Superbike Racing Legends: Profiles Of The Greats
Superbike Racing Legends: Profiles Of The Greats – 950 races means 950 stories, battles, victory celebrations, magical moments, ‘what could have been’ for some, disappointment and frustration. Race 2 marked a huge moment in the history of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, with the 950
The race is an absolute belter from start to finish at the TT Circuit Assen. In this feature, we’ll break down the eras in a different way, with a special focus on the modern era and the current generation of riders.
Superbike Racing Legends: Profiles Of The Greats
Fred Merkel, Raymond Roche and Doug Pollan were the early leaders of the championship, winning the first five titles between them as they found their feet in the world of motorsport. This new exciting racing brand has gone all over the world from the UK to New Zealand, Canada to Australia and everywhere in between. At the end of this five-year period, a rider appeared and a new era was about to begin in Carl Fogarty.
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Carl Fogarty has become the poster boy of motorcycle racing, not just of world superbikes; One of Ducati’s first legends and one of Britain’s biggest sporting names, the Englishman packed the grandstands, raced harder than any of his predecessors and had some of the spiciest rivalries in the sport’s history, namely Aaron Slight, John Kosinski and Pierfrancesco Chili. All but a few are named. World Superbike’s first golden era saw Fogatti win four titles with Ducati in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999, held off by Corsair and Kosinski in 1996 and 1997 respectively. By the late 90s, with close to 300 races, it was the purest motorsport around, but at the turn of the millennium a new breed began to emerge.
Colin Edwards, Noriyuki Haga, Corser, Chilli and others had been around for a while, but for the 2000 season they all jumped on new bikes and the new sound of superbike. Troy Bayliss was the new kid on the block and tore up the form guide immediately after coming on full-time to replace Fogarty, whose career ended after a crash in Australia. Bayliss’s addition to the championship would become one of the greatest rivalries of all time with Edwards, and they did it in style, building to the crescendo of Imola in 2002 – one of the championship’s most famous races. During this period, Neil Hodgson found a second wind and would become champion in 2003, while James Tosland became the youngest player to win the title in 2004. Producer support returned in 2005 and Troy Corser returned to his best form. With Suzuki. After a spell in MotoGP™, Bayliss returned and took the title in 2006, before Tosland doubled up for Ten Kate Racing in 2007.
2009 was a big generational change; Ben Spies came to Yamaha as a rookie, with his own crew chief from America, Tom Houseworth – denying Haga an elusive first title in a classic year. A year later Max Biaggi and Aprilia once again ruled the world ahead of Carlos. 2011 was a good year for Cheka. ‘Roman Emperor’ Biagi won in 2012 by just half a point from Tom Sykes, who won in 2013 and would go on to finish second to Sylvain Guintoli in a tense 2014 battle. However, Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki’s era has risen to great form since 2015 and he has won title after title after battling against Chas Davies and Ducati. A fourth title in 2018 saw him become the first since ‘Foggy’ to do so, albeit consecutively this time. He also set a new winning record, but things were going to be different from 2019 onwards.
In 2019, MotoGP™ star Alvaro Bautista joins the family and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team; He won the first 11 races and was in contention for the title before a series of crashes and injuries saw him overtaken by Rea, who claimed a fifth title. The Ulsterman won that title at Magny-Cours, where another star really emerged: Toprak Rasgatlioglu. Already an STK600 champion and podium finisher, Razgatlioglu won Race 1 (of the 800thrace) and the Superpole race – new for 2019 – from 16th to win an epic last-lap battle.
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On the grid. A monster unleashed and Toprak was soon on his way to Yamaha, where the gloves would really come off.
Toprac, who won his first race for the Japanese manufacturer in Australia and Race 1 in 2020 at Phillip Island, will not make a title charge as he adapts to the bike, but is back on track at the end of the year. After parting ways with Ducati, Alvaro Bautista struggled on Honda, while Scott Redding replaced him on Ducati and fought for the title until the final round, eventually beating Rea and Kawasaki, who won the sixth and final title together. However, 2021 was different and Toprak and Yamaha rewrote what was possible in terms of battle. An emotional showdown in Indonesia saw the Turkish rider crowned for the first time after a season-long battle with Riya. One of the best seasons and tough competition knowing what’s to come.
With Alvaro Bautista back on the Ducati, Rasgatlioglu and Rea on the Yamaha and Kawasaki, we were in for a proper treat. A particular highlight of the merciless battle and ‘never say never’ racing at Estor in 2022, the three hit each other like we’ve never seen before. Reaching the 900th race in Race 1 at Mandalika, Rasgatlioglu won again to keep his title hopes alive, but it was Bautista who claimed the title in Race 2, 16 years after his first title in the 125cc championship. In 2023 Bautista successfully defended against Rasgatlioglu wearing the #1 plate and the two fought harder than they had ever seen before. For the most part, Portimão and Jerezal captured everyone’s emotions and provided the best motorcycle racing ever seen in this championship. And beyond that. By the end of 2023, everything had changed to stop Bautista.
With weight rules coming in to balance performance, Toprak’s bold move to BMW and Rhea’s move to Yamaha after Kawasaki’s unprecedented success in 2024 was always going to be spectacular. Add in the return of Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), the graduation of Niccolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and the additions of Sam Lowes and the ELF marque VDS Racing team, and can’t see how. play So far, we’ve had five different winners, eight different riders on the podium, three last-lap battles for the win, new race winners and a return to the top for BMW – we’ve only had three rounds and nine races. 2024 is off the charts, with the most emotional stories, toughest racing and craziest finishes we’ve ever seen. Six points separate championship leader Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu, with newcomer Nicolo Bulega third. We’re in a truly unmissable grandstand finish.
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He loves classic bikes and classic bike racing… Guy (and Philip McCollen) will be attending the International Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford in April.
As TT time approaches, Carl Fogarty – four-time World Superbike Champion and King of the Jungle – explains why his TT race wins and why the TT F1 World Championships mean so much to him.
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Mike ‘Spike’ Edwards bought a bike from his mate Barry who sadly passed away. He intends to build a racer out of this commuter road bike – but first a baptism of fire on the track in a CB500 race machine.
Ducati’s very own ‘dustbin’ of the mid to late 1950s, Bialbero, comes from the lens of Phil Ainslie in these beautiful shots.
A subscription to Classic Racer Magazine means you can enjoy all of the above, plus great savings on cover price and free postage. Some highlights from one of the most well-known Ducati racers out there.
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