Axel Bassani stays with MOTOCORSA Ducati for 2022 WorldSBK season
Impressive 2021 WorldSBK rookie Axel Bassani will officially be staying with the MOTOCORSA Ducati Racing Team in 2022.
Bassani was one of the biggest surprises of 2021 as he finished ninth in the championship - just 18 points behind Garrett Gerloff who won the Independent riders’ title.
A second place finish in a wet race one at Catalunya was the Italian rider’s highlight of the season, while Bassani also claimed top five results in four out of the last five races.
It would most likely have been five from five had he and BMW rider Michael Van Der Mark not come together during the final race in Mandalika, contact which resulted in Bassani crashing out.
"I am happy with the renewal and to be able to continue the work with the MOTOCORSA team with which I found myself very well," added Bassani.
"I think it is very positive for our growth path; we have already started working towards 2022 and I hope to confirm and improve last season’s results.
"A special thanks to all my sponsors who allow me to cultivate my dream, to my team that follows me from home in preparation in addition to my family."
Bassani’s impressive adaptation to WorldSBK even led to rumours of a potential switch to the full factory Aruba.it Ducati team in 2022, but after the team replaced Scott Redding with Alvaro Bautista, the 22 year-old will have to wait at least one more season to try and make that happen.
Lorenzo Mauri, MOTOCROSA Ducati Team Manager, also spoke about retaining Bassani: "I'm happy with Bassani's confirmation in 2022 with whom we will collaborate trying to repeat the results achieved this season.
"I am optimistic because we will present ourselves at the start of the new season with a good amount of experience and no longer as a rookie team.
"We are already working in our factory located in Lurago d'Erba (Co) Italy, to be ready for the away to a Championship that promises to be at an even higher level. We are looking forward to returning to the track."
