2014 Moto2 World Champion Tito Rabat will join the McAMS Yamaha team for the fifth round of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton this weekend (July 7/8/9).
The move will initially see the former Grand Prix rider aboard the McAMS Yamaha R1 for the Snetterton and Brands Hatch rounds, replacing Tim Neave who left the team as he opted to take some time out of racing.
After progressing through the 125cc categories, Rabat made his name in the Moto2 World Championship, racking up 13 wins in five seasons and being crowned the 2014 Moto2 World Champion before making his move to the premier class with the Marc VDS team in 2016.
Competing in MotoGP until 2021, Rabat then moved to the Superbike World Championship for a season before taking on and winning the Spanish Superbike Championship last year.
Rabat made his debut in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton last year, but feels he has more to offer in the series and is hugely excited by the prospect of riding the R1, which has been the most successful bike in the British Championship over the last three years.
While Rabat hasn’t ridden Snetterton previously, the fast, flat and flowing venue is more akin to the tracks he’s ridden at World Championship level, and he will get his first taste of the championship-winning R1 in Free Practice on Friday.
Rabat said: “I am very happy to get the chance to race in Bennetts BSB again. It’s always a pleasure to race in front of such a passionate crowd like in the UK. I want to thank McAMS Yamaha for this great opportunity to race with one of the most competitive and successful teams in the championship. Although I am not familiar with Snetterton or Brands Hatch, I hope to rise to the challenge and show that I can be competitive during those races. See you at Snetterton!”
Team Principal Steve Rodgers commented: “From our initial conversations, Tito was hugely enthusiastic about getting the chance to come and ride in BSB again as he feels he didn’t show his true potential before for various reasons.
“As a Grand Prix World Champion, he clearly knows how to ride a motorcycle and his success in the Spanish Championship shows he can ride a 1000cc Superbike. While BSB poses its own unique challenges, we are excited to be able to offer Tito the chance to show what he can do on a bike which has won a lot over the last few years.”