WSB: Chaz Davies takes up Riders’ Coach role at Ducati

Chaz Davies has returned to the factory Aruba.it Racing Ducati team as the Riders’ Coach following his decision to retire.

Davies will work with WorldSBK riders Alvaro Bautista and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, as well as with Nicolo Bulega, who is making his debut in the World Supersport Championship.

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The Welshman originally joined Ducati for the 2014 season and would stay in the factory squad until the end of 2020, losing his ride to Rinaldi. Davies finished his career with the Team GoEleven satellite squad last season.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to remain part of the racing world and especially with the Aruba.it – Ducati family, with whom I enjoyed the best years of my racing career,” Davies said. “It will be an interesting perspective to see the action from ‘the other side of the fence’! I believe that with my seven years of experience as an official Ducati rider and knowledge of both the Ducati V2 and V4 bikes I am well equipped to contribute to the future success of the team.

“We have excellent riders for the 2022 WorldSBK and WorldSSP campaigns and I will give everything I can to maximise their potential. I want to thank Stefano Cecconi, Feel Racing and Ducati for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started!”

28 of Davies’ 32 WorldSBK victories came onboard Ducati machinery, as did 89 of his 99 podiums. Davies finished runner-up on three occasions for the Bologna-based manufacturer, and recorded a record total of 211 race starts for Ducati.

Rinaldi retains his seat in the Superbike class this year, whilst Bautista is making his return to the factory team and spending two years with Team HRC. The Spaniard won his first 10 WorldSBK races with the team, but too many crashes in the second half of the season saw him lose to Jonathan Rea in the title fight.

Meanwhile, the Aruba.it Racing squad are making their debut appearance in the Supersport class. New regulations have allowed them to enter the Ducati Panigale V2, with Bulega moving over from the Grand Prix paddock (Moto2).

“We are happy to be able to count on Chaz again, albeit in a new role both for him and for our team,” Team Principal Stefano Cecconi said. “His experience will certainly be of great help to our riders, allowing them to express their full potential.

“His contribution to the Supersport project will also be fundamental for both Nicolo Bulega and the team, as the Panigale V2 has the DNA of the twin-cylinder Superbikes on which Chaz achieved outstanding results over the past years.”