne Gobert posted the following earlier Wednesday on social media:

“My heart is breaking as I write this as my first born beautiful son Anthony has passed late this afternoon [Australian time] I loved him from the moment he was born until the day I die. At times he was challenging, to say the least, but he always had a kind heart and cared for everyone. Sadly, he was a victim of addiction, which runs deeply in our families. He tried many times to get better, but he couldn’t quite make it. I am so proud of him and thank all those good people who added to his life. You know who you are.”

Alex Gobert posted the following on his social media:

My eldest brother was my first proper hero. In a lot of ways, his influence on my childhood and our connection to the sport still stands strong to this day and I genuinely treasure those early memories. I always will.

Hopefully, especially for his sake, we can all celebrate the better times in his life, the moments beyond the immense struggles and also take the time to recognise once again that both addiction and mental health battles are very real, very difficult obstacles to overcome.

Thank you to all who have extended their thoughts and shared memories.

Read MotoGP Editor Max Oxley’s obituary for Anthony Gobert HERE.

The post R.I.P. Anthony Gobert (Updated) appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The opening rounds of the 2024 WorldSBK and WorldSSP will take place in a little over a month at Phillip Island in Australia, which means that it is now time for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing to head out on track and evaluate the work it has completed over the winter months. Manuel Puccetti’s technical squad and riders Can Öncü and Tito Rabat have worked tirelessly to prepare for what is set to be a challenging but very interesting season. 

Having undergone surgery to sections of his brachial plexus damaged in an incident at Assen, Can Öncü cannot wait to get back on his Ninja ZX-6R complete with 2024 updates. The young Turk will be looking to rebuild confidence with his bike and return to full fitness. Can will complete five days of testing, at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, on 20-22 January and again on 24-25 January.

Tito Rabat will be able to test the KRT factory replica Ninja ZX-10RR with which he will complete his first full season with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, the bike updated in accordance with the new regulations. The Spaniard has not stopped training and is eager to adapt his riding style to the Ninja. He will test at Jerez de la Frontera on 24-25 January and at the Autodromo do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal on 29-30 January.
 

Manuel Puccetti

“The winter break is almost at an end, and we cannot wait to get out on track and back to work with our riders during the tests that come before the Phillip Island season opener. We’ll have a lot of new things to test, on both Öncü and Rabat’s bikes. Can will need to readapt to his bike after his operation and months away from the track. We really believe in him and are sure he can put together another season at the top level. Tito will be riding the KRT factory replica ZX-10RR that, thanks also to the latest regulatory updates, should allow him to aim for the top ten on a regular basis. My thanks go to Kawasaki and KRT for all their support.”

The post WorldSBK: Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Schedules Tests In Spain And Portugal appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Elf Marc VDS Racing Team launch 2024 Moto2 and WorldSBK challenge 
 

The magnificent Château de Modave in Belgium was the spectacular venue for the official presentation of the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s exciting 2024 plans today as the squad gears up to fight for glory in Moto2 and WorldSBK this season.

 
The launch included the unveiling of the instantly recognizable Elf Marc VDS Racing Team livery and was attended by the entire squad alongside main sponsors and key partners.
 

A proud participant in Moto2 since its introduction in 2010, Marc van der Straten is thrilled to enter his multiple title winning team in the Triumph-powered class for a 15th successive season. Runner-up in 2023 with rising star Tony Arbolino, the Italian will spearhead the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team challenge with new arrival Filip Salac on Kalex machinery.
 

Arbolino’s bid to join Tito Rabat, Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez as Moto2 title winners with Marc VDS will be led by crew chief Lucio Nicastro. Miguel Angel Arias will oversee data, with Aleix Piñol and Ben Doe his mechanics. Xavi Angulo will oversee tyres and fuel.
 

Elf Marc VDS Racing is delighted to join forces with highly rated Czech Republic rider Salac, who will be helped in his bid for success in 2024 by experienced crew chief Gilles Bigot. Data and telemetry responsbility goes to Adriá Pérez with mechanics Steven Bradley and Anthony Couturier completing Salac’s side of the garage. Ignacio Lorenzana is responsible for tires and fuel for both Arbolino and Salac.
 

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team will write a new chapter in its successful history in 2024 with an ambitious expansion to compete in the WorldSBK Championship for the first time.
 

A familiar face will lead the team’s quest for success in WorldSBK, with Sam Lowes moving from Moto2 to ride a Ducati Panigale V4 R machine. After a 10-season stint in the Grand Prix arena of which the last four were spent as an integral part of the Elf Marc VDS Racing squad, Lowes returns to the WorldSBK paddock where he was crowned Supersport World Champion back in 2013.
 

The British rider’s squad will be led by crew chief Giovanni Crupi. Stefano Guidi will be in charge of telemetry with Carmine Oliva, Marco Pascucci and Nicolas Guichard his mechanics. 
 
