Manzi and more: the SSP market in its closing stages

While the 2023 grid is now as good as complete in Superbike, with only the TPR by Vinales and Orelac teams still to confirm their riders, the situation in Supersport is slightly different, given that the two top teams are yet to complete their line-ups for next season.

We’re talking about Ten Kate and Evan Bros, both of which have already announced their first riders but not their second. Although we shouldn’t take much notice of the term ‘second rider’, particularly in the case of the Dutch team, the current champions, who dream of flanking the already announced Jorge Navarro with another top rider like Stefano Manzi. There are difficulties though, not least financial which, combined with the lack of time, makes the operation possible but complicated.

The Italian team is also short on time, so much so that Andrea Mantovani may be its only rider this season, a little like Andrea Locatelli in 2020, when the Italian scored the world title. As for the other Italian teams, the situation appears much clearer for Althea and Aruba, who have opted for continuity and retain Federico Caricasulo and Nicolò Bulega respectively.

 

New teams and riders on the horizon

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Team Puccetti has reconfirmed one of its riders, continuing with Can Oncu in 2023 but not with Yari Montella, who moves to team Barni’s Ducati. The latter will likely support a new structure headed up by Vincenzo Scandizzo – Vince64 – and represented on track by John Mcphee. This is likely but not yet official, like Simone Corsi’s debut in the category aboard the Team AltoGo R6.

It’s a done deal in the MV Agusta camp, with the confirmation of Bahattin Sofuoglu and the arrival of Marcel Schrotter, who already debuted at the 2022 Phillip Island round and takes over from Niki Tuuli who, in turn, jumps to team Dynavolt Triumph. The VFT and D34G teams will each field two new riders. While Fabio Menghi’s team can count on Maiki Abe and three-time Italian champion Nicholas Spinelli, Davide Giugliano’s squad comprises Oli Bayliss and Maximilian Kofler, who have both experienced two tricky seasons aboard the Panigale V2.

The renewal between Orelac and Raffaele De Rosa is still to be confirmed, while Honda prepares to re-enter the category with the newly-created squad that will see the MIE and MS teams join forces and field riders Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin.

 

2023 SSP GRID (AS IT STANDS)

GMT94: Valentin Debise

Ten Kate Yamaha: Jorge Navarro, Stefano Manzi?

Arco University Yamaha: Alvaro Diaz

Evan Bros: Andrea Mantovani, ?

EAB: Glenn van Straalen

VFT: Nicholas Spinelli, Maiki Abe

Altogo: Simone Corsi

MV Agusta Reparto Corse: Marcel Schrötter, Bahattin Sofuoglu

Team Puccetti: Can Oncu

Vince 64: John McPhee ?

Motozoo: Luke Power, Tom Booth-Amos

Prodina: Yuta Okaya

MTM Kawasaki: Adrian Huertas

Dynavolt Triumph: Niki Tuuli, Harry Truelove                                                                                                                     

Aruba Ducati: Nicolo Bulega

Althea Racing: Federico Caricasulo

Orelac: Raffaele De Rosa?

D34G Ducati: Oli Bayliss , Max Kofler

Barni Spark Ducati: Yari Montella

MIE MS Honda: Tarran Mackenzie, Adam Norrodin