Pedercini Kawasaki keeps Cresson, full WSBK grid decided

Belgian rider Cresson stepped up to join WSBK with Pedercini last year on a two-year deal, but his continued presence at the squad was cast into doubt by his absence from last month's WSBK entry list reveal.

It came as it emerged that the Italian team had been holding talks with high-profile riders Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam, who had been dropped from their respective factory teams, BMW and Honda, last year.

However, Pedercini has now confirmed that Cresson will be riding its sole ZX-10RR again this season after all - meaning the full grid for the 2022 campaign is now complete.

“It’s been a long winter discussing everything with the team and in the end, we were able to find a solution to continue together," said Cresson. "[Team owner] Lucio [Pedercini] is a great guy, and we share the same end goal.

"I am happy to continue with my guys inside the box because we found a good way to work as last year progressed. There was always a good atmosphere and I trust the guys completely.

"The level in WorldSBK is high but my target is to score points in all of the races, and I feel strong mentally and after my injury I am also now feeling strong."

Cresson, 23, endured a tough baptism of fire in WSBK last year, scoring points just once all season at Assen with a best finish of 13th place, before injury forced him to sit out the final two rounds of the year.

Pedercini stated it is still hoping to field a second bike on a part-time basis this year, despite slimming down to a single full-time entry in 2022.

 

No fewer than six different riders took turns on the team's second bike last year, with British Superbike regular and Donington Park wildcard Luke Mossey (above) the only one to bank a points finish.

2022 WSBK entry list:

No.	Rider	Bike	Team
1	Toprak Razgatlioglu	Yamaha	PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team
3	Kohta Nozane	Yamaha	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team
5	Philipp Oettl	Ducati	Team GoEleven
7	Iker Lecuona	Honda	Team HRC
19	Alvaro Bautista	Ducati	Aruba.It Racing - Ducati
21	Michael Ruben Rinaldi	Ducati	Aruba.It Racing - Ducati
22	Alex Lowes	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
23	Christophe Ponsson	Yamaha	Gil Motor Sport
29	Luca Bernardi	Ducati	Barni Racing Team
31	Garrett Gerloff	Yamaha	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team
32	Isaac Vinales	Yamaha	Motoxracing WorldSBK Team
35	Hafizh Syahrin	Honda	MIE Racing Honda Team
36	Leandro Mercado	Honda	MIE Racing Honda Team
44	Lucas Mahias	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
45	Scott Redding	BMW	BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
47	Axel Bassani	Ducati	Motocorsa Racing
50	Eugene Laverty	BMW	Bonovo MGM Racing
52	Oliver Konig	Kawasaki	Orelac Racing
55	Andrea Locatelli	Yamaha	PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team
60	Michael van der Mark	BMW	BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
65	Jonathan Rea	Kawasaki	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
76	Loris Baz	BMW	Bonovo MGM Racing
84	Loris Cresson	Kawasaki	Team Pedercini Racing
97	Xavi Vierge	Honda	Team HRC