What to expect from the strongest rookie line-up in WorldSBK history
While it’s just an opinion, rating any previous rookie WorldSBK line-up ahead of the current list of rookies appears to be a monumental task꧃.
There will be six rookies taking part at next month’s season-opener at Phillip Island, five of which have either won world titles or taken victories in some of 🅷the most competitive championships in the world.
- Camier: Super concess💧ions ‘a slow burner, not all of a sudden compeꦫtitive’
- From lumberjack to WorldSBK’s biggest rising star, how di🍃d Axel Bassani do it?
Starting with the biggest name on this lis൩t, Petrucci has joined WorldSBK with Ducati after finishing runner-up in his debut Mo🌺toAmerica season to Jake Gagne.
A two-time MotoGP race winner and Dakar Rally stage winner, Petrucci brings wit꧙h him more raciᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚng experience than most of the grid.
Xav🥂i Fores showed that the Barni Spark Ducati machine can achieve good results in 2022, so Petrucci should be able to take that team further up the grid.
The Italian will have a brand new Panigale V4 R at his disposal after Ducati introduced its latest model as a replacement for t🌳he 2019 bike.
Fighting for top tens immediately has to be the aim for Petrucci before turning that into top 🐠fives and potential podiums.
Expect Petrucci to become a leading contender for best Independent Rider of the year honours, whilst also pushing the likes of 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Michael Ruben Rinaldi and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Axel Bassani, who will be on similar machinery.
Another interesting and big name addition to WorldSBK, Gardner arrives after a disappointing ro൩okie season in Mo🦩toGP.
But despite being dropped by Tech 3 KTM despite bringing them the Moto2 title just a few months prior, Gardner has joined one of the bꩵetter teams on the grid in GRT Yamaha.
As we’ve seen from 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Garrett Gerloff in recent seasons, the satellite Yamaha team has everything at its disposal to challenge for race wins, and although that might be a stretch too f𝔍ar for Gꦉardner as a rookie, the Australian should be much more competitive in WorldSBK than he was in MotoGP.
Similar to Petrucci, Gardner is a rider that will be expected to challenge for big results and the Indepe♊ndent Riders’ title.
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Dominique Aegerter
The꧃ back-to-back WorldSSP champion will line-up alongside Gardner in an all-rookie team at GRT Yamaha.
After winning consecutive Supersport titles for the first time since Kenan Sofuoglu, Aegerter moves to the premier class with lofty expectations placed o꧂n his shoulders.
While Gardner is a big name addition, Aegerter’s recent run of form since 2021 is likely to provide a serious challeng🐎e for Gardner and all the satellite team riders.
After difficult BSB campaigns with Suzuki and 🐓BMW in recent time, Ray and the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha were a match made in heaven last year.
Ray was dominan🌳t throughout the year and ended up winning his maide𝓰n BSB title with a race to go.
The British rider will ride for Motoxracing Yamaha in WorldS🤡BK, a team that enjoyed 𝓡some positive results with Roberto Tamburini.
And while the Italian did a so🍸lid job for the team, Ray’s talent should see him bring the team 𒆙forward, similar to Petrucci at Barni Ducati.
Points finishes as he learns the differences between a WorldSBK and British Superbike will still be expected for Ray, before consistent top tens would likely culminate in a successful cam✨paign.
Lorenzo Baldassarri
The former Moto2 rider was a surprise championship contender to Aegerter last year, and although the Swiss rider enjoyed a much larger amount of success with regards to race wins, Baldassarri was an ever-presen🎃t challenge to Aegerter.
Like Gardner, Aegerter and Ray, Baldassarri is also stepping up to WorldSBK with Yamaha an𒆙d could be a dark horse to upset the likes of both GRT riders and R♊ay when it comes to top Yamaha rookie.
After being linked with a MotoGP seat a few seasons ago, Baldassarri was back to his best on Supersport machinery following a difficult couple of years in Moto2. If the Italian can again show a strong level of performance and mix it with the 🍒top ten riders then he could become a contender for a factory seat.
