Crash.Net’s Top 10 WorldSBK Riders of 2021: 3rd - Scott Redding

Seven WorldSBK wins and third overall in the 2021 championship standings means Scott Redding finishes third in our top ten riders of the year list.

While it wasn’t a championship win that Ducati had brought him to WorldSBK to deliver, the 2021 season - his last with the team after joining BMW for 2022 - was a stellar one nonetheless for Redding. 

The ex-BSB champion was a continuous challenger to world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea, while he also joined the top two in eclipsing 500 points for the season.

Despite closing an 80 point deficit to just over 40 at one stage, Redding’s title aspirations came to an end during the penultimate round in San Juan, Argentina, after he crashed in race one.

Redding crashed from third place, however, the Ducati rider was the fastest rider on-track from that point forward and managed to come back through the pack and finish ninth. 

Redding’s ninth place at San Juan was the only non-podium finish for the Brit during the final 11 races. 

In those 11 races Redding secured one win which came in the final San Juan race, while he took an impressive six second places including two in the season finale. 

Although Redding finished third in 2021 - one place lower than his rookie campaign - it was arguably a better year for the 28 year-old who improved his qualifying and consistency. 

Redding also had just one race retirement compared to two in 2020, which given the fact there were 37 races as opposed to 24 was an impressive feat.  

So while 2021 was a strong year for Redding, one in which he claimed 501 points which was 63 behind Razgatlioglu, not achieving his and the team’s goal of winning a title together means placing him third on our top ten riders of the year list is an obvious choice. 

With his surprising move to BMW already in full effect as he’s rode the bike twice already, a championship win might have to wait beyond next season as the German manufacturer hasn’t proved they can win with any consistency. In fact, BMW has just one win in the last eight years courtesy of Michael Van Der Mark winning at Portimao last season. 

Redding 2021 stats: 

Championship Finish: 3rd

Points: 501

Wins: 7

Podiums: 24

Pole Positions: 1

Top Ten Results: 32

Points Scores: 34

Front Row Starts: 8

Overall crash total: 6

Non-Finishes: 1

Races: 37