Michael RubenRinaldi

Michael Ruben Rinaldi faces his seventh season – sixth full-time – in the World Superbike Championship but switches to Motocorsa Racing for 2024 as he returns to Independent machinery. He was the only rider outside the ‘Titanic Trio’ to win a race in 2023, showing his potential, but inconsistency throughout the year meant he was unable to keep his factory seat. Could a return to an environment with less external pressure mean we see the best of the #21?

First joining the WorldSBK paddock in 2014, Rinaldi joined the European Superstock 600 class taking a best result of fifth around his home circuit of Imola. Rinaldi made the switch from Yamaha to Kawasaki for the 2015 season and took his first win at Jerez.

Making the step up into the European Superstock 1000 class for 2016, Rinaldi was able to learn a lot in his rookie season, before securing the European Superstock 1000 title in 2017 with four victories overall.

In 2018, the Italian rider moved up to WorldSBK with the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team, showing promising performances in the European rounds, before he took part in the full 2019 season with Independent Champions Barni Racing. A best result of fourth saw Rinaldi take 13th in the championship standings, before making the switch to Team Goeleven for 2020.

A stunning race win during the Teruel Round at MotorLand Aragon showed Rinaldi as a real talent and three further wins in 2021 – including two at home at Misano – demonstrated that on his day, he’s untouchable. He showed this during his team at the factory Ducati outfit too, the next step is ensuring ‘his day’ happens more often.