The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid will have four extra riders on it at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as the paddock gears up for an epic end-of-season round. The Prometeon Spanish Round will host the action as four wildcards – two Hondas and two Yamahas – join the grid to add to the intrigue around this year’s finale.
NAGASHIMA BACK WITH TEAM HRC: Japanese rider set for Jerez comeback
Tetsuta Nagashima has been seen on occasion with Team HRC and he’ll make a welcome return to WorldSBK action at Jerez as one of the four wildcards. He last raced in WorldSBK back in 2022 at Phillip Island, impressing in mixed conditions. Nagashima will be supported by the test team at Jerez, with the Japanese rider’s duties with Honda including testing the CBR1000RR-R. He’s also won the iconic Suzuka 8 Hours on multiple occasions, alongside Iker Lecuona in 2022 and Xavi Vierge last year; he’ll race alongside both at Jerez.
Nagashima said: “I’m really looking forward to competing in the final round of the WorldSBK Championship at Jerez. I’ve been carrying out WorldSBK testing for a while now, and in 2022, I took part in my first and only race weekend in Australia, where the results weren’t bad. I’m curious to see how the bike performs now and what we can achieve. I hope to gain a better understanding of the bike and identify the differences with respect to two years ago. I can’t wait to be back in action.”
BERNARDI RETURNS: second consecutive weekend for the Sammarinese
Luca Bernardi is back in WorldSBK for the second consecutive weekend, linking up with the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team. The Sammarinese rider competed in 2022 with the Barni Ducati outfit before finding a new home in the Italian Superbike championship. A tricky Estoril last weekend meant he didn’t score points, but he’ll be back at Jerez and aiming to return to the points-paying positions in the final round of the season.
On his second wildcard of the season, Bernardi said: “First of all, I am very happy to be able to still be part of Sandro Carusi’s team. Jerez is a track that I really like. I have never raced on this track, only tested, and I know that it is very technical and that it suits my riding style. I hope to continue the work started in Portugal, to continue my growth and to obtain better results.”
RYDE COMING TO JEREZ ON THE CREST OF A WAVE: the 2024 British champion in WorldSBK
Kyle Ryde’s wildcard was announced a long time ago and since then, he and his OMG Racing team have been enjoying domestic success. Ryde won the British championship last weekend at Brands Hatch, up against Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK), before heading to Spain for his first WorldSBK appearance. The 27-year-old has experience of the paddock, having raced in WorldSSP in 2016 and 2017, while he was on the rostrum in a one-off appearance in 2015 at Donington Park.
Speaking when his wildcard was announced in September, Ryde said: “It’s obviously really exciting to hear that the team will be going to compete in the final round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Jerez, and it is something I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to do. I love Jerez, it is such an awesome track. I did a few laps there on my R6 earlier this year, and I really like the circuit, so I’m already itching to get out on the World Superbike-spec R1. The team are working hard behind the scenes now to get it all ready, and I just can’t wait. Thank you to Alan, Paul and all my guys for giving up their time and efforts to give us the chance to ride on the world stage.”
BRIDEWELL COMPLETES HONDA CONTINGENT: the Brit returns for a second wildcard
Bridewell was Ryde’s rival in the BSB title fight and both will be on track at Jerez. The 2023 British champion raced in WorldSBK at Cremona this year, where he also tested with Team HRC back in the summer. With six CBR1000RR-R machines on the grid, Bridewell will be hoping he can make a step forward and he revealed he would have a slightly upgrade spec of his machine.
He said: “I love racing motorbikes so to get to go and have another go is another great opportunity to go out and race my bike. Jerez is a really good circuit too as it’s got a bit of everything, heavy braking with a slow first sector that then starts opening up and getting quicker and quicker. Going to Jerez for me is about continuing the work that we are doing, gathering information and doing the best that I can. I rode well at Cremona with the package that we were on and ultimately, we will be a little bit better equipped with a slightly upgraded spec at Jerez. I want to go there and do as well as I can.”
