Opinion: 5 reasons why World Superbike will be the best motorsport series to follow in 2023

That time of year again folks; the 2023 World Superbike season is here, and it is back at the place we’ve become accustomed to seeing it start: Phillip Island. Some argue the best track in the world, others state the best setting, but with World Superbike on the upwards trend amongst motorcycle racing fans in recent years, great racing can be guaranteed. Whilst many fans will be familiar with WSBK, some other won’t, so here’s 5 reasons why it is completely unmissable.

It’s the best motorcycle racing on the world stage… by quite a long way

Whilst there is no doubt that MotoGP is the pinnacle of the sport in terms of glam, money, spectacle and technological development, no series currently has better racing, stronger characters and quirky circuits than WSBK. Alvaro Bautista – the reigning Champion – vs Toprak Razgatlioglu – the one who ended Jonathan Rea’s stranglehold – and Rea himself – the most successful WSBK rider ever. Three different riders and personalities, on three different bikes and from three different countries and somehow, a lot of the time, all aiming for the same piece of track on the last lap. It’s the greatest three-way rivalry ever seen; nothing else have been so fuelled with drama, controversy and intent. Then add in the likes of BMW’s Scott Redding, Honda’s Iker Lecuona and the occasional appearance of Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Andrea Locatelli, not to mention a raft of Independent stars such as cool dude Axel Bassani, and it’s got it all. Everyone at home can pick someone to support – not the same in MotoGP, which seems lack strong characters and instead has a sanitised feel.

The headlining rookies – Gardner, Petrucci, Aegerter, Ray, Baldassarri and Granado

Truly international and spread across three continents, is this perhaps the strongest WSBK rookie line-up. You can let us know in the comments, but we believe it is up there. Remy Gardner is an ex-world champion in Moto2, Danilo Petrucci has 2 GP wins to his name with Ducati, Aegerter is the reigning double Supersport king, Brad Ray’s dream shot has been granted and is reigning BSB champion, Lorenzo Baldassarri is a multiple winner in Moto2 and current World Supersport runner-up and Eric Granado has MotoE wins to his name. All will hope to make their mark and even amongst them, different countries are represented and each one has their own personality, for those at home or trackside to cheer. We’re partisan here at Motorsport Radio, so we’re gunning for the kid from Lydd – can Ray shine?

WSBK is in a second golden era, be part of history

Not our words, their words and rightly so too. World Superbikes really has come back to life in the last four years. 2019 was a real turning point and with bigger names coming in and home-grown talent rising up, the spectacle on track has been stunning. Year on year, we’re seeing more people choose the WSBK event instead of its pricey big Grand Prix brother. Donington Park’s atmosphere was fever pitch last year with a wall of people lining the circuit down the Craner Curves, whilst Misano was chaos as Ducati did the double. It’s like being in the 1990s all over again… tell us if you think it is better.

Value for money – better racing, for less and more access

A key as to why World Superbikes is reviving is because it’s not ridiculously priced. 65 smackers at Donington Park for three day roaming admission (not grandstands) and paddock access to some of the biggest names in the sport – all of which will happily oblige to selfies, autographs and more – is stunning value. For just the main Sunday race day, it is 42 quid but even that is good value. You can enjoy the paddock show hosted by Michael Hill, meet and greet all the riders you want and a whole lot more on top. In MotoGP, you’re lucky to be in the paddock – but that’s also fine, it is the pinnacle and having that premium, exclusive access makes it even more ‘VIP feel’.

It’s unpredictable… in the right way

MotoGP’s selling point is that ‘anyone can win’ and that’s great for each round and it’s great in terms of everyone on that grid has the opportunity. In World Superbike, it is also unpredictable, but in the way that MotoGP was back in 2015/2016. The big household names can win, but you really don’t know which ones. Last year’s ‘titanic trio’, as they were marketed, put on a spectacular show, with Bautista, Razgatlioglu and Rea colliding with each other, post-race fallout (Razgatlioglu declaring he’s talking “reality” after his Assen clash with Rea, Bautista slamming the Ulsterman as “not a real Champion” after his clash with him at Magny-Cours, and Rea responding to the Spaniard by saying “we’re not best friends”) and the sheer intensity of the rivalry are all what fans want. They want to see a continuous narrative and a storyline, but not knowing which key character will succeed this time. In 2022, WorldSBK had six final lap deciders from the opening nine races – MotoGP had one all year and the first since Aragon in 2021.

So, how can you watch? The WorldSBK media team recently published a PR about broadcasters around the world and how to watch, so if you’re abroad, click here to find out. For us in the UK, it’s easy: Eurosport have the live rights, so join Greg Haines and James Toseland in the commentary box and Matt Roberts and his guests in the studio throughout the entirety of the season. However, for free and comprehensive highlights every Tuesday after the round at 8pm UK time, check-in to ITV4 and join World Feed commentators Alex Raby and Steve English, along with Kiko Giles, and catch-up quickly on all the best moments. Alternatively ,to all of that, World Superbikes in-house VideoPass is only 69.90 and for that, you get all live sessions and races throughout the year. 36 WorldSBK races, 24 World Supersport and 24 Supersport 300 races: 84 races. That works out at 0.83 European cent a race. And on top of that, you get a myriad of classic races from the first golden era, behind-the-scenes fallout from each round (check out the Unfiltered series) and all highlights and races OnDemand and wherever you are.

Image credit: WorldSBK.com