‘So happy’ Scott Redding sets sights on 2020 WorldSBK title

Scott Redding has revealed he is ‘so happy’ to be stepping up to the World Superbike Championship in 2020 after sealing his move to the factory Aruba.it Ducati team from the British series.

The ex-MotoGP rider, who started 90 premier class races between 2014 and 2018, switched to the British Superbike Championship in 2019 and has quickly adapted to the rigours of the series, collecting six wins from the eight rounds thus far.

Redding’s move to the world championship in 2020 has been expected in recent weeks after it became increasingly clear Alvaro Bautista – who has already won 14 WorldSBK races with Ducati in his first season of Superbike racing – would not be accepting its extension for next year.

Prompting Ducati to namecheck Redding specifically last month, the deal is likely to be the first of several big moves occurring for WorldSBK 2020 including Bautista to Honda, Toprak Razgatlioglu to Yamaha and possibly Alex Lowes to Kawasaki or Honda – CLICK for more.

Finally a World Championship title for Scott Redding?

For Redding, he is simply pleased to be getting back on the world stage and – unlike his time in MotoGP – do so with a team capable of challenging for the title.

“I’m so happy to join the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team, which is something that I’ve wanted for a long time, because to be able to work with a team that can fight for a world title is really a great opportunity for me. 

“Obviously now I have to remain fully focused on the British Superbike Championship, because I want to try and win that title with the Be Wiser Ducati before stepping back up to a world championship again. 

“A big thanks to all those people who have helped to make this dream happen, and now I can’t wait to get on the factory Panigale V4 R bike in the World Superbike Championship.”

Despite his longevity on the world stage – which stretches back to 2008 when he made his 125GP debut – Redding is yet to win a world title, even if he came close in 2013 at Moto2 level.

The latest BSB star to take on the world

However, Redding is just the latest in a string of high-profile British riders finding a home in WorldSBK, many of whom have done so via BSB.

Five of the current top eight WorldSBK riders hail from the UK, four of which – Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes, Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes – came directly from BSB. Moreover, the last seven title winners – split between Rea, Sykes and Sylvain Guintoli – joined from the British series.

Redding’s biggest challenge, however, will come down to how he adapts to the same Ducati Panigale V4R bike but mated to an electronics package this time. It’s a factor that has hampered Leon Haslam this year, the 2018 BSB champion struggling with elements of the factory KRT Kawasaki ZX-10RR, most notably under braking.

As for MotoGP, whether this move paves a way back to the top-flight in 2020 will depend on whether he can exert that same kind of dominance Bautista exerted early on in the season. That said, whilst Redding has made his world championship vision clear during his BSB tenure, a return to MotoGP hasn’t been specifically on his radar. 

Indeed, it is understood Bautista’s decision to leave a potential title-winning berth at Ducati is because Honda can guarantee him a return to MotoGP in 2021. By contrast, Ducati has few noticeable entry points on the horizon right now.