As the Superbike World Championship continues the teams are riders are already working on what is to come for 2025 and more, with many teams yet to have their lineups closed. Still there are some changes to come, that is pretty much a certainty.
The riders aiming to secure a ride
The biggest name without a deal for next season is reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who opted to sign a one-year contract last season. Both GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders, Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) are all yet to sign for next year. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is also out of contract, while teammate Axel Bassani is on a multi-year deal– of course, next year, it’ll be the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team squad. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) revealed last year he was contracted for 2023 and 2024, so he’s a free agent for 2025 as it stands. Elsewhere, Andrea Iannone’s (Team GoEleven) contract expires at the end of 2024.
What is known already
Iannone addressed rumours about his future at Assen, saying: ‘I’m happy I’m being spoken about. I know if I’m on top, I have many chances. My target is to be in a factory team, but we will see. I’m happy because after a long time, I felt many things, and interest from many manufacturers. I’m honoured. I think, after Assen at Misano, we will know something more about this’.
Alex Lowes was also asked about silly season at Assen, and the #22 said: ‘I don’t really know, it’s very early. Like we’re seeing in MotoGP and previous years in WorldSBK, everything starts really early. We have a break after the Assen round, so maybe there’ll be some more news in the break. From my side, I don’t know yet’.
At BMW, van der Mark gave an answer to rumours about his future, saying the only thing he can do is deliver results. When asked about rumours linking Iannone to BMW, van der Mark simply replied: ‘I need to have some good results and that makes everything a bit easier’. During Free Practice 1, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers spoke about their rider line-up for 2025, refusing to give anything anyway: ‘We’re happy the way it is and it’s way too early to say anything’.
Although his future is secure, Razgatlioglu was asked about who he wanted as a teammate and stated van der Mark as his preference: ‘I am happy with Michael as a teammate and the atmosphere in the garage is very good and we work well together. If BMW ask me, it’s easy to say Michael, he’s a good teammate, a good guy and respectful; we work together in the race and Superpole’.
Gardner has been quoted by Motorsport-Total.com as saying he has an option for 2025 to be with GRT Yamaha, while Aegerter – in the same article – said: ‘The conditions must be right’ to stay with the team and that there are ‘other alternatives’ for the double WorldSSP Champion.
Source: WorldSBK