The revitalised WorldSSP Championship will reach a new peak in 2024 after it was confirmed that seven manufacturers will be represented on next year’s grid.

Two years on from the move to shake-up up the regulations by allowing larger-engined machines to be homologated for the intermediate class, WorldSSP has grown exponentially in terms of competitiveness and diversity.

After Honda returned to the fray in 2023 to increase manufacturer involvement to six, Chinese firm QJMotor has become the latest to throw its hat into the ring with a single factory-backed entry for the experienced Raffaele de Rosa on its new QJMotor GSR 800 machine.

It will be one of three new models debuting in 2024 with PETRONAS MIE Racing making use of the latest generation Honda CBR600RR following its return to European price lists, while the all-new Kawasaki ZX-6R makes its much anticipated competitive bow next season too.

Tom Booth-Amos, John McPhee fly the flag

While Tarran Mackenzie heads on up to WorldSBK next season, British interests will continue to be represented by John McPhee and Tom Booth-Amos.

A second WorldSSP campaign for Moto3 race winner McPhee, the Scotsman is looking for greater continuity in 2024 after splitting with the Vince64 by Puccetti Kawasaki team mid-way through the season, leading to a couple of substitute outings on the D34G Racing Ducati.

Even so, a podium on his debut was enough to catch the eye of experienced endurance outfit WRP Motorsport, which returns to WorldSSP with a two rider effort using customer Triumph machinery.

He won’t be the only British rider on a British motorcycle either with Tom Booth-Amos earning himself a factory-backed seat for 2024 with PTR Triumph.

Another former Moto3 racer, Booth-Amos gets his chance after picking up title honours in the European round-based WorldSSP Challenge last season.

Who could succeed Nicolo Bulega as WorldSSP Champion?

With reigning champion Nicolo Bulega moving on up to WorldSBK next season, his throne is therefore left vacant for a new ruling figure.

Among the anticipated front runners is likely to be Bulega’s successor at Aruba.it Racing, Adrian Huertas, the Spaniard getting the opportunity of his career to represent Ducati at a factory level.

However, he will face stern competition from those that ran Bulega closest in 2023, not least Stefano Manzi, who has been upgraded to official Yamaha Racing representative for what will be his second season in the Ten Kate Racing squad, alongside new team-mate Glenn van Straalen.

Elsewhere, Marcel Schroetter will look to build on an encouraging maiden WorldSSP campaign as he bids to earn MV Agusta a coveted first WorldSSP title. The German rider will once again be joined by Bahattin Sofuoglu on the firm’s factory F3 800 RR machines, while the Italian firm also gains an asset in 2019 WorldSSP runner-up Federico Caricasulo, who joins Motozoo Racing in switching to MV machinery in 2024.

Over at Kawasaki, the latest generation ZX-6R will hit the track for the first time in 2024, even if only three examples of the all-new machine are signed to compete. Despite this, expect a title tilt from Can Oncu, who will look to put an injury-hindered 2023 campaign behind him with a return to race-winning form under the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing banner.

Though fewer in numbers than in previous years, the well-proven Yamaha R6 package will be represented by a plethora of talented entries, including the aforementioned Manzi and van Straalen, 2017 WorldSSP Champion Lucas Mahias - who returns to the series with GMT94 - fellow Frenchman Valentin Debise on the Evan Bros Racing entry and up-and-coming Spaniard Yeray Ruiz with VFT Racing.

The title-winning Ducati Panigale V2 is also well accounted for beyond Huertas with Yari Montella lining up again with BARNI Spark Racing, returning 2022 WorldSSP runner-up Lorenzo Baldassarri at Orelac Racing and Oli Bayliss with D34G Racing, while EAB Racing switches from Yamaha to mount a bid with fast Finn Niki Tuuli.

Who is new?

As has been the trend in recent years, the 2024 WorldSSP season will see a handful of converts from the Grand Prix paddock make their debut.

Chief among them is Moto3 race winner and former VR46 Racing Moto2 rider Niccolo Antonelli, who lines up with Althea Ducati, while Kaito Toba will make the direct switch from the novice grand prix class to head up PETRONAS MIE Racing’s challenge aboard the new Honda CBR600RR.

2024 WorldSSP Championship Entry List [Permanent Provisional - January 2024]