In a surprising turn of events, the departure of Jonathan Rea from Kawasaki has set the stage for a riveting 2024 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) season. Motorsport enthusiasts were taken aback as Rea announced his move to Yamaha earlier this month. The six-time champion’s departure has Kawasaki on their toes, searching for a worthy successor for the upcoming season.
Given the limited availability of prominent names in the market, Kawasaki seems to have zeroed in on the satellite Ducati rider, Axel Bassani. This 24-year-old talent is expected to team up with Alex Lowes.
Bassani has made quite a mark in his three-season stint with the Motocorsa Ducati team. His impressive track record includes six podium finishes, making him a familiar name in the top-five riders. His prowess earned him the seventh position overall last year, topping the list of independent riders.
Post the recent Magny-Cours round, Bassani has secured the fifth position in the standings. Interestingly, this is two places above the works Ducati rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Rinaldi is set to be replaced by Nicolo Bulega in the factory squad next season. With Bassani’s predicted exit from Motocorsa, Rinaldi may just find his spot there for 2024. However, Rinaldi might also get a chance with the works Honda team, based on the decision about Iker Lecuona’s future.
Lecuona’s next move is contingent upon Marc Marquez’s decision – whether he remains with Honda in MotoGP or jumps ship to Gresini Ducati. Should he move to Gresini Ducati, Lecuona is likely to transition to the grand prix paddock from WSBK. If Lecuona makes his way to MotoGP and Rinaldi finds himself in the Honda WSBK seat, Loris Baz might get another opportunity in the series.
At present, Loris Baz seems out of place at BMW, especially with Toprak Razgatlioglu being roped in alongside Michael van der Mark for 2024. Scott Redding is anticipated to stay with the brand and will likely partner with Garrett Gerloff in the satellite Bonovo team.
While Scott Redding’s name did pop up as a probable replacement for Rea at Kawasaki, the manufacturer has decided to place their bets on the younger generation, leading to Bassani’s recruitment. This shift fulfills Bassani’s dream of becoming a factory rider.
In other updates, Philipp Oettl might be moving to the MIE Honda team, as he’s likely to be replaced at the Go Eleven Ducati team by Andrea Iannone.
The 2024 WSBK season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and thrilling yet. Stay tuned for more updates!