WSBK – Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape –

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Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape

WSBK - Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape -

Patrick Jacobsen in a new Honda team (TripleM), Roberto Rolfo on the new Suzuki (Grillini), Ondrej Jezek on a third Yamaha (Guandalini) … Site takes stock of the 2018 WorldSBK grid which is gradually being completed.

To date, November 30, 2017, fifteen drivers are guaranteed to compete in the which will start the weekend of February 24 and 25, 2018 on the magnificent track at the end of the world: Phillip Island, Australia.

Remember that the factory riders have all been returned to their posts: the triple n ° 1 Jonathan Rea and the n ° 66 Tom Sykes at Kawasaki, the n ° 7 Chaz Davies and the n ° 33 Marco Melandri at Ducati, the n # 22 Alex Lowes and # 60 Michael van der Mark at Yamaha.

Not yet registered but present during the first tests winter autumn, n ° 50 Eugene Laverty and n ° 32 Lorenzo Savadori will most certainly be kept within the "semi-official" Aprilia team..

WSBK - Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape -

No.12 Xavi Fores has extended his contract with the private Ducati Barni team, No.40 Roman Ramos has done the same with Kawasaki Go Eleven, Toprak Razgatlioglu will remain with Kawasaki Puccetti but will switch from Superstock to Superbike, and Leandro Mercado will trade his Aprilia IodaRacing against a Kawasaki Orelac…

At the same time, an interesting game of musical "saddles" was played between the n ° 2 Leon Camier, the n ° 81 Jordi Torres and a certain n ° 76: yes, Loris Baz! Our great pilot – by size and talent – has indeed abandoned the racing department of MV Agusta.

WSBK - Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape -

The readers of Site – who, as everyone knows, have a little more luck than the others -, know that the big one – too! – Leon Camier has meanwhile decided to. But he won’t be the only one riding a Fireblade.

While the name of the second driver in the team sponsored by Red Bull is slow to arrive, that of PJ Jacobsen has just appeared in front of a third and unexpected CBR1000RR SP2: the n ° 99 will ride for a new team !

WSBK - Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape -

Entered this year in Superstock 1000 with Kawasaki, the TripleM team will advance next year in WorldSBK with the solemn status of official Honda satellite team. Their bike will be entrusted to n ° 99 Patrick Jacobsen, the first American rider to win in World Supersport.

Vice-world champion WSSP in 2015 – on ZX-6R then CBR600RR! -, the New Yorker is looking to bounce back after his frustrating season on a performing F3 certainly – Cluzel had shown it in the past – but not reliable enough – Cluzel also endured it…

WSBK - Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape -

, the Suzuki Grillini team has announced the name of one of its two drivers for next year: the n ° 44 Roberto Rolfo. Winner of the 2017 opening round of Supersport – one thousandth of a second ahead of future champion Lucas Mahias! -, the Italian is back again (!) in the SBK category…

Vice-world champion (3rd in 2002), "Roby" should complete his fifth full season in World Superbike. In 2009 for lack of result, he had indeed jumped from the Honda Stiggy team. His first return to the WSBK in 2011 ended in an anonymous 18th place. We wish him better success on the new GSX-R1000.

WSBK - Jacobsen, Rolfo, Jezek: the 2018 World Superbike field takes shape -

Finally, the n ° 37 Ondrej Jezek will also leave for a round in WorldSBK. The Czech rider is leaving the Grillini team, which was preparing Kawasaki this season and with which he had scored 22 points, finishing second to last among the titular riders. Sixth in Superstock 1000 in 2013 and 2014 then fifth in 2015, he must be able to do better in Superbike !

Jezek will seek to improve in 2018 by installing himself at the helm of the Guandalini team’s R1, driven the first half of the 2017 season by Riccardo Russo (last of the holders with 13 points) then by Jakub Smrz, Massimo Roccoli and Alessandro Andreozzi . Will the new year be more stable and better? Answer on MNC: stay connected !

Pilot statements

Patrick Jacobsen, Honda # 99
"I’m very excited to make my World Superbike debut with the TripleM Honda WSBK team. It’s a great opportunity for me to finally race in this category and I want to thank the team and Honda for making this possible. The team and I will be beginners in Superbike so there will certainly be a lot to learn, but it’s a challenge that energizes me. I had enjoyed riding the Fireblade in Endurance there is two years old, and I love riding 1000cc motorcycles, so I can’t wait to try out the new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 ".

Roberto Rolfo, Suzuki n ° 44
"I’m happy to be back in WorldSBK. I’m very motivated to ride a Suzuki, a bike that I have always valued, but never had the chance to try. After a positive experience. in Qatar, I would like to thank Andrea Grillini for giving me this opportunity. During this last event, I evolved in a positive atmosphere driven by the desire to do well. It is very important for me to start the season of best of manners. I’m impatient to get back on track and find the right chemistry with the team! In the meantime, I got back to training to be in good shape for the first meeting in February ".

Ondrej Jezek, Yamaha n ° 37
"I am delighted to be joining the Guandalini Racing team for 2018. I would like to thank Mirco Guandalini for giving me this great opportunity. I know that the team had its best results with my friend Jakub Smrz a few years ago. It will not be easy to do it again, but we have all the cards in hand. The project for next year looks very interesting and a lot of work awaits us. I have never ridden a Yamaha, so I am already looking forward to realizing my first attempts ".

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