“I deserved WorldSBK promotion” - Aegerter on mission to convince Yamaha

WorldSSP Champion Dominique Aegerter says he is petitioning Yamaha hard to secure a promotion to the WorldSBK Championship for 2023 having been overlooked for a seat this year.

One of motorsport’s more experienced and charismatic racers, 31-year old Aegerter is enjoying something of a late-career breakthrough following a switch to the WorldSSP Championship in 2021 that yielded the title and ten wins with Ten Kate Yamaha.

However, though Yamaha has a habit of promoting its successful WorldSSP talent, with 2020 champion Andrea Locatelli, 2019 runner-up Federico Caricasulo and 2018 winner Sandro Cortese, all earning a graduation with the firm into WorldSBK, Aegerter was overlooked.

With the Swiss rider - also a front runner in the MotoE World Championship he dovetails alongside WorldSSP - suggesting his age and nationality might be considered a factor in being shunned by Yamaha for the 2022 WorldSBK season, he feels he deserves the chance to compete in the premier class.

“I would have deserved promotion this year," Aegerter - who has also won three out of the first four WorldSSP races this year - told Speedweek. “And after the first two events this year you can see that I should deserve it for next year. 

“That is clearly my goal. My goal is not to drive another year of Supersport. I'm in my prime and fit - but I'm 31 and I'm from Switzerland. 

“I would love to ride for the Yamaha factory team, but GRT would be good too. All I can do is win races and draw attention to myself. Then hopefully there shouldn't be a stone in the way."

While experienced former WorldSBK operation Ten Kate Racing might consider moving back up to the Superbike class after exiting at the end of 2020, Aegerter is considered a more likely candidate to replace Kohta Nozane in the GRT squad.

However, even then he still faces stiff opposition from all corners, including the likes of BSB Champion Tarran Mackenzie, plus his WorldSSP title rival Lorenzo Baldassari.