In 2024, Dominique Aegerter will remain with Yamaha in WorldSBK, but in which team it is not yet known.
Yamaha has announced on 11 August 2023 that double World Supersport Champion Dominique Aegerter will remain with the brand in 2024. However, it has not announced which team he will ride for.
The announcement earlier this year that Toprak Razgatlioglu will leave Yamaha at the end of 2023 to join BMW for 2024 obviously opened up one seat in Yamaha’s WorldSBK stable.
This year, Aegerter’s first in WorldSBK, he has ridden alongside Remy Gardner in the GRT Yamaha squad, and has taken a best result of fourth place.
From within Yamaha’s current crop of WorldSBK riders, the Swiss is perhaps the most obvious choice to replace Razgatlioglu, and partner Andrea Locatelli in the factory Pata Yamaha team next season.
Aegerter’s confirmation of continuation with Yamaha, though, comes amid a reported attempt for Jonathan Rea to leave Kawasaki and join Yamaha for 2024.
Rea’s credentials usurp those of Aegerter, with the Northern Irishman’s WorldSBK win total in excess of 120, and his world title count at six; compared to Aegerter’s 27 WorldSSP wins and two titles.
If Yamaha could get Rea for 2024, that would put it as a potential title contender, whereas, with Aegerter, the expectations would be, perhaps slightly lower.
Therefore, perhaps the reasoning for the open endedness of Aegerter’s 2024 contract with Yamaha, and the lack of commitment to one team over another, is to wait first to see if Yamaha will be able to pull Rea away from Kawasaki.
Andrea Dosoli - Road Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe - said, on the re-signing of Aegerter: “It’s been a pleasure for us to see our double Supersport World Champion, Dominique, adapting so quickly to WorldSBK. He has impressed us all, starting from the first race, where he put in a phenomenal qualifying performance to secure a front-row start at Phillip Island. I don’t think there is a better way to introduce yourself to your teammates and rivals!
“His progression since then has been solid, improving every weekend and finishing as the top independent rider in three races so far. I am confident that he will add to this number before the end of the year, which is why I am pleased to announce the extension of the current agreement for a further season.
“I wish Dominique and his team all the best as they continue their progression, and we hope they reap the rewards they deserve.”
On his contract extension with Yamaha, Dominique Aegerter said: “I’m happy and proud to have extended my agreement with Yamaha to stay in WorldSBK with my R1 in 2024. I have two WorldSSP titles with Yamaha, but now my aim is to improve my results and be more competitive in the WorldSBK class, and I’ll give my best to achieve that goal.
“My season started quite well as a rookie and, although I haven’t been on the podium yet, there are still a few races to go, and I’ve had some great battles on track that have taught me a lot. I want to be at the front regularly, and that will be my focus for next season.
“I’d like to thank Yamaha for their continued faith in me and everyone who has helped put me in this position, and among them I would especially like to remember Mirko Giansanti who recently passed away and who played an invaluable role in the GRT Yamaha Team.”
The 2023 WorldSBK championship continues on 8-10 September with the French round in Magny-Cours.
