Only three riders missing as WorldSBK gears up for first test of 2024 today

Bautista, who is aiming to make it three WorldSBK title wins in succession this season, will be aboard his Panigale V4 R for the first time in 2024, as will new team-mate Nicolo Bulega, who debuted for the Aruba.it Ducati team during a Jerez outing at the end of last season.

• Dall’Igna: ‘We probably have to find six kilos to put on Bautista’s bike’ 

• Bautista: ‘It’s not a target to win three in a row, focusing on myself’

But all eyes will be on Razgatlioglu, who will have the chance to jump aboard his M 1000 RR once again.

After making a stunning switch from Yamaha, many expect Razgatlioglu to be the rider that can take BMW to the promise land.

And although testing does not always provide an accurate assessment of what’s to come, it will still be important for the Turkish rider and BMW to be competitive.

The same is true for Rea, who made the decision to leave Kawasaki after nine years and replace Razgatlioglu at Yamaha.

Newcomers Andrea Iannone and Sam Lowes will both be aboard their Ducati machines, as will many other satellite riders.

Only three riders won’t be in attendance, which are Bradley Ray and Petronas MIE Honda duo Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin.

The confirmed WorldSBK line-up for the Jerez test is as follows…

Aruba.it Ducati - Alvaro Bautista, Nicolo Bulega

Pata Yamaha - Jonathan Rea, Andrea Locatelli

Kawasaki Racing Team - Axel Bassani, Alex Lowes

ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team - Toprak Razgatlioglu, Michael Van Der Mark

Team HRC - Iker Lecuona, Xavi Vierge

GYTR GRT Yamaha - Dominique Agerter, Remy Gardner

GoEleven Ducati - Andrea Iannone

Marc VDS Ducati - Sam Lowes

Bonovo Action BMW -  Garrett Gerloff, Scott Redding

Barni Spark Ducati - Danilo Petrucci

Motocorsa Ducati - Michael Ruben Rinaldi

Puccetti Racing - Tito Rabat

GMT94 Yamaha - Philipp Oettl

BMW test team -  Sylvain Guintoli, Bradley Smith

Testing begins tomorrow and starts at 9:30 UK time on both days.