Ducati outline 2022 WorldSBK and WorldSSP plans with factory riders

Ducati assault for 2022 WorldSBK

Factory Ducati World Superbike riders Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi were joined by World Supersport entrant Nicolò Bulega this week at Misano for the official presentation of Ducati’s attack plans for the 2022 World Superbike and Supersport Championships.

Stefano Cecconi -m CEO Aruba S.p.A. and Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“We look at the 2022 WorldSBK season with high ambition and strong determination. The goal of our team is to always take a step forward, year after year, in terms of performance and results. This is the reason why we are proud to represent Ducati in the World Superbike Championship, feeling the presence and passion of the Ducatista people on every circuit. We have bet on Alvaro Bautista’s return and we want to fight with him a more exciting season than the 2019, which gave us great satisfactions after all. We firmly believe in Michael Rinaldi and we reckon he is ready to take that significant step forward after the steady growth he has shown so far. Moreover, as Aruba.it Racing, we will be protagonists of a new adventure with Nicolò Bulega and the Ducati Panigale V2 in the SuperSport World Championship. Another fascinating challenge that underlines our growing commitment. I would like to wish the best of luck to the riders and to all the members of our teams, whose sense of belonging makes us proud and pushes us to give more and more every year“.

Bautista delivered Ducati 11 wins in a row at the start of the 2019 season but was still pipped at the post by Jonathan Rea for the Championship. The Spaniard then headed to HRC but after a lean couple of years with Honda Bautista is now back to with the team that he experienced his most success with.

Luigi Dall’Igna – Ducati Corse General Manager

“The level of WorldSBK is growing every year, as well as the competition. Obviously, this doesn’t scare us, and on the contrary, it pushes us to give more and more, work more carefully and focus on every single detail. In the 2021 World Championship, our team was the only one to have won at least one race with both riders, and this confirms the potential of the Panigale V4R. To achieve our most important goal, we rely on Alvaro Bautista’s return – who needs no introduction – and Michael Rinaldi’s desire to impress. In addition, in the 2022 season, we will also be competing in the World Supersport Championship with the Panigale V2. It’s a fascinating challenge that underlines Ducati’s deep commitment to the world of production-based racing.”

Alongside Alvaro Bautista in World Superbike will be Michael Ruben Rinaldi, and the news doesn’t end there as Ducati makes their return to the World Supersport Championship for the first time in more than 15 years.

Claudio Domenicali – Chief Executive Officer Ducati Motor Holding

“We share values, skills, goals, targets with Aruba.it. Plus, we both believe in the importance of innovation and technology. Aruba.it is a strategic partner, on and off the track, and we are happy to start another season together in the WorldSBK Championship, the most important production-based racing Championship. The bikes our fans can buy are as close as possible to the bikes that race track like the Panigale V4 and, from this year, the Panigale V2 that will make its debut in the World Supersport Championship. This is our philosophy of putting racing technology at the service of our passionate and sporty customers. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is a perfect mix of experience and enthusiasm thanks to the return of Alvaro Bautista and the confirmation of Michael Ruben Rinaldi. I wish them and the whole team the best of luck for the 2022 season.”

Nicolò Bulega will make his debut in the World Supersport Championship, riding the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team.

Nicolò Bulega

“I’m very motivated for this new adventure. It’s a great opportunity for me and I feel I have all the requirements to do well. The tests have been very positive, I felt comfortable both with the Panigale V2 and with the team, which is very important to me. It’s going to be a tough season for sure and for this reason we need to put our heads together and try to get the most out of every single race“.

Ducati have only once won the World Supersport Championship, and that victory came in the series’ inaugural year back in 1997 with a 748 in the hands of Paolo Casoli.

WorldSBK Entry List

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WorldSSP Entry List

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2022 WorldSBK Calendar

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