HEAD-TO-HEAD: how do riders stack up against each other in 2024?
Three rounds have been completed in 2024 and it’s been unmissable so far, but who’s coming out on top against their teammates?
It’s still relatively early days in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, with three rounds and nine races in the history books, and a picture of how riders stack up against their teammate is clearing up. There’s now no rider who has a whitewash against their teammate in races thanks to events in the Netherlands, with close battles shaping up for 2024.
BAUTISTA PULLS CLEAR: 7-2 up against his rookie teammate
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) enjoyed a strong start to his maiden WorldSBK campaign, but teammate Alvaro Bautista has moved clear now. The reigning Champion leads Bulega 7-2 in races, although ‘Bulegas’ has a 3-0 lead in Tissot Superpole sessions. In Superpole, Bulega has held a minimum seven tenths advantage over his teammate – the closest they were in terms of time was 0.706s apart – and this shows in their average position: 9.00 (before penalties) for Bautista, 1.67 for Bulega. In races, it’s much closer, with Bautista averaging 3.78 and Bulega 4.33.
RAZGATLIGOLU LEADS BMW’S CHARGE: three wins, six podiums for ‘El Turco’
It’s been a sensational start to life at BMW for Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and that shows in the head-to-head data. He’s 7-2 up against teammate Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with the Dutchman finishing ahead when Razgatlioglu had his technical problem and also in the Tissot Superpole Race in the Netherlands. The Turk also leads van der Mark 3-0 in Superpole. Razgatlioglu’s ninth place in the Superpole Race at Assen is his lowest finish for the German manufacturer, but his average finishing position is still 3.13 – the highest on the grid.
ADVANTAGE, ALEX LOWES: the #22 with the biggest lead over his teammate
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has embraced his new role as KRT’s team leader and holds an 8-1 lead over new teammate Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), with ‘El Bocia’ ahead in Race 2 in the Netherlands when Lowes crashed out. The #22 only has one result outside of the top six – the aforementioned race – recording an average finishing position of 3.88, while Bassani’s average is 12.25. Lowes also leads 3-0 in Superpole sessions, with an average position of 5.00 compared to Bassani’s 15.33.
LOCATELLI LEADS, REA MAKING GAINS: closing up at Yamaha
Andrea Locatelli enjoyed a strong start to 2024 with two podiums in Australia, and he still leads the Pata Prometeon Yamaha battle over teammate Jonathan Rea – but it’s closing up. ‘Loka’ leads 6-3 in races and 2-1 in Superpole, with Rea ahead when setting the grid thanks to his Dutch pole position. Rea’s average finishing position is closing in on 10.00, currently at 12.25, with the average taking a hit after coming home 19th when he was caught up in someone else’s accident in Race 2 at Assen. Locatelli’s average finish is 6.63 but, in Superpole, they’re evenly matched: both averaging 8.33.
STRUGGLES AT HONDA: one top-ten finish, only Barcelona compared
With Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) ruled out of action for Australia and the Netherlands, it’s only fair to look at the Catalunya Round when comparing him to Xavi Vierge. The #97 leads Lecuona 2-1 in races, with Lecuona 1-0 up in Superpole and, as usual, their gap is very close. In Barcelona, only 0.020s separated the duo in the Superpole results. Honda’s best result in 2024 is tenth, on three occasions courtesy of Vierge, with his average finishing position 12.22 and Lecuona’s 17.00 (Vierge’s average includes the rounds Lecuona has missed).
THE NEW ERA CONTINUES: follow every moment from 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
