The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will feature 24 riders across five different manufacturers, as the full entry-lists are revealed ahead of the season. More manufacturer presence from Kawasaki and BMW and nine rookies are the headlines, along with a multitude of team changes and also the opportunity for two seats to still be filled. The 2021 WorldSBK season has plenty of hype and excitement for all of the right reasons.

Remaining the same for a second season is the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, although featuring the new ZX-10RR. The defending Champions keep Jonathan Rea, who is aiming for a seventh WorldSBK title, alongside Alex Lowes. Kawasaki’s presence in the Championship has also expanded, with TPR Team Pedercini Racing fielding two brand-new ZX-10RRs with Loris Cresson and Samuele Cavalieri. The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team promote Lucas Mahias to the class from WorldSSP, whilst the sixth and final ZX-10RR belongs to Isaac Viñales at the Orelac Racing VerdNatura team.

Moving on to the Ducati onslaught for 2021 and the Aruba.It Racing - Ducati team continue with Scott Redding for another season, whilst Italian star Michael Ruben Rinaldi gets his dream opportunity in the factory team. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) replaces the Italian as they switch seats, whilst Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) joins the WorldSBK paddock for 2021. Axel Bassani is the youngest rider on the grid for Motocorsa Racing, aged just 21.

The youngest factory team in the WorldSBK class is fielded by Yamaha. Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team) leads the team with reigning WorldSSP Champion Andrea Locatelli joining him - the exact same age as they share the same birthday (24). The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team retain Garrett Gerloff in the quest for more podiums whilst Japanese champion Kohta Nozane is alongside the American. Yamaha’s final team is the Gil Motor Sport - Yamaha squad, fielding Christophe Ponsson.

Honda’s factory line-up remains unchanged for 2021; Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) heads into his third World Superbike campaign and is joined once again by Leon Haslam. In contrast to Yamaha, this is the oldest WorldSBK team by age of the riders. The manufacturer’s Independent team will be the MIE Racing Honda Team with two bikes, both of which are yet to be announced.

The BMW effort also expands in 2021. The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team keep Tom Sykes for a third season, but for a third season, he has a new teammate again in the shape of Michael van der Mark - one of the earliest confirmations on the 2021 grid. The German manufacturer will also enjoy two satellite teams for the year ahead with Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) and Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) at the helm.

In total, 11 nationalities from three continents will do battle in the premier class of motorcycle production-derived racing. With 22 riders already confirmed and two more to go, a 24-rider field will take to the track at the TT Circuit Assen from the 23rd - 25th April for yet another scintillating season of World Superbike action and drama.

New sanctions among changes made to the regulations ahead of the 2021 WorldSBK season while WorldSSP300 will now only feature one group on track

The Superbike Commission, composed of Messrs. Gregorio LAVILLA (Dorna, Chairman), Franck VAYSSIÉ (FIM), Tomonori SATO (Honda), Andrea DOSOLI (Yamaha), Paolo MARCHETTI (Kawasaki), Marco ZAMBENEDETTI (Ducati), Marc BONGERS (BMW), Brian GILLEN (MV Agusta), in the presence of Paul DUPARC (FIM, Secretary of the meeting), Scott SMART (WSBK Technical Director), Dominique HÉBRARD (FIM CTI Sporting Manager) made the following decisions in 2 meetings held by electronic ways on 14 and 16 December 2020:


Effective Season 2021

Practice and testing Restrictions

The practice and testing restriction were reviewed mainly to clarify with which type of road motorcycles for training purposes is permitted. The goal is to avoid trainings and track familiarisation with bikes prepared for racing. Teams and riders have been limited to ten days of private running, not including Official or Supported tests.

Timetable of the season 2021

The WorldSSP300 will no longer compete in 2 groups for qualifications but in one group only.

Long Lap Penalty(ies)

The Long Lap penalty(ies) having proved its efficiency in GP will be also applied in the range of sanctions for the FIM WSBK. However, the Long Lap Penalty may not be applied at all circuits due to their configuration. Therefore, it will be a duty of the FIM Inspector/Safety Officer to decide on which circuit this LLP will be applied.

Yellow Flags

Riders who see a yellow flag displayed are required to slow down to protect fallen riders and attending marshals. Riders passing a yellow flag zone in all practice sessions will have the time for that lap cancelled. The message given to riders is that they cannot improve their time under a yellow flag, so there is no reason NOT to slow down.

Introduction of led panels and consequences to the double presentation of flags

At the last meeting of the FIM Circuit Racing Commission, the compulsory use of led panels was announced in 2023 in SBK and EWC (and 22 for GP). It appeared that it will be impossible to combine the information currently given by the 2 flags in the event of a change in grip, for reasons of visibility of the LED panels. It was then decided not to display the together flags signals "Drops of rains" and "Change of adhesion".

Security Deposits for Protests and Appeals

The scope and definition of protests and appeals have been clarified. Any person or body making a protest or appeal will always have their security deposit returned in the event that the protest or appeal is successful. It will no longer possible for a rider or team to present a letter of guarantee in lieu of security deposit. (Note: It is also current practice that fines and security deposits that are forfeited go to a fund administered by the FIM for eventual use for good causes).

Helicopter presence at circuits

Except when there is a hospital which accepted by the FIM for the management of significant trauma with an agreement in place to treat injured riders 20 minutes or less by road under emergency driving conditions from the circuit, a helicopter may not be required providing adequate vehicles type B are available

An electronic meeting will take place soon for clarifying the Technical Rules. The relevant decisions will be also press released.