Chaz Davies to remain with Ducati for 2021 WorldSBK, joins Team Go Eleven

Chaz Davies will remain on Ducati machinery for the 2021 WorldSBK Championship season after being confirmed with factory-affiliated satellite outfit Team Go Eleven.

The Welshman found himself frozen out of the factory options for next season after a late call by the works Aruba.it Ducati team saw him dropped after seven seasons in favour of young Italian racer Michael Ruben Rinaldi.

However, after indicating he wouldn’t switch to a privateer Ducati Panigale V4 R for next season, Davies is now confirmed with Team Go Eleven in what is now a direct swap with Rinaldi.

Which MotoGP riders crashed most in 2020...?

Setting up an interesting premise of Davies versus Rinaldi next season, the 31-time WorldSBK race winner was delighted to have his future assured after some uncertain weeks.

“I’m very happy to join forces with Go Eleven! I think it’s a great opportunity next year for myself and the Go Eleven Team to continue our progression. I had a great end to the 2020 season, winning the last race at Estoril and scoring the most points in the last nine races. Go Eleven put together a great 2020 season as well. I think it has the makings of a really strong partnership for 2021 WorldSBK Championship.

“I am really excited about it, especially because I had a really good feeling with the bike, and I think that is something we could even take for the step when I am start testing next year. So, thanks to Go Eleven for the trust and also thanks to the other partners helping put this together, to give us the chance to win next year: Ducati, ARUBA.IT and Feel Racing. Thanks to everybody involved and I’m just looking forward to getting started!”

A stalwart of the WorldSBK paddock having competed in Superstock and WorldSSP before stepping up to WorldSBK, Team Go Eleven scored its first wins in the premier class in 2019 courtesy of Rinaldi’s stunning victory at Aragon. It is success the team is confident it can repeat in 2021 with Davies on its books.

“I wrote a book about my life and my dreams in the WorldSBK Championship,” Gianni Ramello. “Among my dreams there has always been Chaz, one of those riders who make you fall in love with this sport. Now what’s missing has arrived, to crown many years of sacrifices, a lot of commitment and a lot of passion. 

“It’ll certainly be a busy year; we all must give our best and bring Chaz to the top step of the podium every possible time. There is not only a great and huge happiness, but also the awareness of having a rider with an incredible history, who will now race for our Team Go Eleven.

“I especially thank Stefano Cecconi, Daniele Casolari, Serafino Foti, Gigi Dall’Igna and Paolo Ciabatti who believed in our skills, our professionalism and our great passion, which sometimes gives something special in races. Now we must not disappoint anyone and work with the maximum effort for the season, with the aim that it will be a great season.”