Former WorldSBK champion Carlos Checa b𓆏elieves Axel Bassani could be next to join the factory Aruba.it Racing Ducati team. 

Bassani (Motocorsa Ducati), Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) are currently all signed to one-year deals that expire following the 2022 season, which t꧅herefore puts the Itaღlian in the window to potentially move up to the top team.

T🤡he 22 year-old was one of the more impressive rookies the series has seen for many years in 2021, and had it not been for Andrea Locatelli’s stunnin꧟g first season for Pata Yamaha, then Bassani would have convincingly taken top rookie honours.

12 t🔯op ten results from the final 13 races including a brilliant second place in Catalunya was already ‘enough’ to garner the factory team’s interest according to Checa, who believes a move to replace either Bautista or Rinaldi is possible should Bassani go another ‘step further’ in his development. 

Equally, should Bautista or Rinaldi not perform as the team expects then𝔉 that would give Bassani an added chance of joining the team.

While talking about Bassani possibl🏅y being a contender for wins, Checa also highlighted BMW as a team to watch this upcoming season after the Germa💧n manufacturer paired 2020 runner-up Scott Redding with Michael Van Der Mark. 

"Well, the BMW has great power and now with Scott Redding and Mic♈hael van der Mark, the team has a very fast and young duo," Checa told WorldSBK.com. "From the outset, I would put them in the best position, just like Axel Bassani, who had a great season as a rookie. 

"I think that this year he’ll try to go one step further and gain the confidence to make it to t🔯he factory Ducati team, which is what’s on his mind. 

"Last year, he did enough to be there, let's🍌 see if Ducati gives him the necessary support. I think the ones I have named are the ones who are going to be at the front, but if there is any surprise, either from a brand or with other ridersও, it’s welcome!” 

"The level of Rea and Toprak is the highest. Sporadically, there wereꦉ other riders who were ahead, like Redding, van der Mark or Locatelli, which 🧸surprised me a lot, but not with the consistency that the two of them had. 

"I hope that Alv𒁏aro Bautista can be in that fight. I🌄 think Locatelli can grow alongside Toprak in the Yamaha garage."