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Five manufacturers will compete in the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and every manufacturer will go into the new season confident they can head into the new season hoping to taste glory at the end of the year. There have been changes to all five bikes while three manufacturers have also changed their rider line-up heading into the new campaign; all setting up an unforgettable campaign.

Reigning Manufacturers’ Champions Yamaha will run the #1 plate for the first time in their WorldSBK history with Toprak Razgatlioglu looking to defend his title. Yamaha, in 2021, won the Riders’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ titles with Pata Yamaha and will be looking to replicate that success in 2022. The team have discussed their “massive steps” with the electronics, while there have also been new components on the fuel tank and subframe of the Yamaha YZF-R1. Could this propel Yamaha to a second consecutive title?

Ducati came second in the Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021 and will be hoping to go one step better in 2022. They have re-signed Alvaro Bautista for the new season after he spent two years at Honda, re-uniting the rider and team that took the 2019 season by storm in his rookie season. He will partner Michael Ruben Rinaldi who has shown his ability to win races, with the pair looking to take the title back to Bologna. Like Yamaha, Ducati have made changes to their Panigale V4 R including on the fuel tank and swingarm.

Kawasaki’s run of six consecutive titles came to an abrupt end last year as the Japanese manufacturer fell to third in the standings, partly influenced by Alex Lowes being unable to race for portions at the end of the campaign. Lowes returns for his third season with KRT alongside six-time Champion Jonathan Rea as the pair look to take Kawasaki back to the top of the standings. Part of their focus in 2022 has been on the balance of the bike and braking improvements for their riders, as well as electronics.

A new rider line-up features for BMW in 2022 as Scott Redding leaves Ducati to join Michael van der Mark at the German manufacturer. There have been changes to the M 1000 RR including on the engine, a completely reconfigured fuel tank and subframe and steps on their in-house electronics. Could BMW challenge for podiums and race wins on a consistent basis throughout 2022?

It’s been a revolution at Team HRC over the winter as a new rider line-up, Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, ride the CBR1000RR-R machine. The team have also switched suspension suppliers, to Showa, and brake suppliers to Nissin as they look to take a step forward in 2022. With other changes to the bike including geometry changes, Honda will be hoping they can also become regular podium and victory contenders in 2022.

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