Locatelli steps up to WSBK for 2021
The stellar performance of Andrea Locatelli in this year’s World Supersport Championship has been rewarded with a move to World Superbikes for 2021.
The 23-year-old has secured a ride with Pata Yamaha for the coming season, taking the seat vacated by Michael van der Mark and partnering Toprak Razgatlioglu at the factory Yamaha team.
Making his debut in World Supersport this year with Bardahl Evan Bros. Yamaha after six years in Grand Prix racing – split across three seasons each in Moto2 and Moto3 – Locatelli impressed immediately, taking pole and winning the opening race at Phillip Island back in March.
After a coronavirus-enforced break of more than five months, World Supersport (WSS) resumed in August with a new two-races-per-round format. And Locatelli kept winning, taking out each race at Jerez, Portimao and the Aragon double header. It was only at the following round in Catalunya in September when the Italian’s winning streak came to an end, through no fault of his own, when the race was red flagged due to weather.
Victory in Race 2 at Catalunya guaranteed Locatelli the 2020 WSS Championship with two rounds remaining, and at time of writing, he had also won the opening race at Magny Cours for 11 victories from 13 starts.
Australia’s Andrew Pitt, WSS Champion in 2001 and 2008, will serve as Locatelli’s crew chief for the coming season, after fulfilling the same role with van der Mark and Alex Lowes at Pata Yamaha since 2017.
"I’m very proud and thankful to start this new adventure with Yamaha, it’s an important step for me after a great first year in the WorldSBK paddock,” Locatelli said.
“Thanks to Eric de Seynes, President of Yamaha Europe, Road Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli and Pata Yamaha Team Principal Paul Denning for trusting in me.
“I’m very excited to start working with the new team and my new crew chief Andrew Pitt, he’s a two-time world champion and has done a great job with Pata Yamaha.
“I’m also really looking forward to getting testing started, it’ll be the first time riding the Yamaha R1 for me and I can’t wait to get my preparations for the 2021 season underway."
Locatelli still has one round of WSS competition left, at Estoril on 16-18 October, before he starts with Pata Yamaha in WSBK.
