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With plenty of hype surrounding the launch of a new season of racing, the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship is also one of intrigue. Not only will the technical rules remain the same for the class and its Next Generation machines this year – as previously announced in the 2023 regulations – but there will be an array of changes coming before the first track action of the season. New riders, riders changing teams, manufacturers returning and a land of opportunity with the top two from last year moving up to WorldSBK, it’s going to be a busy year in World Supersport; we break it down, so you have the ultimate guide to the changes and quirks for the year ahead.

NEW RIDERS: 14 rookies ready to topple the familiar faces, MotoGP™ paddock names join

There’s a raft of changes for the 2023 season, so let’s start from the top; one of the headlining rookies is ten-time Moto2™ World Championship podium finisher Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha), as he looks to return to winning ways in 2023. Five-time Moto2™ podium finisher Marcel Schrotter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) also makes a full-time debut in the class for 2023, having achieved a seventh in his WorldSSP wildcard in Australia last year. Four-time Moto3™ Grand Prix winner John McPhee (Vince64 by Puccetti) also joins WorldSSP and hopes that the Kawasaki ZX-6R machine is up to the task in 2023.

Elsewhere on the grid, there’s plenty more rookies incoming, such as Alvaro Diaz (Arco Yart Yamaha WorldSSP), with the reigning World Supersport 300 Champion getting set for the WorldSSP Challenge. Also graduating from the class is Japanese star Yuta Okaya (Prodina Kawasaki Racing WorldSSP), with two WorldSSP300 race wins to his name. As well as that, double World Champions Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team have a new rider in Andrea Mantovani, who took four podiums in the Italian Superbike class in 2022.

Besides those, and there’re plenty more rookies coming in from elsewhere, such as Thai duo Apiwath Wongthanon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) and teammate Anupab Sarmoon, as well as Luke Power (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti). There’s an all-new look to the VFT Racing Yamaha team, as they field Nicholas Spinelli, the reigning Italian Supersport champion, alongside Maiki Abe, son of the late-great Norrick Abe.

HONDA RETURNS: the sixth manufacturer on the grid in 2023

One of the most successful manufacturers in WorldSSP of all-time are back with a refreshed feel, new line-up and a new team running the operation. 2021 British Superbike champion Tarran Mackenzie (MIE – MS Racing Honda Team) makes a return to the world stage after he spent 2018 in the Moto2™ World Championship, whilst his teammate is Malaysian rider Adam Norrodin. The bike has some changes to it in comparison to its last appearance in 2020, with both riders hopeful that they can make gains as the season goes on. Honda have 10 titles, 104 wins and 283 podiums so far in WorldSSP.

CHANGES ELSEWHERE: swaps at the top

Starting with the World Champions and there’s a change besides rookie Navarro’s arrival; Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) will join the Dutch team in 2023, which also means there’re guaranteed changes at Dynavolt Triumph. 2022 race winner Niki Tuuli re-joins Simon Buckmaster’s PTR outfit and is joined by young British hopeful Harry Truelove. A race winner in 2022, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) moves from Kawasaki machinery to Ducati, meanwhile, Valentin Debis (GMT94 Yamaha) will fly the French team’s flag, whilst Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti) has a new home and is joined by Australian rookie Luke Power. At the D34G Racing Team, Oli Bayliss and Maximilian Kofler will be aboard Ducati machinery once again, albeit in a new setting, whilst Federico Fuligni moves to the Orelac Racing VerdNatura team in 2023 alongside Raffaele De Rosa. Tom Edwards (Yart – Yamaha WorldSSP Team) also takes part in the WorldSSP Challenge.

RULES AND REGS: nothing new but a new tyre added

The Supersport and Supersport Next Generation category will see their 2022 technical rules maintained for an additional year. This postponement will allow current manufacturers under the Supersport rules to work during this season to meet the base of technical and balancing rules for the 2024 Supersport Next Generation, mandatory for all manufacturers.  At the end of the 2023 season, a study establishing the performance balancing results will be drawn up in order to establish the performance balancing in this series for 2024. However, Pirelli will introduce a larger tyre for WorldSSP in 2023, with the size being 125/70, already supplied to Superbike riders, in addition to the current 120/70 size. This will also offer WorldSSP riders a better front-to-rear axle balance.

Watch the 2023 season in style as the golden era continues with the WorldSBK VideoPass!