WorldSBK paddock readies for 2019 season
Anticipation continues to arise ahead of the opening round of 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season, as this will see the all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R makes its official debut in the series, GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team unveiling their new colours and Jonathan Rea winning Irish Motorcyclist of the Year.
The V4-engine bike will be the new weapon of the Bologna manufacturer for this season as they will try to reclaim the WorldSBK title after four years chasing Jonathan Rea and the Kawasaki Racing WorldSBK Team.
Ducati Panigale V4 will is set to upset the field in 2019
Team Go Eleven’s new recruit Eugene Lavery is not hiding his excitement ahead of Wednesday’s debut saying, “I’ve been counting down the days until my first ride on the new V4 Ducati and finally the day has arrived. I’m excited to try the bike for the first time but also to begin working with Team Go Eleven at the track”.
Eugene Laverty
Counting on the strong line up of Chaz Davies and former MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing– Ducati), who already took to the track with the new Ducati machine in the Jerez test held at the end of November last year, the expectation for the new season is extremely high.
“The potential of the V4 R is very high, but the competitors are also very strong. This season will be hard and tough, but we have two very strong riders, so I think we will enjoy racing” commented Domenicali.
Chaz Davies – Aragon Test November 2018 – Image by GeeBee Images
Gearing up for their first season in the FIM Superbike World Championship, that will officially kick off in Australia from 22nd-24th February, the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team presented the 2019 livery for their Yamaha YZF R1 at Motor Bike Expo, which was held in Verona (Italy) last week.
In front of the big crowd attending the exposition and all the Italian fans, Sandro Cortese and Marco Melandri were on stage unveiling the colours of their new bikes. All painted in the characteristic Yamaha blue colour, the YZF R1 machines with the new 2019 livery will be taken to the track for the first time this year around Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto for a two-day test that will be held from 23rd-24th January this week.
Sandro Cortese and Marco Melandri
For reigning WorldSSP Champion Sandro Cortese and his teammate Italian star Marco Melandri will be the second time aboard the Yamahas of the Italian based squad, as they both were out testing with the team at same circuit last November.Heading now into their first outing for 2019, the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders will continue to work on building up their paces on the blue machines during the two-day test.
Reigning World Champion Jonathan Rea continues to seem unstoppable as he keeps breaking records and adding trophies to his cabinets also during the off-season. As BelfastLive.co.uk and other media outlets reported, the Northern Irishman was crowned Irish Motorcyclist of the Year, becoming the first rider ever to win the ambitious trophy four times in succession.
Jonathan Rea – Image by Geebee
During a gala ceremony which was held in Belfast on Friday 19th January, Rea received the prestigious award for his outstanding career, as well as a standing ovation as he collected the prize.
