WorldSBK and WSS entry lists finally released

Published: 04 February 2016 Updated: 04 February 2016

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It has taken a long time but the final shape and size of the WorldSBK grid has finally arrived, with 24 regular Superbike entries – including the once impossible reappearance of two Aprilia RSV4 machines.

IodaRacing Team, recent MotoGP runners, will line up in the Superbike paddock after gaining enough budget and support to allow them to run a two-man team of Alex De Angelis (yet another MotoGP refugee) and last year’s Superstock 1000 Champion for Aprilia, Lorenzo Savadori.

Late arrivals Aprilia will make it seven manufacturers in all this year, and no small-scale companies among them.

Given that solid base from top to bottom the manufacturer least fancied for getting top results is maybe the once legendary MV Agusta, even though they run multiple podium-scorer and former BSB Champion Leon Camier. Not to mention an F4RR roadbike that puts out 200bhp in street trim.

The fact that a manufacturer with this degree of heft and such a proven rider on board is maybe the least likely to have a race-winning chance, in the early part of the year at least, points at a high level of even the middle ground that makes up the landscape of 2016.

This is significant in a year when Yamaha is back in officially with a potent new bike for the job, Honda has signed Nicky Hayden, Kawasaki has a new and more Sykes-friendly bike for their two world champions to use, Ducati has an even better race-winning Panigale and BMW plays a four-man running flush of endless possibilities…

Both Althea Racing and Milwaukee SMR teams are part of their overall BMW customer set-up, not official as such, but BMW is taking it all more seriously than they have done since their official exit a few years ago.

At the top of the new shop Jonathan Rea will indeed run number 1, as is his right as the 2015 champion.

The on-track elevation of the class is clear and about to start showing itself off very soon at Phillip Island, in its new ‘races on two days’ format.

In the WSS category a revamped (read reduced) set of technical rules and the eradication of the Superstock 600 class in the winter means a combined regular entry list at European races of 34, with 11 of them not doing the non-European rounds. ‘FIM Europe Supersport Cup’ entries will compete for the same points as the regulars in Europe, and among themselves too, as they will do not have the same number of points scoring opportunities as those who will do all 13 WSS rounds.

As well as the expected quantities on the WSS grid last year’s American star and race winner PJ Jacobsen has made the list with Honda despite losing their proposed 2016 sponsor.

The entry list for each class follows below…

WorldSBK

N°

Rider

Nat.

Motorcycle

Team

Jonathan Rea

GBR

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Kawasaki Racing Team

Tom Sykes

GBR

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Kawasaki Racing Team

Chaz Davies

GBR

Ducati 1199 Panigale R

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

Davide Giugliano

ITA

Ducati 1199 Panigale R

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

Michael van der Mark

NED

Honda CBR1000RR SP

Honda World Superbike Team

Nicky Hayden

USA

Honda CBR1000RR SP

Honda World Superbike Team

Markus Reiterberger

GER

BMW S1000 RR

Althea BMW Racing Team

Jordi Torres

ESP

BMW S1000 RR

Althea BMW Racing Team

Alex Lowes

GBR

Yamaha YZF R1

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team

Sylvain Guintoli

FRA

Yamaha YZF R1

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team

Xavi Fores

ESP

Ducati 1199 Panigale R

Barni Racing Team

Saeed Al Sulaiti

QAT

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Pedercini Racing

Sylvain Barrier

FRA

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Pedercini Racing

Leon Camier

GBR

MV Agusta 1000 F4

MV Agusta Reparto Corse

Román Ramos

ESP

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Team GOELEVEN

Dominic Schmitter

SUI

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Grillini Racing Team

Josh Hook

AUS

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Grillini Racing Team

Imre Toth

HUN

Yamaha YZF R1

Team Toth

Peter Sebestyen

HUN

Yamaha YZF R1

Team Toth

Alex De Angelis

RSM

Aprilia RSV4 1000 F

IodaRacing Team

Lorenzo Savadori

ITA

Aprilia RSV4 1000 F

IodaRacing Team

Karel Abraham

CZE

BMW S1000 RR

Milwaukee BMW

Joshua Brookes

AUS

BMW S1000 RR

Milwaukee BMW

Fabio Menghi

ITA

Ducati 1199 Panigale R

VFT Racing

WSS

No.

Rider

Nat.

Motorcycle

Team

Kenan Sofuoglu

TUR

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing

Randy Krummenacher

SUI

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing

Jules Cluzel

FRA

MV Agusta F3 675

MV Agusta Reparto Corse

Lorenzo Zanetti

ITA

MV Agusta F3 675

MV Agusta Reparto Corse

Stefan Hill

GBR

Honda CBR600RR

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda

Hikari Okubo

JPN

Honda CBR600RR

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda

Luke Stapleford

GBR

Honda CBR600RR

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda

111

Kyle Smith

GBR

Honda CBR600RR

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda

Patrick Jacobsen

USA

Honda CBR600RR

Honda World Supersport Team

Christian Gamarino

ITA

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Team GOELEVEN

Ondrej Jezek

CZE

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Team GOELEVEN

Kevin Wahr

GER

Honda CBR600RR

GEMAR Ballons -Team Lorini

Glenn Scott

AUS

Honda CBR600RR

GEMAR Ballons -Team Lorini

Alex Baldolini

ITA

MV Agusta F3 675

Race Department ATK#25

Christopher Gobbi

ESS*

ITA

Yamaha YZF R6

VFT Racing

Nacho Calero

ESP

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Orelac Racing VerdNatura

Zulfahmi Khairuddin

MAS

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Orelac Racing VerdNatura

Federico Caricasulo

ITA

Honda CBR600RR

BARDAHL Evan Bros. Honda Racing

Ilya Mikhalchik

ESS*

UKR

Kawasaki ZX-6R

DS Junior Team

Davide Stirpe

ESS*

ITA

Honda CBR600RR

FLORAMO Monaco Racing Team SM

Gino Rea

GBR

MV Agusta F3 675

GRT Racing Team

Aiden Wagner

AUS

MV Agusta F3 675

GRT Racing Team

Loris Cresson

ESS*

BEL

Kawasaki ZX-6R

MTM / HM Kawasaki

Angelo Licciardi

ESS*

BEL

Kawasaki ZX-6R

R2 MotorRacing Team

Kyle Ryde

GBR

Yamaha YZF R6

Ranieri Med – SC Racing

Lachlan Epis

AUS

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Response RE Racing

Axel Bassani

ESS*

ITA

Kawasaki ZX-6R

San Carlo Team Italia

Alessandro Zaccone

ESS*

ITA

Kawasaki ZX-6R

San Carlo Team Italia

Nicolas Terol

ESP

MV Agusta F3 675

Schmidt Racing

119

Janos Chrobak

ESS*

HUN

MV Agusta F3 675

Schmidt Racing

Roberto Rolfo

ITA

MV Agusta F3 675

Team Factory Vamag

Braeden Ortt

ESS*

CAN

Honda CBR600RR

WILSport Racedays Honda

Javier Orellana

ESS*

ESP

Honda CBR600RR

WILSport Racedays Honda

Cedric Tangre

ESS*

FRA

Suzuki GSX-R600

Yohann Moto Sport

* FIM Europe Supersport Cup riders.

By Gordon Ritchie