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Rivalries are a huge part of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and that’s set to continue in 2024 with the start of some new battles. As rookies take to the track, line-ups change at a lot of the teams and established riders look for wins and podiums, we take a look at some of the new rivalries you could see in WorldSBK in 2024.

TOP IN TESTING: Bulega and Razgatlioglu to ignite?

Where better to start than the two riders who were quickest across the four 2024 test days? Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was quickest on both days at Jerez and the opening Portimao day, while Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) ended the Portuguese test on top. When ‘Bulegas’ was quickest, ‘El Turco’ wasn’t far behind and vice versa. Could this be the newest fight at the front in WorldSBK?

DUCATI TEAMMATES: Bulega ahead of Bautista so far…

One key story to emerge from testing was Bulega being quicker than teammate Alvaro Bautista. While they had different testing programmes, and Bautista is still nursing a neck injury although getting back to full fitness, the gap between them was a lot bigger than expected. With another couple of weeks recovery, you’d expect Bautista to be fighting at the front again when racing resumes in Australia. However, the potential is there for Bulega’s impressive start to life as a factory Ducati rider to continue and cause the double Champion a headache…

NEW YAMAHA PAIRING: Rea and Locatelli fight for honours

Like with Bulega and Bautista, a new line-up at the Pata Prometeon Yamaha squad could provide another rivalry to look forward to. With Jonathan Rea moving across to join Andrea Locatelli at the factory Yamaha team, an interesting dynamic is set to play out. Six-time Champion Rea will be looking for an unprecedented seventh title, while ‘Loka’ is going in search of a first race win. There’s also been a change in crew chiefs, with Andrew Pitt moving to Rea’s side of the box and Tom O’Kane linking up with Locatelli.

PETRUCCI AND IANNONE: will the friendship turn into a rivalry?

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) has been turning heads since he first jumped on the Panigale V4 R at Jerez last year, and that’s been continuing in 2024. Fast at the Spanish venue and Portimao shortly after, ‘The Maniac’ looks well and truly ready for competition. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) comes into 2024 on the back of a stunning rookie campaign where he scored podiums and will look for a first win. Is there a possibility Iannone beats him to that first WorldSBK victory, and could they battle hard but share the rostrum together?

A NEW BONOVO BMW LINE-UP: can Redding get the better of Gerloff?

American star Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) ended 2023 as the BMW rider to beat. Pole at Magny-Cours was the highlight but the #31 also battled for the podium in the final third of the season and narrowly missed out on a rostrum visit. For 2024, he has a new teammate as Scott Redding joins from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Seemingly enjoying his new environment throughout testing and quick as well, the Bonovo Action BMW rivalry seems set to heat up in 2024.

BRITISH CHAMPIONS ON THE WORLD STAGE: Ray and Mackenzie’s friendly rivalry

They’ve raced each other on the domestic scene but for 2024, Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) are ready to battle it out on the world stage. Mackenzie is entering his first WorldSBK season while it’s Ray’s second, and both will be looking to get the better of each other. Perhaps nothing sums up their friendly rivalry more than ‘Taz’ suggesting Ray will be his rival in 2024 after he joked that he’s “not normal”, with Ray laughing when this was put to him and calling Mackenzie a “legend”. Joking around in testing suggests any on-track rivalry between these two will stay firmly on-track.

BASSANI VS RINALDI… 2.0? new look rivalry for Bassani and Rinaldi

After their rivalry ignited last year, there’s been a change for both Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing). Bassani has moved on from Rinaldi’s current team to become a factory Kawasaki rider, while the #21 lost his seat at the factory Ducati team but remains with the manufacturer with the Independent outfit. It’s a new look for the two adversaries, but will their rivalry continue to explode in 2024?

SIBLING RIVALRY: Alex and Sam Lowes go for top dog in the family…

Sometimes, rivalries can be fierce and sometimes they can be friendly rivalries. It’s possible in the case of Alex and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), it’ll be fierce and friendly. After all, everyone wants to beat their teammate, and everyone wants to come out on top against their siblings. They’ve raced together before but never in a World Championship, possibly taking their rivalry to a new level. Let’s just hope there’s no awkward family dinners after a round…

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