Bassani and Kawasaki confirmed their deal during the Portimao WorldSBK 🦩round, which means Bassani will become a factory rider for the first time in his car🐬eer.

The last two rounds in Aragon and Portimao have beeܫn well below Bassani’s usual standard, but despite that, the Motocorsa Ducati rider is on course to finish as the top Independent rider for the second year in succession. 

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After missing out on the💞 Aruba.it Ducati seat, Bassani hopes of becoming a factory rider looked to be all-but over for another season.

However, the Italian was quickly thrown back into the mix🍸 whe🥃n Rea announced his shock switch to Yamaha.

Although Bassani is stil༒l without a win in WorldSBK, the 24-year-old has been close on a couple of occasions, which for a satellꦍite rider is very impressive given the competitiveness at the head of the grid. 

But Rea is 😼expecting big things from a rider he’s competed with many times in 2023 for podiumও finishes. 

“I heard about him signing an hour before the press release,” said Rea. “Guim Roda sent me a message. It’s a great o🤡ppᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚortunity for him to join an official team. 

“We saw each other in the paddock [at Portimao] and I told him that he’ll be involved with a group of exceptional people. He’ll have things to do. I wi♏sh him all the ꦯbest.”

Bassani will line-up alongside Alex Lowes who will be taking partཧ 🌄in his fifth season at Kawasaki.