Bryan Staring signs with Desmosport Ducati for 2022 ASBK
DesmoSport Ducati will welcome Bryan Staring to the team for the 2022 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), following Oli Bayliss’s move to the World Supersport Championship in 2022 and the departure of two-time ASBK champion Mike Jones.
The 34-year-old from WA is an experienced racer, winning the Australian 125cc Championship in 2004, Australian Supersport Championship in 2009 and Australian Superbike Championship in 2010. Several years in European Superstock, World Supersport and World Superbike followed, as well as a full season in MotoGP.
Returning to Australia and ASBK competition in 2017, Staring has spent most of the past five years on Kawasaki machinery, specifically the ZX-10RR for the Kawasaki BCPerformance Racing Team.
“I'm excited to get on the DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R,” Staring said. “I spent a long time living in Italy, so to be able to partner with such a passionate and proudly Italian brand really brings back a lot of great memories for me.
“It's no secret that the [Panigale V4 R] is incredible to begin with and I'm confident that I can race for wins and the 2022 ASBK Championship. I love riding motorcycles, I love racing and I'm motivated more than ever, with Ben [Henry] and Troy [Bayliss]'s support."
DesmoSport Ducati co-owner Ben Henry is confident that Staring will deliver good results for the team.
"I've followed Bryan's entire career and I'm really excited to finally get to work with him. He has some big shoes to fill after the success we've had with Mike, as well as the development of Oli, but I firmly believe that Bryan gives us the best opportunity to follow on from our championship win from the last full ASBK season in 2019."
Troy Bayliss is also looking forward to the new partnership.
"It's exciting to get to work with a new rider, introduce them to my Ducati family and the Panigale V4 R. I have a lot of respect for Bryan. I raced against him in 2018, and he was a challenging rider on the track.”
The 2022 Australian Superbike Championship is scheduled to get underway with the Official ASBK Test at Phillip Island on 28-29 January, followed by the opening round at the same circuit on 26-27 February.