The provisional Superbike test schedule has been released ahead of the 2023 World Championship. Only Ducati will return to competition in January. The first laps will take place this weekend in Jerez and will continue a week later at the same place with a Honda MotoGP in the middle…
About Matthew Bellan de Motoracing
The 2022 Superbike World Championship is now archived, but the activity on the track is by no means over. There are teams who have scheduled tests before going on vacation to prepare for the 2023 season. For example, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Team will be in action on December 1st and 2nd in Jerez. It is clear that great attention will be paid to Jonathan Rhea, beaten for the second year in a row and eager to conquer the seventh title. He will have the opportunity to try the innovations brought by the Akashi firm, determined to defeat Ducati et Yamaha .
The spotlight will inevitably also be on Tom Sykes, who returns to the handlebars of a Ninja after years spent at BMW and his last season in BSB riding a Panigale V4 R. The 2013 SBK world champion is the experienced rider Manuel Puccetti is strongly targeting to validate a breakthrough in terms of results.
There will also be another test in Jerez in December. Of 13 to 15, no less than six teams will race on the circuit bearing the name of Angel Nieto. Yamaha will be present with the official Pata Brixx team and the private team GYTR GRT. The latter will debut with Dominique Aegerter et Remy gardner, who will try to adapt to the R1 as quickly as possible. Among those who are curious to see them at work there are also Toprak Razgatlioglu, best rider for the Iwata manufacturer in the Superbike World Championship and 2021 champion.
BMW will be on track with its two formations, the official one and that of the Bonovo Action satellite. On the drivers side, the novelty will be the debut of Garrett Gerloff on the M 1000 RR of Jurgen Roder's team. The American, who has just returned from three years at GRT Yamaha, hopes to get along well with the German bike and be able to achieve the results he has not been able to achieve so far. However, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team will only have Scott Redding. Michael van der Mark decided to miss that first try and opt for surgery on his leg, which he injured earlier in the season. The Dutchman decided to carry out this intervention – in addition to the fact that BMW currently has few new parts to test – in order to be in top shape to begin its winter testing program and preparation for the 2023 season in January.
Superbike: Stefan Bradl will also be mobilized on the RC213V in Jerez
The official Honda team will also be present with Iker Lecuona (physical conditions to be checked) and Xavi Verge. There should also be the independent MIE Honda team, which however has not yet formalized the drivers for next year. But not only…
Indeed, there will be in the middle of all these beautiful people also a Stefan bradl which will work only the RC213V version 2023 which must definitely be that of renewal. It's a safe bet that the MotoGP project would not survive another debacle like that of this season where HRC recorded no victory to finish last among the manufacturers. Like the CBR triple R adventure…
After this final work, it will be time to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. But very quickly, we will take back the collar in WSBK. The first test of 2023 is in fact scheduled for January 25 and 26, still in Jerez. In addition to the official teams Yamaha et Kawasaki, the team Ducati will also be in action with the reigning champion Alvaro Bautista et Michael Ruben Rinaldi. On this occasion there should also be the debut of Danilo Petrucci on the Panigale V4 R of the Barni team. The Go Eleven team was also present with Philipp Ottl.
Another test is planned for January 31 and February 1, but at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao. Of course, the calendar published on the official WorldSBK website is subject to change. There are teams who have not yet made a decision on which testing days to use in preseason. What is certain is that we will see everyone in action the Monday February 20 and Tuesday February 21 at Phillip Island during the official Dorna event organized before the start of the 2023 World Championship, which will begin in Australia (February 24-26). Two very important days for Superbike riders and also for Supersport.
2022-2023 testing schedule to date (subject to change)
December 1-2: Jerez Circuit – Angel Nieto
December 13-15: Jerez Circuit – Angel Nieto
January 25-26: Jerez Circuit – Angel Nieto
January 31 – February 1: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve – Portimao
February 20-21: Dorna official test, Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit
