CREW CHIEFS MARKET: who will be working with whom for the 2025 WorldSBK campaign?
Some big changes occurred over the winter with regards to crew chiefs and we’ve detailed who will work where and with which rider
Crew chiefs make up a huge part of each rider’s team in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and there’s been some big changes ahead of the 2025 season. There have been movements at WorldSBK’s factory teams while there’s also been a shake up at Independent teams and, with all the information confirmed, we detail who will be working with whom ahead of what’s sure to be an epic campaign.
FACTORY TEAM CHANGES: new crew chiefs for Rea and Vierge
Two huge changes came at the Pata Maxus Yamaha and Honda HRC outfits. On Jonathan Rea's side of the Yamaha box, Uri Pallares comes in to replace Andrew Pitt; with Pitt moving into WorldSSP with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (GMT94 Yamaha). For Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC), he’s working with Tetsuya Sasaki, who previously worked with Suzuki in their successful MotoGP™ project. At the Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, Pietro Caprara stays in place but has a new rider as Garrett Gerloff moves to the Kawasaki team.
STAYING THE SAME: plenty of consistency too
A lot of teams have kept their crews the same. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) continues to work with Tom O’Kane, while there’s no change with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team: Remy Gardner will work with Damiano Evangelisti while Dominique Aegerter stays with Andrea Oleari. At the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, Alex Lowes stays with Pere Riba while Axel Bassani continues working with Marcel Duinker. Two-time Champion Alvaro Bautista's (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) long-standing relationship with Giulio Nava continues into 2025, while teammate Nicolo Bulega will continue with Tommaso Raponi for this year. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will stay with Phil Marron, Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) continues with Marcus Eschenbacher and Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) works with Tom Jojic for a second year.
INDEPENDENT CREW CHIEF CHANGES: plenty of moves throughout the field
Rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will have Simone Corsini as his crew chief in 2025, after he worked with Motorcorsa Racing in previous years. Gorka Segura moves to be Sam Lowes' (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crew chief in 2025, after a stint with Team HRC working with Vierge. At the MGM Bonovo Racing team, Scott Redding will work with Francesco Reale this year – he worked with Adrian Huertas in WorldSSP last year. With Corsini moving to Barni Ducati, Motocorsa Racing have brought in Maurizio Cambarau to work with rookie Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) while, at the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team, Tito Rabat has Pietro Cassara on his side of the box – Cassara was with the team previously as Brad Ray’s crew chief - and rookie Bahattin Sofuoglu's crew chief is Federico D’Alessandro. Rookie Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) will have Luciano Zaza as his crew chief for his rookie season.
INDEPENDENTS STAYING PUT: a few relationships staying for 2025
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) will keep working with Luca Minelli in 2025 as he goes in search of more wins, while Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) continues with Mick Shanley this year; Shanley started as his crew chief during the 2024 season. Filippo Burgatti remains with Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) for the 2025 season.
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