News

As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship track action started at the Pirelli Portuguese Round, we took the time to catch up with several key personnel from the paddock to discuss a range of topics. From 2025 rider line-up updates to how the weekend has started, there was plenty to talk about at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and we’ve gathered the best quotes for you.

Serafino Foti (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team Manager): “I think, before the end of August, we will finalise everything”

“To be honest, this morning he had a problem with the bike but anyway today is not the best day for him because he is a little bit sick, I think tomorrow will be better because we are preparing him really well and also tonight. It’s not a good day but anyway, we will try and improve tomorrow. Alvaro this morning was not so bad and now we will try to find the best setup for him to put the weight in the right way. To be honest it is not confirmed yet but as I said in the past, Alvaro is our priority, and we will try to do our best to continue with him. I think, before the end, of August we will finalise everything, but our goal is to try and keep him also for next year.”

Manuel Puccetti (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, Team Manager): “Very happy about this news… 99% we will ride with one bike”

Discussing Gerloff’s arrival and the team’s 2025 plans, Puccetti said during FP1: “We are very happy about this news, we have worked 20 years with Kawasaki and now the time has arrived to represent this manufacturer in the two main classes in the World Championship. Data we have had already, all this season as this year we ride with a complete factory bike and we have had all the data from Kawasaki, all the data every weekend to try and improve ourselves. Next year we will be alone but we will try and do it ourselves. We will discuss this with Kawasaki this weekend. At the moment, one is fixed, 99% of it will only be one bike but this weekend with the top Japanese management from within Kawasaki Europe we will discuss the possibility of a second bike or not. Who knows, we will see, we will see. 99% we will ride with one bike, but we will see.”

Andrea Dosoli (Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager): “The wish is to go ahead with both GRT riders”

Discussing Yamaha’s potential and the line-up for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team for next year, Dosoli stated: “It is not a bad start, the first feedback from the guys is quite positive and they have a good starting setup and are comfortable on the bike. The gap is actually quite close so we are looking to have a good race. The wish is to go ahead with both riders. Of course, Dominique has been struggling so it has not been easy for him or a smooth season until now. He has been struggling in the winter tests and has had a few DNFs and we will see how we could improve the performance as we believe that he is capable of doing better than what he has shown until now. He is not a concern; the reality is that Dominique is struggling and we need to help him to come back to the performance that he showed last year.”

Michael Galinski (Bonovo Action BMW Team Manager): “It is only sure we run a Ducati… we have four riders that want to ride for us”

Providing an update on the team structure that wishes to remain in WorldSBK and speaking about Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) starting the weekend strongly, Galinski said in FP1: “He likes the track, last year it was also nearly our best race here. I think for him it is clear what he will do next year, and it is also important in his head to know what he will do next year. I am happy he is now on the normal level; we have struggled a lot this year from the beginning but now he is more and more comfortable, and I am happy for him. Absolutely, he was brought to Kawasaki but at the moment for us, it is only sure that we run a Ducati now, that is clear, but we will know it latest to the next race. That is what I told you, we will know it for sure in front of the next race. The 20th of August we have the meeting, and then we will make the decision. We have four riders that want to ride for us, so we will make the decision this month.”

Marc Bongers (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director): “The season started much better than what we would’ve hoped for”

Discussing a potential record-breaking weekend for Razgatlioglu, Bongers said: “This is the first place where we had him on the bike properly and at the end of the test, he was very confident already if we would go racing here. The season started much better than what we would have hoped for, it’s nice to be back here at a track which seems to be quite good for us. FP1 started well, unfortunately, a slip off from Micky, but Garrett was P2, and Toprak was P1, I am happy to see this. Our bike is not sensitive anymore to different tracks, so the potential of the bike is the same potential in my opinion as we say in the last races – able to be winning. I would have asked what you had taken probably, but for sure not and it is clear it’s his personal goal and for sure it’s our general goal to win again. But I don’t think we are as dominant here as what we were in the last races but for sure we are in a position to fight for a win. Yes clearly, I hope we have better stuff to fight for than what Toprak had last year on the straight.”

Guim Roda (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK Team Manager: “There’s a lot to do and a lot of work… the fans will enjoy next year”

Looking ahead to helping Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in 2025, Roda said: “Basically, we need to prepare everything to supply Manuel, so we are working with Kawasaki on how we can organise everything to share all the experience and information to make sure he can be competitive with Gerloff. It is another job we need to do for next year, but we are very happy to be a part of it and are sure we can prepare a good package for Gerloff and Manuel. There’s a lot to do and a lot of work, but we cannot explain much right now, but I think the fans and the world in general will enjoy next year.”

Jose Escamez (Team HRC Team Manager): “We are a bit surprised about it… Lecuona is getting some momentum”

On Honda’s strong start to the Portuguese Round, Escamez stated: “Lecuona is getting some momentum from the last few races at Most where he gained more confidence and tried to work on the direction that we set a few races ago. He is trying just to get the maximum from that momentum and it looks like it is getting better step by step. Also, the development tyre that we got here from Pirelli is getting better for our bike and the conditions we are facing right now so yeah so far so good. It’s something which we didn’t expect at all because normally in these conditions we used to struggle much more than normal weather conditions. It’s true that right now it is not that bad at all because the temperature has dropped down a little bit and with these mild winds it is not bad. We are a bit surprised about it and I think the tyres are helping, so we are going to take the max from this.”

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