WorldSBK’ s only American rider at this very moment is a serial podium finisher and a rider about to crack the barrier of 200 individual WorldSBK race starts this very weekend in Australia.
There is no mistaking the spangles in the well-travelled Texan’ s banner when he tries to work out who the best-ofthe-WorldSBK-best-ever was.
“ For me, I’ ve always looked up to Americans that have taken the leap of faith to go race in the World Championship and come out on top in the end,” said the 30-year-old double MotoAmerica Supersport champion.“ It’ s not easy to leave everything that you know and all the people you love for a strange new land. And it’ s even more impressive to me to have done it in the past when technology wasn’ t at the level that it’ s at now. I don’ t know what I would do without GPS and a language translator! So, for those reasons, my top three has to be Scott Russell, Colin Edwards, and Ben Spies. They overcame a lot and put the American flag back on top of the championship.”
There is also an American element to his choice of the best era before the current one, as he was clearly inspired to go racing at a global level after watching two titans, from two established WorldSBK manufacturers, go at it at the turn of the millennium.
GARRETT GERLOFF Kawasaki WorldSBK Team
Still a force to be reckoned with, especially as the lone official Kawasaki rider again in 2026, Garrett is quite definitive of what his most personally satisfying / impactful / memorable time has been in his previous WorldSBK seasons! It was in 2023, with the Bonovo Action BMW team.
“ I think my best memory was during the 2023 season as a whole. I had just left one manufacturer after a tough 2022 season and felt like I had a fresh start with a new bike and team for 2023. Just having that clear slate meant a lot to me- like I had a weight lifted off my shoulders!”
Two of Garrett’ s eight podium finishes so far came in that private team with official support, but it seems that he has opted to remember things most fondly for the personal, as much as the sporting experiences. Maybe because it reminded him of early days and less stressful times?
“ I felt like I was back in my amateur days, showing up to the track with a trailer, a bike, and my dad,” said Gerloff.“ It was no stress and we all felt this underdog mentality of no expectations. So, it was like, every time we had even a half-decent result it was like we had won a race. And, while having fun, we also managed to have a couple of podiums and a pole position, which no one expected.”
BEST OF THE BEST
He stated,“ I would say that the golden era of WorldSBK for me was Colin Edwards versus Troy Bayliss. I grew up watching DVDs of those seasons, and it really stuck with me over the years. And the field was deep! I don’ t know if that is the true golden era of the championship, but that’ s the era that I grew up watching, and it made a big impression on me.”
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