BSB: Tito Rabat joins McAMS Yamaha for Snetterton and Brands Hatch

Tito Rabat will make his return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend at Snetterton.

The Spaniard will race for McAMS Yamaha in Norfolk, stepping in for Tim Neave, who has opted to take time away from motorcycle racing. As part of the deal, Rabat will also contest the Brands Hatch round with the 2021 champions.

Rabat is currently racing in the World Superbike Championship at Puccetti Kawasaki, as well as MotoE with the Pramac Racing squad.

“I am very happy to get the chance to race in Bennetts BSB again,” Rabat said. “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!”  

Rabat made his BSB debut in 2022 at Thruxton with TAG Honda, but is most known for his time in the MotoGP paddock. Rabat won the Moto2 title with the Marc VDS team in 2014, before moving into the premier class in 2016.

A regular points scorer, Rabat switched to Reale Avintia Racing Ducati in 2018 and was enjoying a positive start to the season up until a serious accident at Silverstone.

In wet conditions, Rabat crashed at Stowe and was then hit by Franco Morbidelli’s bike in the gravel. As a result, Rabat suffered a triple fracture (femur, fibula, and tibia) to his right leg. Rabat missed the remainder of the season but returned with the team in 2019, recording a best result of ninth in Barcelona.

Rabat left MotoGP for WorldSBK at the end of 2020, joining the Barni Racing Ducati squad. However, he left the team by mutual consent before the end of the season and joined Puccetti Kawasaki for the final three rounds of the year. Rabat recorded a best result of ninth at Estoril.

After departing the world championship, Rabat was crowned Spanish Superbike Champion in 2022.

“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,” Team Principal, Steve Rodgers said.

“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.”