 
 

Tony Arbolino

Moto2 Rider
 

“I’m super happy to be getting ready for my third year in this amazing family. I appreciate so much the opportunity that Marc has given me and I share his commitment to winning. The support I get to help me perform on track is incredible and it always gives me a great boost in every single race. My only focus is on giving them back a big present in 2024 and that is to be fighting for the title from the first to the last race. I’ve already had some big chats with my crew and we know where we can improve to be stronger this year. It’s going to be an interesting year ahead with the change to Pirelli tyres and I think that is going to change the dynamics of races quite a lot. This will require a new approach but I’m ready for this new challenge and ready to bring the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team back to the top again in Moto2. It’s great to have Filip with me as well and I hope he can show his talent and can push me a lot because that is also good motivation when you have a fast and competitive teammate. The goal is to be fast and consistent for the whole season and to fight for the win every weekend. We have the weapons to do it, so it will come down to hard work and being as best prepared as we can be to get the job done.”

Filip Salac

Moto2 Rider
 

“It is an honour to be asked to ride for this great team and it makes me feel very proud to have reached a part of my career where a project of this stature trusts me to come in and be successful. The livery is so famous in the paddock, and I feel privileged to be wearing it in 2024. I’m very grateful to Marc and everyone connected to the squad for helping me on this new journey in my career. I wanted the opportunity to fight for the best results possible and the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is the perfect place for me to accomplish my goals. I have a two-year contract which immediately takes a bit of pressure off and with time I’m sure I can grow into becoming the rider I know I can be. I feel this is a family team and they are all pushing in the same direction to fight for the victory and that helps the rider a lot. My goal is to be finishing inside the top five every weekend, fight for the podium and also win some races. And I want to work with Tony to win the Team Championship, which is also a very important target. I have a great relationship with Tony, and we know how much talent and speed he has. And I’m sure sharing the box with him will only help me improve.”
  
 
 

Sam Lowes

Superbike Rider
 

“I’m very happy and proud to continue working with this great team and to be riding for Marc once again. It’s a big new challenge for me to change category after a long time and I’m very happy and motivated to start. I’d like to say a huge thanks to Marc for asking me to be the first rider for his team in WorldSBK. The bike is beautiful and it’s an amazing feeling to ride a Ducati. The livery is fantastic and it’s so special to represent Marc and this team in WorldSBK. I’m really excited to continue working with my new crew chief Giovanni to progress my understanding of the bike. I just need to learn the bike, tyres, and format over a race weekend with the three races. The first goal in the tests will be to make the bike mine and feel comfortable. I just need laps and mileage on the bike to understand many things. But this will come and if we had to go racing today, I feel we could do a good job. The goal though is to fight at the front. I hope to be in the fight for podiums and wins and to learn a lot. Also being top Independent rider has to be a target.”

Marc Van Der Straten

Team Owner
 

“January 15th, 2024, is always going to be a memorable date for me, as today we present our Moto2 team and the Elf Marc VDS Racing family grows with the arrival of our new WorldSBK team. It was really beautiful and motivating to see our three machines with their talented riders on stage, and to know that they’re going to give their all to achieve the objectives set. In Moto2, with Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac, we’ll be continuing our quest for victories and podiums to try and win the World Championship. In the WorldSBK Championship, we face a big and exciting new challenge. Although we’re just starting out, we’re very well prepared and supported by the brilliant talent of Sam Lowes and the technical quality of Ducati. We know together we can make big things happen. Finally, I’d like to say a big thank you to all our friends and partners who continue to support our projects and share our great passion season after season. Let’s enjoy a great 2024 together.
 
 
 

Pierre-Gautier Caloni

VP Motorsport At Total Energies Marketing Services

“2024 marks a new stage in our historic partnership with the Marc VDS Racing Team. Having achieved great success together in Moto2 and MotoGP since 2010, with 46 victories and three Riders’ World Championship titles, we are proud to accompany Marc and his team in this new challenge represented by the World Superbike Championship, while continuing the adventure of the ELF Marc VDS team in Moto2. We share the same values and passion as Marc. The ELF brand is therefore proud to be the title sponsor of the Marc VDS Racing Team for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship, as well as for the 2024 Moto2 World Championship.”
 
 

Marco Zambenedetti

Ducati SBK Project Management Responsible

 
“It’s a huge pleasure that the name of Ducati shines together with the Marc VDS Racing family. Their three world titles in Moto2, their excellent results over more than a decade and, above all, their commitment to excellence, make this team an ideal partner. In addition, we are delighted that Sam Lowes will be at the controls of our Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Ducati will do all it can to help him show his speed and talent and we are convinced that his experience will also make us grow. Finally, I would like to thank Marc van der Straten and the team for the trust placed in Ducati to accompany them in this new WorldSBK adventure. I am sure it will be an exciting season for everyone.”

The post Video: Elf Marc VDS Racing Teams Introduced In Belgium appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.