Yamaha, Kawasaki confirm 2022 WorldSBK launch dates

Yamaha and Kawasaki have officially confirmed their 2022 WorldSBK launch dates, with all three taking place next month. 

Honda became the first manufacturer to announce their 2022 bike launch with Team HRC revealing its CBR1000RR-R Fireblade on February 15th. 

Kawasaki, who are currently testing at Portimao alongside Yamaha and Ducati, will be the next factory team to unveil its 2022 ZX-10RR on March 23rd.

Pata Yamaha and GRT Yamaha will then follow suit by introducing their R1 bikes on March 25th-26th, which is the same two days as the Catalunya WorldSBK test. 

The only manufacturers yet to confirm their 2022 bike launch dates are Ducati and BMW. 

With GRT Yamaha announcing their launch date, it means riders Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane are part of the only ‘satellite’ team to have an official date confirmed thus far. 

Pata Yamaha’s bike presentation will see world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu introduce the #1 plate the first time. Whereas six-time world champion Jonathan Rea will be switching back to #65 for the first time since 2015. 

While both Razgatlioglu and Rea will take part in at least two tests before their official team presentations, the lone Dorna organised Superbike test comes at the beginning of April in Aragon (4-5), before the season opener kicks off at the same venue three days later (8-10). 

For reigning world champion Razgatlioglu, the pre-season testing schedule, plus whatever tests the team plans during the season won’t be his only testing this year as team director for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team, Massimo Meregalli, has confirmed that the Turkish sensations will be aboard an M1 in either June or August ahead of a potential switch to grand prix racing in 2023.