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The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship kicked off with a bang with lots of overtaking and some passes almost impossible to imagine. It’s a new era of WorldSBK and the action started in stunning fashion, with it set to continue throughout the 2024 season. Here, we look at some of the incredible overtakes throughout the campaign that will define how it all plays out…

ALEX LOWES VS BAUTISTA: around the outside of Turn 9 at Phillip Island

Last lap fights for victory are always special, more so when they feature a pass. But this one had everyone off their feet. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was fighting Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) for P1, with the Spaniard ahead, before Alex Lowes swept around the outside of Lukey Heights for the lead. It was a move which led to Bautista calling the #22 “crazy” in Parc Ferme, but was it a sign of things to come in 2024?

IANNONE VS REA VS RINALDI: two-for-one for ‘The Maniac’

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) had surged up the order, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was having a strong race and then… through comes Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven)! The #29 was running in sixth at the end of Lap 2 but had moved up to fourth at Turn 1 on Lap 3, passing both Rinaldi and Rea into Doohan Corner. It was a stunning move that caught everyone by surprise as ‘The Maniac’ proved he was ready to fight on his racing comeback.

IANNONE VS RAZGATLIOGLU: Phillip Island’s Turn 3 now an overtaking spot…

Generally, passes come at slower corners but Iannone had no such thoughts when fighting with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). The #54 was ahead in Race 1 after Turn 1 with nine laps to go but the Italian had other ideas. Lining the pass up on the exit of the Southern Loop, Iannone darted to the inside through the high-speed Turn 3 and went up the inside of Razgatlioglu to move into second place, while leaving the #54 vulnerable to attack from behind as Alex Lowes came storming through at Turn 4.

BULEGA VS RAZGATLIOGLU: outbraking the Turkish star…

Razgatlioglu is a monster when it comes to braking, usually leaving it until the very last moment to start slowing down and with the rear wheel up, it’s a sight to behold. So, when rookie Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) came through on the #54 at Turn 4 in Race a few laps into the race, it was a bit of a surprise – although given the pace shown by ‘Bulegas’ in testing, perhaps it shouldn’t have been especially as he went on to win Race 1.

A NEW ERA HAS BEGUN: watch more incredible racing from WorldSBK in 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!