'My riding style is still influenced by Superbikes' - Rinaldi continues to adapt to the Yamaha R9

01/28/2025 04:27 AM

Following on from seven years in World Superbikes Michael Ruben Rinaldi will ride in World Supersport in 2025.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi decided to take a step back from World Superbikes to World Supersport for 2025. After completing 222 races with Ducati the Italian will slot into Yamaha's increased World Supersport efforts.

After a previous test at Jerez with his new GMT94 Yamaha World Supersport squad Rinaldi will be back on track this week in Portimao.

"Of course, I expected that my new bike would have significantly less power and require a different riding style. When I rode it for the first time in Jerez, both of these things were confirmed. But it feels good," Rinaldi told Speedweek.com.

"The engine power is lower, but you feel in corners that you could have driven faster. That's the different riding style in this category. After two or three runs I started to get used to it, but it's a process. I'll need a few more kilometres to adapt perfectly and increase the cornering speed. Nevertheless, it was a good start with the Yamaha.

"At the moment I'm just concentrating on myself. My riding style is still too influenced by Superbike, but I'm making progress. The team has no problem with me constantly wanting to change little things. In Australia, but probably not until Portimão, we'll see where we stand."

Rinaldi has only ridden for Italian teams during his time in the World Superbike paddock. But Rinaldi will have a new challenge in 2025 as he joins a French squad.

The 29-year-old will also have a new crew chief for this season as he links up with Andrew Pitt. The Australian two-time World Supersport Champion worked with Jonathan Rea in 2024. However, after a difficult year with the six-time Champion, the 48-year-old will now return to World Supersport.

"After many years in Italian teams, I now have a lot of French people around me. However, my crew chief is Andrew Pitt, an Australian," revealed Rinaldi.

"Andrew has many years of experience and is under contract directly with Yamaha. He also speaks Italian, but we speak English to each other within the team. They all gave me a very warm welcome, but they do their work very methodically and professionally, which I like."

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