News

21 riders are set to line up on the 2018 WorldSBK grid next season as the Provisional Permanent Entry Lists have been announced, and it’s set to be a phenomenal season of racing in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

In 2018 there will be all the top competitors that shone last season, with reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) again defending his number 1 plate, and Tom Sykes with the fight ready on the other side of the garage. Alongside them are the other partnerships consolidated in 2017, including that formed by Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri (Aruba it.Racing-Ducati), Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and the talented duo of Lorenzo Savadori and Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia).

The list includes seven new riders who will start on the grid next season. The Frenchman Loris Baz returns to the Championship to defend the colours of the Gulf Althea BMW Racing Team, while the North American Jake Gagne will race fulltime in the top category with the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team. For Gabriele Ruiu (Grillini Racing Team), Toprak Razgtlioglu (Kawasaki Pucetti Racing) and Patrick Jacobsen (TripleM Honda WorldSuperbike Team) it will be their debut in the premier class. The Colombian Yonny Hernandez (Team Perdercini Racing) will also land in the Championship next season, swelling the list of former MotoGP riders on the grid in 2018. The experienced Italian rider Roberto Rolfo (Grillini Racing Team), who had already competed in WorldSBK in the past, will also make another appearance after his recent stint in WorldSSP.

The Spanish representation is again Xavi Forés (Barni Racing Team), Jordi Torres, now with MV Agusta Reparto Corse, and Román Ramos (Team GooEleven Kawasaki).

To see the complete list of entries, click here.