Motul Announced as Kawasaki Racing Top Sponsor

Kawasaki Racing Team has announced a new sponsorship with Motul. Motul is now as top sponsor for the Kawasaki World Superbike team which ushers in a new era for the Japanese manufacturer. The company also sponsors the WorldSBK championship which provides KRT with global brand awareness as well. Motul is a top brand for motorcycle lubricants in competitions across the world. The team spoke on the move releasing the following comments.

Pierre Barrard (Chief Marketing Officer of Motul):

“We are thrilled to further integrate into the Kawasaki family, continuing an exciting journey that defines us as a 360° partner. WorldSBK team partnership, symbolizing not only a strategic alliance on product and technology, but also the shared passion for innovation and performance that characterizes both Kawasaki and Motul. As we embark on this new racing season as the official sponsor of the Kawasaki Racing Team in the WorldSBK Championship, we look forward to demonstrating our combined strengths to reach together new heights in the world of motorcycle racing”

Manabu Shinobu (Senior Manager Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. Marketing Department):

“As a company with engineering at its core, Kawasaki continually strives for perfection. For the best performance in our engines and ancillary systems such as brakes and drivetrains, we demand the very best lubricants and allied products as well as requiring consistency of quality on a global scale. We are therefore delighted to have achieved this agreement with Motul that includes both core lubricants and also bike care products, ensuring that we will maintain the cutting-edge performance of the Kawasaki Racing Team.”

Guim Roda (KRT Team Manager): 

“The new partnership with Motul begins now and I am convinced it will quickly gather momentum and grow in significance over the coming years. We recognize and respect the efforts of Motul within the racing sphere and their wider commitment supporting many activities to bring the spirit of racing to all motorcycle and motorsport fans across the world. We have respect for this global reach and reputation, and it fits with our own KRT racing philosophy. At the same time, we are impressed with their technical development skills, creating the best products possible. In the world of lubricants, Motul is a major player combining professionalism with passion and this makes them an attractive partner. I’m sure we will work well as a team delivering success for each other and Kawasaki fans globally.”

The following article was not written by Speed Trap Magazine Staff.

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s new season is getting closer, and the rev limits for each manufacturer have been unveiled. With new regulations coming into effect that mean rpms can only be changed in specific scenarios – more details here – the limits are the ones that each manufacturer ended last season with, with the exception of Ducati who return to their original 2023 number as part of the new package of rules.

Below are the RPM limits for the 2024 WorldSBK manufacturers, see more information here:

Kawasaki: 15100
Ducati: 16100
Yamaha: 15200
BMW: 15500
Honda: 15600

Nicolo Bulega has made a statement thus far in 2024. After topping the table in the Jerez pre season test Bulega came back to repeat the feat on Day 1 of the Portimão testing event. However, the experience of Toprak Razgatlioglu rocketed Raz to the top of the table on Day 2. No one really expected Bulega to be competitive right off of the bat in World Superbike. Whether he can translate his early season testing success into race wins will be a mystery until the opening round. Bulega has made it clear that he is not yet pushing 100%.

“It was a very good day; my feeling with the bike is nice. Obviously, I need to adapt as I’m not at 100% but it’s normal. We’re working very well all together. I’ll go to Australia with good positivity. The lap was with the SCQ but with the SCX, I was very fast so apart from lap times – which are important but not a lot – I am happy because my race pace was good.

I think it has been very good; we started at Jerez with a normal feeling but every day, my feeling was getting better, so this is very important and I think we have some margin. We’ll try to be more ready in Australia. It’s a little bit better than expected. I don’t have a lot of things to do; more time on the bike, do more laps and understand the bike better with worn tires and low fuel. I am excited and looking forward to Australia with this amazing bike, as Phillip Island is my favorite circuit.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu Had the Following Comments After the Testing Event

Toprak Razgatlioglu (#54 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I have to say that I was also surprised when I saw the 1:39.2 with the SCX tire. Before, I did a 1:39.8 with the SC0 tyre and then I said to the team, if I am feeling a little more grip with the SCX tyre, we will make a very good lap time. So we did. Then I wanted to try the Q tyre and we got one from the Bonovo team, thanks to them. We tried to do another good lap time with that but the bike setup is completely different and I had the feeling that the bike was just jumping because there was too much grip.

