Closer look at how the 2022 WorldSBK grid is shaping up
Honda have become the last full factory team to announce their 2022 WorldSBK line-up after adding MotoGP’s Iker Lecuona and Moto2 rider Xavi Vierge.
With Yamaha, Kawasaki, Ducati and BMW already locked into their two-rider line-ups, Honda’s newest additions mean satellite rides are the only ones left to be finalised.
Yamaha
Likely to be crowned world champions in the hands of Toprak Razgatligolu, Pata Yamaha have to no one’s surprise elected to keep their current line-up of Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli.
Razgatlioglu has been the star of the season and leads the championship by 30 points over six-time world champion Jonathan Rea heading into next month’s season finale.
On the other side of the garage, Locatelli is just eight points behind Michael Rinaldi in their battle for fourth, while top rookie honours have already been clinched.
Like the Pata Yamaha outfit, GRT have also elected to retain their 2021 line-up of Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane.
Gerloff has had a disappointing second season in WorldSBK after various early season crashes dented his confidence, while Nozane has made steady steps forward and will be expected to become a consistent top ten runner in 2022.
Kawasaki
Current world champions KRT will also be retaining their current due of Rea and Alex Lowes for next season.
Rea has perhaps had his most difficult year as a Kawasaki rider due to the emergence of Razgatlioglu, while Scott Redding has been every bit his match at times.
Crashes and Razgatlioglu getting the better of him in most of the long-form races following Assen (round five) is what’s left the Northern Irishman needing luck to be on his side in Indonesia.
Rea’s team-mate Lowes hasn’t had the second year with Kawasaki he would have hoped for after several injuries derailed his season.
The former BSB champion started the season in great shape and looked like the early favorite for fourth before crashes in Assen, Most and Magny-Cours played a pivotal role.
Lucas Mahias, who is out injured and has been since Magny-Cours will return for Puccetti Kawasaki - is being replaced by former MotoGP rider Tito Rabat at present.
Orelac Racing VerdNatura rider Isaac Vinales is expected to continue in 2022, while Pedercini Kawasaki remains unconfirmed at this time - although Loris Cresson should be retained.
Ducati
Courtesy of finishing ahead of BMW and Honda in the manufacturers' standings - currently second and ahead of Kawasaki too, Ducati are the first team on this list to have a different factory team for next year.
Alvaro Bautista returns to the Aruba.it Ducati team, the same team he won the first 11 out of 12 and 13 of 17 races with to start 2019.
Bautista will be alongside Rinaldi who’s failed to hit the heights of team-mate Redding this season, even though the Italian did produce a brilliant double win at Misano.
Impressive WorldSBK rookie Axel Bassani will be staying at Motocorsa Ducati despite early season talk of a potential move to replace Redding at Aruba.it.
While it might have been premature talk, if Bassani can replicate the form he showed at rounds such as Catalunya and San Juan in particular, then it will be more than just talk when looking at 2023.
WorldSSP rider Luca Bernardi will be riding for the Barni Racing Team, while GoEleven Ducati are the only Ducati team left to finalise their options.
With Chaz Davies retiring after Indonesia and Loris Baz not getting the ride despite two podiums in just five stand-in rides, it is believed that new BSB champion Tarran Mackenzie will join the team, however, it could be a move that sees a change to Yamaha machinery.
BMW
The German team pulled off the biggest coup in several years after it was announced that Redding would leave Ducati and join BMW.
From a results point of view the move to BMW doesn’t look like a great one, especially given Redding’s form aboard the Panigale V4 R of late, but with full factory support and the M 1000 RR going into it’s second year, it’s a move that could pay off down the road.
Redding is currently 36 points behind Rea and therefore still has a chance at second.
The 2019 BSB winner joins Michael Van Der Mark who signed a two-year deal at the conclusion of 2020.
From a satellite team perspective, although they will be given factory support, Baz makes a return to WorldSBK following a year in MotoAmerica, while Eugene Laverty joins him at Bonovo Racing.
Honda
Finally we have Honda who will be the only team with a completely new line-up, an exciting one at that.
Lecuona comes across from MotoGP, while podium finisher in Moto2 Vierge will link up with him to form an all-Spanish team.
The double signing means Leon Haslam is out of a ride and could be set for a return to BSB.
