Press Release | October 21, 2024
It seemingly gets earlier and earlier, but silly season for next year’s grid is already underway…
This is an update from WorldSBK…
(October 21, 2024) The 2024 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship has reached the second half of the season, but already, attention is turning into what the 2025 grid will look like. Some riders are under contract for next season, plenty have their futures up in the air, and there have been plenty of comments made about what to expect in 2025. So, what is known so far about the complexion of next year’s grid?
UNDER CONTRACT: speculation about Bautista’s future ends, plenty of riders in place
The easy place to start is who has a 2025 contract in their pocket already. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is under contract for next year, as are Pata Prometeon Yamaha duo Jonathan Rea and Andrea Locatelli. At Team HRC, both Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge‘s renewal was announced as two years to cover the 2024 and 2025 seasons. It’s been confirmed by both Kenan Sofuoglu and Shaun Muir that Toprak Razgatlioglu‘s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) contract covers both this and next season. Although his 2025 teammate had been unknown, BWM announced after Misano that the current Razgatlioglu-Michael van der Mark lineup would stay in place for 2025. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had his future secured with the new Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, with that announcement coming at Misano, with teammate Axel Bassani signing a deal for ‘2024 and beyond’ when he joined KRT for this season; his future was announced on Saturday at Misano.
Garrett Gerloff was looking for a new seat after Bonovo Action BMW’s announcement about withdrawing at the end of the season, but he’s secured himself a place on next year’s grid after inking a deal with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing. On the Tuesday after the Portuguese Round, the Barni Spark Racing Team announced Danilo Petrucci for 2025, keeping ‘Petrux’ on the grid for a third campaign. One rider whose future had been up in the air was Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), but any speculation was put to bed in the week leading up to the French Round, with the announcement that he had signed a new one-year contract for the 2025 campaign. Two more Independent Ducati outfits confirmed their plans during the Italian Round. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will stay with his current team, but race in WorldSBK alongside Petrucci, in 2025. At Team Motocorsa Racing, Ryan Vickers will join the team for next season as he replaces Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Just a few days after the Aragon Round, Sam Lowes‘ future was secured after it was announced he would stay with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for 2025.
Leading up to the season-ending Spanish Round, three riders had their future confirmed. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) will remain with the Independent Ducati-powered Team GoEleven, while GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team have opted to keep Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner for next season. On the Sunday at Jerez, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW)’s future was confirmed. He’ll stay with his current team as they downsize to a one-rider outfit with Ducati machinery.
NOT YET SORTED FOR 2025: the riders aiming to secure a ride
Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) are all yet to sign for next year, with places on the grid filling up fast.
IN THE MEDIA: what’s been reported?
With the MotoGP grid fully announced for 2025 and WorldSBK seats filling up fast, riders will be looking for seats. One such rider is Augusto Fernandez who is quoted by Motorsport.com Spain as saying: “The idea is to continue with a big bike, if I don’t get anything in MotoGP I’ll go to World Superbike, I won’t go to Moto2, that’s for sure.”
MOVING AWAY: Ray returns to the British championship
Some riders have looked elsewhere for a seat, including Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team). The #28 has opted to return to BSB, staying with Yamaha machinery, as he looks to re-claim the domestic title that he won in 2022.
2025 WorldSBK grid (TBA = To Be Announced)
- Aruba.it Racing – Ducati: Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista
- Pata Prometeon Yamaha: Jonathan Rea and Andrea Locatelli
- Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team: Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes
- Team HRC: Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge
- ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark
- Kawasaki Puccetti Racing: Garrett Gerloff
- Barni Spark Racing Team: Danilo Petrucci and Yari Montella
- Team Motocorsa Racing: Ryan Vickers
- Elf Marc VDS Racing Team: Sam Lowes
- Team GoEleven: Andrea Iannone
- GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team: Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner
- MGM Bonovo: Scott Redding
