Superbike, raging rider market for 2025
Superbike, the rider market
In the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship 2024, the’attention’s already turned to 2025: some riders are already under contract, others are looking around, and many rumors are circulating with a view to 2025. Here is the current situation.
Let’s start with those who already have certainties. Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) è under contract for next year, as are the two from the Pata Prometeon Yamaha team Jonathan Rea and Andrea Locatelli. In Team HRC, both Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have signed renewals valid until the end of 2025. Kenan Sofuoglu and Shaun Muir confirmed that Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) è under contract for this and next season. Also confirmed for 2025 is Michael van der Mark, as communicated by the official BMW team after the Misano Round. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has signed a new agreement with the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, as announced in Misano: he will share the box with Axel Bassani, who arrived in KRT in this 2024. On Saturday in Misano è came the official confirmation for the Venetian as well. Garrett Gerloff was looking for a seat for 2025 after the announcement regarding the Bonovo Action BMW team leaving WorldSBK at the end of the season: he found it by signing a deal with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team. In the Tuesday following the Portugal Round, the Barni Spark Racing Team announced the confirmation for the third consecutive season of Danilo Petrucci, who we will therefore see with the same colors also in 2025. Stop the rumors about the future of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): in the week leading up to the French Round è came the official announcement of the Spaniard’s renewal with the official Ducati team for another year, until the end of 2025. During the Round d'Italia, two other official announcements came: Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will remain with his current team but will race in WorldSBK alongside Petrucci in 2025. In the Motocorsa Racing Team, Ryan Vickers will take the place of Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Just a few days after the Aragon Round, the official word on the future of Sam Lowes, who will remain in the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for 2025.
The two GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders, Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), as well as Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) and Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) are still without a contract for next year. In June, the Bonovo Action BMW team announced that it will leave WorldSBK at the end of 2024: Gerloff in 2025 will race with the Kawasaki of the Puccetti Racing team, while Scott Redding revealed that he has a contract for 2025 although he still has no news about the future.
Andrea Iannone in Assen spoke about his future, also talking about other Manufacturers and other Championships: “I am glad that it is being talked about. I know I have a lot of chances if I am lì in the top positions. My goal è to be part of an official team, but we will see. I am happy since after a long time I felt a great interest from so many Houses in me. I am honored. I think in Misano we will know more about my future”. A topic that è also resurfaced at the Cremona test where Team Manager Denis Sacchetti said 'it doesn't depend on us'. In Misano 'The Maniac' revealed that he has proposals on the table and said that it è important to have an official bike.
Gardner made statements to Motorsport-Total.com: he said he has an ’option for 2025 with GRT Yamaha, while Aegerter – in the same article – said that “there must be the right conditions” to stay with the team and that the two-time world champion in WorldSSP has “other alternatives”. Saddles are beginning to find masters in both MotoGP™ and WorldSBK. Here are some statements from Augusto Fernandez reported by Motorsport.com: “The “idea è to continue with a big bike, if he can't find one in MotoGP™ he'll go to World Superbike, he won't go to Moto2™ that's for sure”.
In 2025 some will leave the WorldSBK paddock, as in the case of Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) who has decided to return to BSB, staying with Yamaha, together with whom he will tryà to win again that national title already won in 2022.
