It’s been a tricky 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season for the #21 of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), with the Italian and his team taking until the last race at Most to be crowned best Independent rider during a race. However, with 2025 honing into view in the second half of the year, he confirmed that his manager has spoken to a variety of teams, naming Kawasaki Puccetti Racing as a possible destination. He spoke candidly about his future and how 2024 has been thus far.

2025 CHAT: “My manager speaks with many people… one of them has been Manuel Puccetti”

“I want to continue in WorldSBK; this year, I understand, more than anything, that I want to fight for positions at the top of the standings,” began the 28-year-old Italian. “When you fight for just entering the top ten, it’s difficult to stay there and keep fighting. My first goal is to have the correct solution, also on the technical side, so that I can fight for those positions. I need to find solutions for this year by working with the team and to be the best version of myself. Fighting for the top five consistently; after this, I start working for the future but for me, I want to find the best solution on the technical side to be on the top next year.

“There are many rumours… my manager speaks with many people and one of them as been Manuel Puccetti. However, it depends on many things because next year, there are only two or three teams left and many riders looking for a ride. Sometimes, there’s more to getting a ride than just getting results. We will see what happens; we are talking at the moment with some people.”

Continuing, he looked at the bigger picture and hopes to be on the grid for next year: “I wish to be on the grid in 2025 but it’s not just on my shoulders. I am 28 years old and have good results to stay in this Championship. I have some things to show before I leave this class; I don’t think that we’ve reached our goal this season so I will need to try next season. If I am in or not is not only depending on me but I hope there’ll be the right situation and opportunity for me next year.”

2024 IN REVIEW: “It’s been difficult for us to arrive at a good level… we’ve made some steps forward”

“For sure, compared to what we were thinking at the beginning of the season, we have seen that the level has raised so much this year and we’ve been unable to reach the top Independent placing until the last race,” said Rinaldi. “It’s been difficult for us to arrive at a good level but for sure, we’ve made some steps forward and I hope from here until the end of the season that we can stay at this level and reach bettter results.”

One of many quirks to deal with this season has been a new team and a new crew, something the five-time race winner spoke about: “Technically speaking, I’m using the same bike as the team had last year; there are some upgrades that all the Ducatis have on the grid but I don’t. They aren’t big steps but I can say that it’s similar to my bike from last year but as I’ve said, everyone’s improved a lot this year. The 2024-spec of each manufacturer is faster, for example the BMW and also the Ducati, likewise with Nicolo, Iannone and Petrucci. I had to be stronger than last year to remain at the same level but it’s not easy because in the past, I’ve been working with the same crew but this year, we’ve only had a few races with the new crew. It’s a normal transition you have to make when you move to another team. There are many things that mean the results are difficult to come but it’s normal in motorsport, so we need to be patient to achieve the good results.”

DIFFICULTIES AND MENTALITY: “It’s not easy to swallow”

Determined to keep believing and remain positive, the #21 concluded with: “When you fight and give 100% but the results are difficult to achieve, it’s not easy to swallow. It’s hard, you have to understand what is happening and sometimes, you doubt yourself. This kind of season, in sport and as in life, hard times make you stronger. I try to not get down, my head to the sky and believing in what I do. I don’t stress out too much about what we’re not reaching because I’m worth more than that now. We just need to find our way and we’ll be back on it.”

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