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The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship starts a run of five rounds in seven weeks at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, and it will be crucial for the WorldSBK stars to build momentum now to take into the end of the season. WorldSBK commentator Steve English gives his opinion on the state of play for riders heading into a frantic conclusion to 2024 starting with the Motul French Round.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE: Razgatlioglu takes charge at the top

With five rounds to go, there are still 15 races and 310 points available before the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2024 draws to a close on October 20^th at Jerez. Technically it’s all to play for but realistically it’s a fight for second in the standings. That’s because Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has been so dominant. 

The BMW superstar has asserted himself this year as WorldSBK’s brightest star and now the attention turns to the rest of the pack. Who can build momentum to mount a title challenge next year? Who has goals that they can meet in 2024? Who needs to find something to salvage their season?

BAUTISTA VS BULEGA: a subplot in 2024

Alvaro Bautista's (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) future is now confirmed, and the Spaniard will be back next year in Ducati red. It’s the best solution for the rider and team given all the success they’ve had together. Bautista is still the Ducati rider most likely to win races. This is still the case despite the fact that the double WorldSBK champion is 50 points behind his teammate in the standings.

Bautista versus Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has been one of the subplots of the season. The Supersport World Champion has surprised everyone with his consistency and cool-headed approach to his rookie campaign. It’s been very impressive but in the final rounds of the year, he needs to win again. One win, on his debut, is a good rookie campaign but more wins would really cement his status with Ducati.

While Bautista has claimed two wins this year it’s not been enough to keep the wolf from the door. There’s a reason that his future is uncertain but the last two rounds showed a return to form. At the Czech Round in Most, Bautista looked happier on the bike. Last time out in Portimao it was an extension of that form. He put himself in position to win Race 2, but he tried to force the issue in the closing stages when he attacked and crashed. His return to winning ways will come soon.

CAN REA’S FIRST YAMAHA SEASON END ON A HIGH? The key to success for the #65

It seems, remarkably, that Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) is a man that can only dream of winning races in 2024. The switch to Yamaha has been a disaster with the six-time World Champion has finished on the podium just once. In the standings, he sits behind fellow Yamaha runners Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and the clock is ticking to find solutions.

Rea’s biggest issue has been his one lap speed during Superpole sessions. Qualifying down the order has seen Rea qualify on average on the fourth row of the grid. His speed is still there but finding a way to unlock that speed has been a massive challenge. Finding a way to get back in the top six regularly would be a solid end to the season for Rea.

REPLACING VS BEING TEAMMATES TO A CHAMPION: Alex Lowes and van der Mark’s contrasting tasks

The man who inherited Rea’s role as lead man for Kawasaki, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), needs to continue what he’s doing. Winning two races, regular podiums and critically minimal mistakes has made for his best WorldSBK campaign. He’s impressed everyone with the relationship he’s built with Pere Riba during their first year working together.

While Lowes had the unenviable job of replacing a legend Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) faces the task of being paired with one. The Dutchman, alongside Toprak at BMW, has had a solid season. Superpole crashes have held him back at two rounds but when he qualifies well he can race in the second group and fight for top five finishes. He has comfortably outperformed the other BMW riders this year.

LOOKING TO SECURE A RIDE: a key few rounds for Redding

While Bonovo Action BMW rider Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) has secured his future for next year his teammate, Scott Redding, is still a question mark. Michael Galinski has said he’d be interested in keeping Redding if a deal can be worked out and with the team likely to switch to Ducati machinery next year it could be a perfect opportunity for Redding. It would almost certainly be his last chance because this year has been incredibly difficult. A top five finish at Donington is the highlight but he’s had a BMW podium at Magny-Cours in the past...

While it’s easy to focus on Toprak and the title permutations in the coming rounds there are so many riders playing out their season with their own motivations to do well.

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