Axel Bassani joins Ducati ranks as 2021 WorldSBK grid grows to

Axel Bassani is the latest rider to join a growing 2021 WorldSBK Championship grid after penning a deal to join the Motocorsa Racing Ducati team.

The 21-year old will become one of the youngest riders on the WorldSBK grid this season but has amassed experience from competing in both WorldSSP and the Italian CIV Superbike series in recent years, plus outings at Superstock and Moto2 level.

A triple podium winner in the CIV Superbike series, Bassani competed with Soradis Yamaha Motoxracing for his first full season of WorldSSP in 2020, collecting a best finish of eighth in Estoril.

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Having been enlisted by Motocorsa Racing to conduct a post-season test at Estoril, the Italian will now get a full season in WorldSBK, becoming the fifth rider from WorldSSP to make the step up to WorldSBK in 2021.

Motocorsa Racing made its WorldSBK debut in 2020 with Leandro Mercado, the Argentine notching up a best of two tenth place results during an injury-hampered campaign.

With a year of experience now under Motocorsa’s belt, team manager Lorenzo Mauri says he wants to harness that knowledge and apply it to developing fresh Italian talent.

“I am firmly convinced and aware as well as enthusiastic about the great challenge that we will face, as a team and as a rider, competing with official and independent teams with a wealth of important experience resulting from years of participation in the Superbike World Championship. 

“Being a young rookie in the WorldSBK category, we will give you all our commitment, a child of our philosophy of life (always give 110% and try to make the impossible possible). 

“It will be a Championship that will see us grow from race to race, increasing the harmony between the already tested working group with which we have been collaborating for several years and I will put myself at your disposal with all my commitment and experience both on the track and inside the garage.

“There would have been easier ways to go but our character leads us to accept with passion the most difficult challenges, such as taking a rookie and throwing him into the fray. 

“I had the opportunity to see Axel's approach to riding in a short test held last season at the Estoril circuit and I saw in his eyes the hunger to learn and a desire to grow truly out of the ordinary. This is why I decided that he was the right rider for next season, I confirm the most difficult road.”

2021 WorldSBK Championship grid (so far)