The long winter period may be in full swing but there is still time to look back at the 2023 WorldSBK Championship season as BSN brings you our rundown of the Top 10 WorldSBK Riders of the Year.

Next up in ninth position is Dominique Aegerter

While WorldSBK has become a popular stomping ground for riders relocating from the grand prix paddock, it was still somewhat bizarre to regard Dominique Aegerter as a rookie this season.

Perhaps it is because he never quite reached MotoGP or because he spent a whopping 16 years in the GP paddock. More likely is the fact Aegerter’s debut in WorldSBK with GYTR GRT Yamaha came with a fair amount of anticipation as though he was a fresh talent emerging from the junior categories.

He isn’t, of course, but after two dominant back-to-back WorldSSP titles, which he dovetailed with championship-winning success in the MotoE World Cup as well, many were curious to see if Aegerter could maintain his belated blossoming at WorldSBK level.

For the most part it was an encouraging first tilt on a Superbike. Success or not, the transition from Moto2/WorldSSP/MotoE to WorldSBK-spec machinery is more difficult than it looks and it showed at times in 2023.

Still, he got to grips with the challenge quickly, scoring a front row start for his debut in Australia and impressing en route to a fourth place finish in Assen during Round 3.

As a rider with an extraordinary finishing record at GP level - out 246 GP starts he failed to finish only 14 of them - it was therefore surprising to see Aegerter notch up his fair share of DNFs over the year, ultimately nixing his Independents’ title bid against Axel Bassani.

Injuries didn’t help but once back to full fitness just in time for the season finale in Jerez, Aegerter finally broke through with a pair of podiums to assure himself of eighth in the overall standings and a renewed contract for 2024. Expect a more competitive turn next year.

BSN’s Top 10 WorldSBK Riders of 2023

10 - Alex Lowes