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The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid features six rookies and could conceivably be described as one of the strongest rookie line-ups ever. One rookie in 2023 is Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who is aiming to enjoy success immediately after switching from the MotoGP™ paddock to WorldSBK and the Australian has plenty of riders he can use as inspiration following their switch from MotoGP™. The 2022 Champion, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), is just one of several riders who switched paddocks and was able to enjoy success afterwards.

INSTANT IMPACT: Bautista on the victory march following his switch

One of the first names that comes to mind when it comes to riders who switched Championships is Bautista. He made the switch in 2019 with Ducati and won the first 11 races of that season as he fought for the title, but a series of crashes ended his chances. Two years with Honda yielded three podium finishes before a return to Ducati in 2022, with that story detailed in The Return. Bautista has 32 wins from 133 races in WorldSBK, as well as 58 podiums. Bautista was already a World Champion coming into WorldSBK having taken the 2006 125cc World Championship and he finished as runner-up in the 250cc World Championship in 2008.

ADDING TO HIS TITLES: Biaggi claims two WorldSBK Championships

Max Biaggi became a two-time WorldSBK Champion following his switch from MotoGP™ in 2007 and he won his first race in WorldSBK, but, prior to this, was a four-time World Champion in the 250cc World Championship and twice a runner-up in the 500cc World Championship. Across the 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP™ World Championships, Biaggi took 42 wins and 111 podiums in 214 races. In the MotoGP™ era, Biaggi finished second once, third twice and fifth once. Like Melandri, Biaggi was instantly in the top-three in his first season as he finished third in the Championship, but more success was to come. Biaggi took the 2010 and 2012 titles, and was third in 2011, with a total of 21 wins and 71 podiums in his 158 races.

FIGHTING FOR THE TITLE: at the front from the off

British rider Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made his switch the year after Bautista, to take his place in the factory Ducati team when Bautista left for Honda. Redding was a race winner in his first campaign and spent two seasons with Ducati, taking 12 wins with the Bologna-based manufacturer before switching to BMW. Redding took three podiums in his first season on the M 1000 RR and 2023 will be his second campaign with the German manufacturer. Redding was the youngest Grand Prix winner at the time when he won in 125cc at Donington Park and the British rider also took three Moto2™ wins and two MotoGP™ podiums in his time in the paddock.

ENJOYING SUCCESS: Melandri fighting for titles in both paddocks

Five-time MotoGP™ race winner Marco Melandri made the switch to WorldSBK in 2011 after enjoying so much success in the MotoGP™ paddock. He twice finished in the top three in the 125cc World Championship, before taking the 250cc World Championship title in 2002, his second season in the class. His form translated into WorldSBK as he took second in his maiden season, third in 2012 and four more top-five Championship finishes between 2013 and 2018. In total Melandri claimed 22 wins and 75 podiums in his 201 WorldSBK races.

A STRONG ROOKIE CAMPAIGN: Lecuona impresses in his first campaign

Spanish rider Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was one half of an all-rookie line-up at Honda in 2022 and he showed his speed throughout his rookie season. He took his first WorldSBK podium at Assen in Race 2 while his first pole, and Honda’s since 2016, came at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Lecuona is still waiting for his first win in the Championship but will be hoping his second year on the CBR1000RR-R will give him the chance to stand on the top step of the rostrum. Lecuona, in the MotoGP™ paddock, had two full campaigns in Moto2™ with two podiums to his name, and made his MotoGP™ debut at Valencia at the end of the 2019 season. Two full seasons of MotoGP™ followed before his switch to WorldSBK.

NOTABLE MENTIONS: chasing glory in both paddocks

Plenty of riders have made the switch between MotoGP™ and WorldSBK in the past, with just some of those to have won in both Championships listed here. The late, great Nicky Hayden made a full-time switch in 2016, winning one race in wet conditions at Sepang a decade on from his last MotoGP™ victory. John Kocinski took the 1997 WorldSBK title after debuting the year before, coming into WorldSBK with a 250cc title to his name as well as a win in the 500cc World Championship. After impressing in the MotoGP™ paddock, Carlos Checa made the switch to WorldSBK in 2008 and was an instant success as he took two wins before going on to take the 2011 title with an incredible 15 wins from 26 races.

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