'My only goal is to keep progressing with the team' - Vickers discusses his first WorldSBK Test and looks ahead to his rookie season

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11/08/2024 03:03 AM

After a successful test in Jerez Ryan Vickers previewed his rookie World Superbike season at EICMA.

Ryan Vickers will compete in the World Superbike Championship in the 2025 season. The British rider graduated from British Superbikes and was signed by Motocorsa Racing for next year.

The Italian team and British rider have already had a chance to link up on track. Vickers was present at the two-day test in Jerez on his Ducati Panigale V4 R World Superbike machine. It was at this test that the 25-year-old turned some heads as he put in competitive lap times.

"My first thoughts with the team and the bike were amazing," Vickers told WorldSBK.com at EICMA. "They welcomed me extremely well, taught me how to ride the Ducati and introduced me to the electronics. I did not expect to arrive at the level that we did straight away. I was really, really happy the two days of testing were fantastic, the weather was amazing and it was a great time for me to get used to the team and the way of working. Now I am really excited for our next test in January."

Vickers ended the 2024 British Superbike season in fifth place with OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing. At EICMA Vickers was asked how his move came about as it was a deal that caught many people by surprise.

"Things have got to happen and things have got to go in line," Vickers stated. "The opportunity came about because I was at the right point in my career to progress to World Superbikes, they were finishing their partnership with Michael Ruben Rinaldi. They wanted a young rider that they could progress like they did with Axel Bassani, I think the team do an amazing job of this. I am super excited to be joining a team that have shown that they can progress a young rider and bring a young rider on."

'I think I would be silly to suggest a position.'

With the big step from British Superbikes to World Superbikes Vickers has not set himself a target. The World Superbike rookie explained that it would be 'silly' to set himself a position for his rookie season.

"It is always difficult as a rookie," Vickers explained. "I think I would be silly to suggest a position or something like that. There are a lot of new circuits for me, some of the rookies this year already knew them. I have got a lot of learning to do, but I am with a great team. My only goal is to keep progressing with the team and bike, I am sure throughout the year we will get some amazing results. We have shown that we have arrived at a pretty high level already so I am pretty happy with that. Jerez was a good test to me because it was a new circuit to me, I had only been once five years ago and I only did one day."

Vickers will ride a new bike and make his debut around new circuits in his rookie season. The British rider stated that he was looking forward to his debut at Phillip Island. But also his first World Superbike appearance at home at Donington Park.

"It is really difficult all of the circuits look amazing," said Vickers. "I am really looking forward to Australia, it is my first international race. The other circuits in Europe as well, Assen and Donington, even though I have ridden there a lot I cant wait to ride there on a World Superbike Ducati. There are many circuits I want to tick off the list, and I think I am going to enjoy all of them in their own way."

The post 'My only goal is to keep progressing with the team' - Vickers discusses his first WorldSBK Test and looks ahead to his rookie season appeared first on BikeSport News.