2019 World Superbike & Supersport entries confirmed

DORNA have released entry lists for the World Superbike and World Supersport categories over the weekend, with a stellar line-up for both categories set to debut at Phillip Island’s season kick-off of the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship from February 22-24.

The WorldSBK grid sees seasoned pros going into battle against world champions from the Grand Prix ranks, as well as a couple of hotshots returning to the production series for the Yamaha Finance round.

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit - Image by Russell Colvin

WorldSBK heads to Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the 2019 opener – Image by Russell Colvin

Led by reigning world champion Jonathan Rea, 10 riders on the 2019 WorldSBK grid have won a total of 181 races between them. Rea has a whopping 71 one of those, followed by Tom Sykes (34), Chaz Davies (29), Marco Melandri (22), Eugene Laverty (13), Leon Haslam (5), Ryuichi Kiyonari (5), Michael van der Mark (2), Alex Lowes (1) and Jordi Torres (1).

Haslam and Kiyonari return to the WorldSBK ranks in 2019 – the latter for the first time since 2009 – while the Grand Prix stars are Spaniard Alvaro Bautista and German Sandro Cortese. And they bring with them major firepower: Bautista was the 2006 125cc champion and went on to win 16 races in the lightweight and intermediate classes before moving into MotoGP, where he was a three-time podium finisher; while Cortese was the 2012 Moto3 champion and in 2018 clinched the world supersport title in his first attempt.

WorldSBK 2019 calendar announced

With Cortese now on the WorldSBK circuit, the 25 rider WorldSSP grid boasts many of last year’s title contenders determined to gain 2019 class honours. Lucas Mahias moves to Kawasaki taking the spot of retired five-time world champ Kenan Sofuoglu and pairing with Japanese Hikari Okubo for 2019. Jules Cluzel will ride alongside Corentin Perolari in the all-French Yamaha team, while Randy Krummenacher, Ayrton Badovini and Raffaele De Rosa all return. History will be made, when Spain’s Maria Herrera (MS Racing) becomes the first female to take a full-time WorldSSP ride.

As a bonus for fans, the new three-race WorldSBK format launches, with the 10 lap Sunday midday sprint adding to the 2 x 22 lap traditional WorldSBK 3pm races on Saturday and Sunday. WorldSSP will contest one 18 lap battle on Sunday at 1.15pm. An advance three-day ticket is just $120* and includes free Paddock Access from www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek. Kids 15 and under are free.

WorldSBK returns to Phillip Island in 2019

The full WorldSBK grid begins pre-season testing again in late January, with the final shakedown at Phillip Island on February 18-19 ahead of round one and the three-race formula debut. Also on the agenda is an 18-lap world supersport race and nine national support races, kicking off the 2019 Australian title chase for superbike, supersport and supersport 300.

2019 World Superbike Permanent Riders

#1 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki ZX-10RR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
#91 Leon Haslam GBR Kawasaki ZX-10RR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
#7 Chaz Davies GBR Ducati Panigale V4 R ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati
#19 Alvaro Bautista ESP Ducati Panigale V4 R ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati
#22 Alex Lowes GBR Yamaha YZF R1 Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team
#60 Michael van der Mark NED Yamaha YZF R1 Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team
#28 Markus Reiterberger GER BMW S1000 RR BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
#66 Tom Sykes GBR BMW S1000 RR BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
#21 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Ducati Panigale V4 R BARNI Racing Team
#54 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Kawasaki ZX-10RR Turkish Puccetti Racing
#52 Alessandro Delbianco ITA Honda CBR1000RR Althea Mie Racing Team
#2 Leon Camier GBR Honda CBR1000RR Moriwaki-Althea HONDA Racing Team
#23 Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Honda CBR1000RR Moriwaki-Althea HONDA Racing Team
#36 Leandro Mercado ARG Kawasaki ZX-10RR Orelac Racing VerdNatura
#50 Eugene Laverty IRL Ducati Panigale V4 R Team Goeleven
#81 Jordi Torres ESP Kawasaki ZX-10RR Team Pedercini Racing
#11 Sandro Cortese GER Yamaha YZF R1 GRT Yamaha WorldSBK
#33 Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha YZF R1 GRT Yamaha WorldSBK

WorldSBK returns to Phillip Island in 2019 on February 22-24

2019 World Supersport Permanent Riders

#32 Isaac Viñales ESP Yamaha YZF R6 Kallio Racing
#36 Thomas Gradinger AUT Yamaha YZF R6 Kallio Racing
#84 Loris Cresson BEL Yamaha YZF R6 Kallio Racing
#3 Raffaele De Rosa ITA MV Agusta F3 675 MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse
#22 Federico Fuligni ITA MV Agusta F3 675 MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse
#21 Randy Krummenacher SUI Yamaha YZF R6 BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team
#64 Federico Caricasulo ITA Yamaha YZF R6 BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team
#95 Jules Danilo FRA Honda CBR600RR CIA Landlord Insurance Honda
#TBA Honda CBR600RR CIA Landlord Insurance Honda
#44 Lucas Mahias FRA Kawasaki ZX-6R Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
#78 Hikari Okubo JPN Kawasaki ZX-6R Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
#16 Jules Cluzel FRA Yamaha YZF R6 GMT94 YAMAHA
#94 Corentin Perolari FRA Yamaha YZF R6 GMT94 YAMAHA
#38 Hannes Soomer EST Honda CBR600RR MPM WILSport Racedays
#74 Jaimie van Sikkelerus NED Honda CBR600RR MPM WILSport Racedays
#15 Alfonso Coppola ITA Honda CBR600RR GEMAR – Cioiciaria Corse WorldSSP Team
#61 Gabriele Ruiu ITA Honda CBR600RR GEMAR – Cioiciaria Corse WorldSSP Team
#47 Rob Hartog NED Kawasaki ZX-6R Team Hartog – Against Cancer
#10 Nacho Calero ESP Kawasaki ZX-6R Orelac Racing VerdNatura
#48 Xavier Navand ESS* FRA Yamaha YZF R6 DK MOTORSPORT
#30 Glenn van Straalen NED Kawasaki ZX-6R EAB Racing Team
#67 Gaetan Matern ESS* FRA Kawasaki ZX-6R Flembbo Leader Team
#6 María Herrera ESP Yamaha YZF R6 MS Racing
#86 Ayrton Badovini ITA Kawasaki ZX-6R Team Pedercini Racing
#80 Hector Barbera ESP Yamaha YZF R6 Team Toth by Willirace

Rea leads Melandri at Phillip Island

Phillip Island WorldSBK tickets now on sale

A three-day general admission ticket, including free paddock access is $120* secured in advance, or $230* when you add camping to your purchase an available at www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek. Kids 15 and under, accompanied by a full paying adult, are free for track entry and camping.

*All ticket prices quoted purchased in advance and subject to Ticketek service and handling fees. Book now and save on gate prices. ^Children 15 and under are free and must be accompanied by a paying adult.