But in general I am very happy. After this test, it looks like we are 99 percent ready with the bike. But again, we are still learning, getting better every day. I don’t know how it will be in Phillip Island. We were very strong here on these two days. Also our pace on race tyres is really strong. But Phillip Island is completely different. We will see there, it is impossible to say anything before the race or the test. But in general, this atmosphere is very good, I am very happy and we did a very good job on these two days.”

Top 10 on Day 2 of Testing

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.189s – 74 laps
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.086s – 61 laps
3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.332s – 90 laps
4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.377s – 79 laps
5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.428s – 76 laps
6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) +0.489s– 80 laps
7. Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) +0.496s – 64 laps
8. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.767s – 53 laps
9. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.946s – 76 laps
10. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.947s – 59 laps

Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing) set the tone on Day two of the Pre Season Jerez test. Bulega lapped at a faster than lap record pace ahead of many of the more seasoned riders on the grid including 8 time champion Jonathan Rea. Bulega piloted the fastest Ducati on the day and had the following words after the session.

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”. 

The top ten from Day 2 at Jerez:

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

World Superbike rookie Nicolò Bulega has began work at his new post after joining the Aruba.it factory Ducati team for the 2024 World Superbike season. The team held a launch event where Bulega voice some of his thoughts on the move to World Superbike and chemistry with his Ducati Panigale V4 R. The reigning World Supersport champion will be on track this week during the Jerez testing event.

Bulega Comments on World Superbike Move

“It feels amazing. It’s a good opportunity for me. I know it’ll be a very important year. I will try to enjoy this incredible bike and team and try to do my best. We go to Spain for the first test of the year. I think it’ll be very important to prepare me and the bike to have a good feeling for when we go to Phillip Island in a month.

Referring to previous tests Bulega Continued, “I was very happy. My lap time was good, and my feeling was good. But I was only at 80%. I was very happy to be fast and to be at 80%. I think I have a very good package and team so I will try to bring out all my speed and talent. I have to improve everywhere a little bit because it’s a new bike for me. I’ve never tried a bike with so much horsepower, so I need to adapt my riding style to understand it better. When you ride this very fast bike, you have to understand braking points, how to accelerate and pick up, and you have to adapt to this bike. I think I have to improve everywhere and try to be fast.”

Bulega Could Benefit from Bautista’s Mentorship

Bulega will have his work cut out for him as his teammate Alvaro Bautista is riding in his prime. Bautista will be working on a third straight championship so the pressure to perform will be high for the young Supersport champion. However, given the proximity to Baustista, Bulega has the opportunity to learn from the best. Bulega will have Alvaro Bautista as well as the data from Bautista’s runs to help him get acclimated. Bulega is excited about the opportunity and wants to impress. He stated, “Being here with these beautiful bikes is just amazing. Being here with incredible teammates is wonderful. This is a beautiful experience, seeing it from inside and outside. Last year, when I was called to join this presentation, I was extremely happy.

I’m enjoying it and I’ll do my best. Having Alvaro with me in the team will be tough because he’s such a good racer. I’ll be suffering because Alvaro will be fast all the time, throughout the season. It’ll be my first year as an official rider, so I will have to learn so many things. Having Alvaro as a teammate will be paramount, will be crucial, for me. I’ll try to copy and paste, steal some secrets from him, to be faster. It’s an amazing motorcycle. In my opinion, this new livery is amazing. Last year, it was already beautiful, but this is even better.”

Dorna recently announced the full rider entry list for the 2024 World Superbike Season. The entry list features 23 riders, the majority of which are return riders from last season. There were a number of seat and manufacturer changes. The most notable being Toprak Razgatlioglu’s move to BMW and Jonathan Rea’s move to Pata Yamaha. The entry list is as follows:

Dorna has released the entrant lists for the 2024 season. 87 riders have been announced across the Superbike, Supersport and WorldSSP300 classes.

