CAN IT GET ANY CLOSER? Six manufacturers, 23 riders, one goal – WorldSBK in 2025 set to be fiercer than ever
WorldSBK in 2025 is set to be more action packed and more dramatic than ever with the field converging and more rivalries igniting
The start of the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is fast approaching with plenty to discuss and look ahead to with just two weeks to go to the season-opening Australian Round at the iconic Phillip Island circuit. The big question on everyone’s lips is ‘can it get any closer?’ with the field set to close up, new rules in play and much more, plus a big milestone to come for WorldSBK as the 1,000th race will be celebrated during the 2025 campaign. So, can it get any closer this season?
RIVALRIES SET TO FIRE UP: old rivalries renew, new rivalries to emerge?
Last year’s title fight went down to the wire between Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), with the pair involved in the closest WorldSBK finish of all time at Estoril – when just 0.003s separated the duo as the #11 came out on top. That rivalry will continue this year, but will others be in the mix too? Can Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) bounce back from their tricky 2024 campaigns? Will Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) be a front runner on his return to Ducati machinery? How will Bimota fare on their return and how will Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) lead Kawasaki’s charge in 2025? And, of course, a plethora of Independent riders will be aiming for success too – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) won races last season, so will they be able to add more victories to their record?
EIGHT WINNERS IN 2024, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2012: how many will there be in 2025?
The 2024 season eight different winners, for the first time since 2012 when there were nine, from three different manufacturers, with Razgatlioglu, Bautista, Bulega, Petrucci and Iannone all tasting glory as well as super-sub Nicholas Spinelli for the Barni Ducati team, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) winning twice on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR machine in Australia while Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) delivered a wet-weather masterclass at Magny-Cours. That, coupled with another five riders on the podium to total 13, the most since 2021, showed how competitive the field was in 2024 and that’s only going to be on display again in 2025.
MORE STUNNING MOVES TO COME: Razgatlioglu’s Rossi-style move, fierce overtakes throughout…
One key move from last season was Razgatlioglu’s stunning Valentino Rossi-style move on Bautista at the final corner of the Barcelona Tissot Superpole Race, but that was just one of many unbelievable moves. ‘El Turco’ made Turn 9 in Barcelona an overtaking hotspot, while Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) pulled off one of the greatest moves ever seen when he swept around the outside of Bautista at Lukey Heights in last year’s Australian Round. 2024 featured some incredible moves and 2025 will feature more of the same stunning passes.
BIMOTA’S RETURN: strong showing in testing so far as a sixth manufacturer joins WorldSBK
Italian brand Bimota are making their return to WorldSBK in 2025 with Lowes and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) leading their charge. While the #22 has focused on race pace, and looked strong, during a disrupted-by-rain winter testing programme, Bassani appears to have found pace with the soft SCQ tyre, something which has held him back in recent seasons. With a sixth manufacturer competing in WorldSBK, and looking strong so far, it could be about to get even tighter at the front of the field.
A BIG MILESTONE APPROACHES: WorldSBK’s 1000th race
The 1,000th race in WorldSBK history is set to take place this year, with the Tissot Superpole Race during Round 8 the milestone race. It’s been a Championship full of drama and history and expect more of the same heading into 2025, especially with such an important milestone on the horizon for World Superbike. Will more history be made this season?
NEW RULES: fuel flow, tyre restrictions headline big changes
Several new rules are coming into effect for 2025, with fuel flow regulations the big change. All manufacturers start out at 47kg/hour fuel flow, with this subject to change throughout the season based on concession checkpoints. Elsewhere, there’s a new limitation on tyres available during a round while other rule changes, relating to testing, concessions and superconcessions come into effect.
CAN IT GET ANY CLOSER? Watch the 2025 WorldSBK season in full using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
