Having reached mid-season, there are almost more doubts than certainties about what the World Superbike grid will look like in 2025. The biggest unknown is always represented by the future of Alvaro Bautista, still nebulous on the eve of the appointment in Most. Retirement, or renewal with Ducati? This is the big question that the Spanish rider himself, to date, does not seem to be able to answer and that could continue to hold the market in check even after WDW, held in Misano over the weekend of July 26-28.
Official ambitions for Iannone
While Bautista is wondering whether the time has come to devote himself to his family or to relaunch the challenge to Razgatlioglu, who is not too far behind, Andrea Iannone is pulling petals off the daisy, considering what to do should Alvaro hold on to the factory seat. A place also coveted by Danilo Petrucci but which, barring twists and turns such as a resounding promotion of Adrian Huertas, should go to the Vasto rider ahead of a step back by the two-time world champion.
What if instead Bautista stays where he is? There would be several and varied scenarios that could open in front of this possibility. First and foremost, it cannot be ruled out that The Maniac remains another year with the GoEleven team, perhaps with a factory Ducati and the official support of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer. Iannone himself, on the other hand, also reiterated at Donington that he wants an official package in 2025, even opening up to his arrival at Yamaha or Honda in order to achieve the goal. Two very unlikely destinations for Andrea, but potentially feasible.
In contrast to Rea and Locatelli, who already have a contract for 2025, both Aegerter and Gardner's are expiring at the end of the season and the Swiss's reappointment, at the moment, does not seem as obvious as the Australian's. It is a different matter regarding Honda, which, although it has an agreement with Lecuona and Vierge for next year, is considering other options to try to recover from these years of crisis.
Gerloff is looking for a seat, what about Redding?
Needless to say, if the Abruzzo rider were to switch to red, or migrate to other shores, the GoEleven team would need a new rider. A good candidate might be Garrett Gerloff, looking for a ride after the Bonovo Action team's exit from the scene. But the Ramello family could also think about a more "heavyweight" rider like his current teammate, Scott Redding. Fantasy market? Maybe so, but not necessarily.
Despite having an option in his favor with BMW, as things stand, the 31-year-old is also without a seat; at least in Superbike. Having halved the Bavarian manufacturer's commitment to the premier class of production-based racing, Redding's only opportunity to continue on an M 1000 RR in 2025 would be to take on the role of a reserve rider, or to have the German manufacturer divert him to a championship such as BSB or IDM. Or, he would have to opt for contract termination and try to relaunch himself in SBK with another bike. In this case a Ducati, which he not only already knows but with which he was also fighting for the title in the two-year period with Aruba.
Still to be decided for Rinaldi, Ducati and Yamaha.
Staying on the subject of Ducati, the future of Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who seems to be heading toward separation from Motocorsa after this disastrous first half of the season, is still to be written. Having failed in the marriage to Lorenzo Mauri's team, which might in turn give some thought to Gerloff, the Romagna native is considering embracing a bluer challenge by looking at a Yamaha. Irrespective of the place that could be vacated by GRT, it must be said that Bradley Ray's uninspiring results this year raise big doubts about the continuation of the association between the 27-year-old Briton and Motoxracing, which could dissolve at the end of the season.
Line-up changes are also in sight for Yamaha's second satellite team, GMT94. Indeed, Philipp Oettl seems to be in contention for the Ducati with which the MGM Racing team aims to remain in Superbike after Bonovo's farewell. It should not be forgotten that there could be as many as three more Panigale V4s on the grid next season. As we had already anticipated, in addition to the project Michael Galinski is working on, it seems that the JDT Racing Team is working on a permanent arrival in the World Championship and wants to test the ground with a wild-card entry with Hafizh Syahrin in Portimao. Two-bike possibility, on the other hand, for the Barni Spark Racing team, which is thinking of doubling down on its commitment in the premier class, in order to get Yari Montella to make the jump in the category.
However, the roads leading to an R1 are not the only ones viable for Rinaldi, who also seems to have a green option ahead of him. In fact, the Rimini native has spoken with Manuel Puccetti about riding the Emilian team's Kawasaki ZX-10RR. The only team to field a Ninja next season. In short, there is a lot of meat on the barbecue and it is fair to expect some surprises, as soon as the fog begins to clear on Bautista's future.