Superbike

Supersport

WorldSSP300

After a hard fought second place in the World Superbike Championship. Toprak Razgatlioglu starts work at his new home with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in preparations for the 2024 season. During the first pre season testing session there were some early technical complications. However by the end of the day Razgatlioglu had the following words:

“On the first lap, I was just smiling. Especially on the corner exit. I know my old bike very well after 4 years but on the exit of the last corner, I felt unbelievable power and over the hill, it was still going. This bike keeps getting faster. I had to adapt the braking at the first corner because I was trying it like I had before but I stopped a lot. Also, after the problem at Turn 1, there was oil on the left side of the track so we used the middle. This wasn’t easy for me to turn into Turn 1. Anyway, every lap I was getting better, understanding the bike and the traction. The throttle connection is much better. I’m very happy and we have many parts to try.”

Despite finishing on the podium the majority of the season behind Alvaro Bautista Razgatlioglu seemed to always be behind a challenge for the top spot in the championship race. Whether the move to BMW will be beneficial from a performance stand point is yet to be determined. However, for now Toprak seems to be right at home as he begins to find chemistry with his new team.

Alvaro Bautista finished the season with perfection winning all three races at the Prometeon Spanish Round this weekend at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. Bautista had the championship wrapped up in Race 1. You can read more about race 1 here: Bautista Reigns Supreme in Gold. In the Superpole Race and Race 2, Bautista tripled down on his weekend success.

Bautista had the following words after the race weekend, “I think it’s been a practically perfect season as well as this last weekend. We have won all the titles and I am very happy for the team. For me it was an even bigger emotion. To win in front of so many fans and my family, was great. In Race 2 I had a lot of fun, the duel with Toprak was fantastic: we fought in every corner but always in a fair way. I think everyone who saw the race got emotional. Now it’s time to celebrate even though from tomorrow we will start thinking about testing on Tuesday and Wednesday and the MotoGP Wild Card in Malaysia. The season is not over yet”.

Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea Say Farewell

With new seats secured for the 2024 Razgatlioglu is headed to BMW for the 2024 season marking an end to his journey with Yamaha. While Razgatlioglu didn’t win the championship he was a strong contender all year finishing on the podium multiple times this season. The 27-year-old has logged 131 race starts with Yamaha in WorldSBK since 2020. In this time he has achieved 100 podiums, 37 wins and 12 pole positions for the Yamaha side.  Yamaha released the following farewell video:

Razgatlioglu Had the Following Words

“I passed the checkered flag in P1, this is good for me! I touched the green, track limits – but I am not understanding any penalty, I don’t see – just I feel my rear wheel sliding.” Razgatlioglu was penalized for exceeding track limits taking away his win. “I am not taking an advantage, but rules are rules. It is not easy to say anything more – I feel like I am winning, but Phil say I am P2 when I come into pit lane.

My last race with Yamaha, I just try to do a good position – especially P1! I try for good memories for my last race and to win with Yamaha. I am a little bit sad, but I gave it more than 100% like Portimao but I need some luck – and last races I have not had much luck. In general, I am happy – a nice battle with Alvaro but just the last corner.”

Razgatlioglu Reflected on the Last 4 Years

“After four years, thanks to my team – incredible job and I am feeling Yamaha like a family. I still have respect for Yamaha – we have very nice memories, many wins – we are World Champion in 2021 – and this is also my first World Championship so Yamaha is very important for me. All the team, all the guys are incredible. I am really enjoying four years with this team – especially last two years.

It was the first time for me in 2020 working with a factory team, 2021 after we are champions I am feeling more and more warm working with the team. Everybody tries their best, this weekend all Yamaha here and everybody coming to see me for the last race. I am very happy for this – and I am sad because it is the last race and next year we are not together, but maybe in the future we are again.

Jonathan Rea to Yamaha

As we’ve previously reported, Jonathan Rea will make the move to Yamaha next year. Rea had a very poor result in his final race with the team finishing P17. While the performance was under whelming it did not overshadow the success he has had with the program over his tenure.

He had the following words, “Strange feelings overall to be honest, not from a performance or results side but because I’m leaving an incredible team. My last day in green and that’s what is strange. Obviously, not the result I wanted to finish off with for my team, they deserved a lot better. What we did prove was that the Ninja ZX-10RR still has potential and up until that point of the race, I felt quite in control with a really good rhythm.

