AXEL BASSANI

Another product of national racing and the junior classes inside WorldSBK, Bassani was rated a simply as good rider until he was the somewhat surprising pick for the Motocorsa WorldSBK team’ s foray into WorldSBK with Ducati privateer machinery in 2021. Axel would go on to score podiums and become the top Independent Rider more than once before joining KRT last season. His first year as a factory rider was a tough lesson in some regards, but a true learning experience. On the new Bimota KB998 for 2025? Anything seems possible for a rider who starts this season at 25 years of age.

ANDREA LOCATELLI

Another rider to have arrived in WorldSBK from an early career in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes,‘ Loka’ was an astoundingly effective first-time WorldSSP Champion for Yamaha in the 2020 season. An immediate promotion to the full works Yamaha WorldSBK team in 2021 saw him finish fourth overall. Until a tough 2024 season, when he finished seventh, he had been a top five finisher each year. He enters this season with 18 podiums so far, but a burning desire to join the race winner’ s club after a few close calls in recent years. A truly professional rider and a very deep thinker.

WorldSBK RIDERS 15