Michael RubenRinaldi

Michael Ruben Rinaldi faces his sixth season – fifth full-time – in the World Superbike Championship and for the first time in his career, remains with the same team for a third season. He stays with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team and, after taking fourth place in the 2022 Championship, will be looking to crack the top three in 2023. Three wins for the factory Ducati team, all from 2021, and four podiums from 2022 gives him a solid foundation to build on.

First joining the WorldSBK paddock in 2014, Rinaldi joined the European Superstock 600 class taking a best result of fifth around his home circuit of Imola. Rinaldi made the switch from Yamaha to Kawasaki for the 2015 season and took his first win at Jerez.

Making the step up into the European Superstock 1000 class for 2016, Rinaldi was able to learn a lot in his rookie season, before securing the European Superstock 1000 title in 2017 with four victories overall.

In 2018, the Italian rider moved up to WorldSBK with the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team, showing promising performances in the European rounds, before he took part in the full 2019 season with Independent Champions Barni Racing. A best result of fourth saw Rinaldi take 13th in the championship standings, before making the switch to Team Goeleven for 2020.

A stunning race win during the Teruel Round at MotorLand Aragon showed Rinaldi as a real talent and three further wins in 2021 – including two at home at Misano – demonstrated that on his day, he’s untouchable. Rinaldi’s aim in 2022 will be to have ‘his day’ more often and fight for the title and stand on the shoulders of WorldSBK’s giants.