With factory seats being confirmed for the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, one rider is becoming a key player in the rider market. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) has made his despite for a factory seat clear since he burst onto the WorldSBK scene, and he confirmed talks with teams regarding his future. Although he could not provide an answer about where he will ride next season, the #47 did reveal, when directly asked, that talks were ongoing with Kawasaki. For a full look at the 2024 silly season, click here!

A seat became available following Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) shock move to Yamaha for 2024 and 2025, with the Japanese manufacturer now looking for a replacement. With Yamaha locking in Rea and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), Ducati keeping Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and bringing in Nicolo Bulega and BMW yesterday announcing their line-up, it leaves only Honda and Kawasaki to confirm their full line-up.

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing team WorldSBK) will remain with the team after penning a new deal with Kawasaki, but who will be alongside him in the box has not yet been confirmed. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) tested for them at Aragon, but he has since become Bulega’s replacement at the Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team, with Rea’s vacant seat still waiting for a new occupant for next season and beyond.

When asked about his future, the Feltre-born star said: “I can’t say a lot. We are speaking with some teams, and we are trying to find a good solution for next year. For the moment, I can’t speak. This is the reality. I hope, this week or next week, I can say something.” 

Following on from this, the 24-year-old was pressed about whether he was talking to a factory team, with the question specifically referencing Kawasaki. Bassani explained: “Yeah, we are speaking. For sure, we want a factory team, and we want to find a good solution for me and for them. We will see what happens in the next days.”

Bassani made his WorldSBK debut in 2021 and it didn’t take long for his talent and potential to shine. He took his first podium in Barcelona that year, after leading the race, before three more followed in 2022. So far this season, the Italian has two rostrums to his name with both coming on home soil, although he is still chasing a first win. With a move to Ducati now impossible following Bulega’s promotion from WorldSSP, could his future lie away from the Italian brand where he’s enjoyed plenty of success in a short space of time?

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