There were times when I was like ‘ooof, I’ve got a magic tire’! The bike was hooking up well and going forwards. Pere made a bold decision to make an incredible change, something quite big on the bike that we wanted to try. We didn’t go down without a fight and it was really frustrating to lose the front. Potentially, I could have just gave up the corner a bit, I was a bit fast on entry but I tried to pull it down and with too much lean angle, I was down.”

Rea Continued

I wanted to finish the race as it would be too easy to pull in. My footpeg had broken off and my handlebar bent forward but I was still able to lap in the 1’41s. It makes me even more disappointed with what could’ve been but that was our race. It sums up the highs and lows we’ve had this year; some incredible highs but difficult moments but it can’t darken the moments I’ve had at KRT. It’s been a whirlwind journey and something I’ll never forget.”

Full Race 2 Results are Below

With the season now completed riders will look forward to some downtime through testing days and time with family as we head into the off season.

Alvaro Bautista clinched the 2023 World Superbike title today after winning Race 1 at Jerez in dominant fashion. Baustista finished the race just under 1.2 seconds ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu. Razgatlioglu’s chances at the title were eliminated in that moment and the celebrations began. Baustisa changed into his gold race suit for the victory lap and podium celebrations as the fans cheered. The win marks two world championships in a row for Bautista. He has already committed to a return next season.

After the celebrations Bautista had the following words, “It was an unforgettable year also because we managed to win by beating the competition of strong riders like Toprak and Johnny. Defending a title is always very difficult and for this reason I am really proud of what we have done this season. I chose at the beginning of the year to put the number one on the bike to make this challenge even more exciting. I want to thank the whole team for the extraordinary work that has allowed me to have a fantastic feeling with the Panigale V4R.

My goal was to have fun and I had a great time. And thanks of course to Aruba.it and Ducati for believing in me. To win here, in front of my family and so many fans was an immense joy. Next season we have an even tougher challenge ahead of us, also because of the new rules regarding weight balance. But now it’s time to celebrate, even if only for a few hours, because tomorrow there are two more races and I want to continue to… have fun”.

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

“This result makes us extremely happy and proud not only because it highlights the extraordinary work carried out by Alvaro and the whole team, but also because it is proof that last year’s victory rested on extremely solid foundations that have allowed us to reconfirm ourselves. From the outside it may have looked like a season in ‘control’, but instead we had to overcome many obstacles, a few mistakes of our own, and opponents who were, as always, incredibly tough.

However, Alvaro and the whole team have always reacted with clear ideas, strong determination, and also some masterpieces like the last race at Portimao that I think will remain in the books of Superbike. That between Aruba.it and Ducati is a close collaboration, based on pillars such as technological innovation and performance but always accompanied by maximum reliability and sustainability. Being protagonists of successes that will remain in our history and in the history of Borgo Panigale is for us a source of deep satisfaction. Next season we will celebrate 10 years of this partnership that has seen us united and determined, both in the paddock and in our everyday work regarding IT and Cloud projects.

We are now reaping the fruits of long and intense work, with the hope and conviction that we will be able to remain so competitive in the future. I want to take this opportunity to thank our riders, all the team members, all the people of Ducati, and in particular Claudio Domenicali, Luigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, and Marco Zambenedetti, who have provided us with extraordinary bikes that the whole world envies us”.

Claudio Domenicali (Ducati CEO) Shared his Thoughts on the Title Win 

“In this historic moment of the Superbike World Championship, Alvaro Bautista and the Ducati Panigale V4 R are the best combination an enthusiast could wish for. The incredible performance offered by the motorcycle and the technical and psychological mastery with which Bautista has managed this season, setting a new record for victories in a single Championship, have created a great spectacle in every race weekend.

The Bautista-Panigale V4 R combination has made it possible to achieve a result that fills us with joy and gives value to all the choices made in recent years by Ducati in WorldSBK. The reconfirmation of the World Riders’ Title, in addition to the World Manufacturers’ Title, is not something to be taken for granted: we have entered the 2023 season with the new Panigale V4 R characterized by a series of innovative technical solutions for the engine, and these have proven to be successful, confirming the Panigale to be the best motorcycle on the grid.”

Bautista has the opportunity to finish off the season with yet another hat trick. We the hard part done now he can focus on Superpole and Race to extend his win count this season.