Niccolò Canepa
Niccolò Canepa, a seasoned Italian motorcycle racer with a distinguished career spanning various motorcycle racing disciplines, made a notable debut in the British Superbike Championship (BSB) in 2023. Joining the McAMS Yamaha team for the final two rounds of the season, Canepa brought a wealth of experience to the grid, having previously competed in MotoGP, WorldSBK, and as a two-time FIM Endurance World Champion. His entry into BSB marked a significant addition to the series, with Canepa being the first Italian rider to compete in the championship since Claudio Corti in 2019.
Canepa's engagement with the McAMS Yamaha team was not just a milestone in his career but also a strategic move for the team, which was participating in its final races of the series. Partnering with race winner Jason O’Halloran, Canepa aimed to leverage his extensive knowledge and experience with the Yamaha R1, cultivated through his role as Yamaha Motor Europe's World Superbike test rider and his significant achievements in endurance racing. His background included helping teams like Toprak Razgatlioglu and the PATA Yamaha team achieve success in recent seasons, as well as personal victories and championship titles in various racing formats, including the European Superstock and the Endurance World Championship.
Canepa expressed enthusiasm for joining the BSB grid, acknowledging the high level of competition and expressing his ambition to contribute positively to the team's performance. His career, characterized by versatility and success across different racing platforms, added a layer of excitement and anticipation for his BSB debut. With previous wins at Donington Park and Brands Hatch during his title-winning 2007 European Superstock campaign, Canepa looked forward to returning to these circuits in a new capacity, aiming to bring his rich racing experience to bear in the fiercely competitive BSB environment.
This move to BSB underscores Canepa's adaptability and continuous pursuit of new challenges in the world of motorcycle racing, further enriching his already impressive career and offering BSB fans the opportunity to witness the skills of an accomplished international racer in their domestic championship.