Isaac Vinales steps up to WorldSBK for 2021 with Orelac Kawasaki
Isaac Vinales, younger brother of MotoGP title contender Maverick Vinales, will make his WorldSBK debut in 2021 after sealing a deal to graduate from the Supersport ranks with Orelac Verdnatura Kawasaki.
The 26-year old Spaniard has just completed his second season in the intermediate production-based class having switched to WorldSSP in 2019 after several years attempting to forge a path through the GP ranks with mixed success.
After scoring a trio of podium results in his maiden season, he’d add two more trips to the podium in 2020 en route to eighth overall aboard the Kallio Racing Yamaha R6.
For 2021 though, Vinales will embark on a fresh challenge with a move into WorldSBK on the privateer Orelac Kawasaki ZX-10RR, which was this year campaigned by Chilean racer Maximilian Scheib.
The third WorldSSP rider to announce a move into Superbikes for 2021, Vinales followers on from champio =n Andrea Locatelli - who will ride the factory Yamaha - and Lucas Mahias aboard the Puccetti Kawasaki.
“I am very happy to be part of ORELAC Racing VerdNatura for the 2021 season. After the progression of this last year, it is a challenge for me to make the leap to WorldSBK and have the opportunity to show my full potential.
"I am enormously grateful to all the people who make up the team, who have placed their trust in me, and I am sure that together we will work and achieve great success.”
Making his full-time debut in WorldSBk after a handful of outings in the years preceding 2020, Scheib nonetheless acquitted himself well against more experience rivals - including Xavi Fores on the sister Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR. Though injury would sideline him for the final events of 2020, Scheib took a best finish fo seventh position at the beginning of the year in Australia.
