Barni Racing has announced that it will part ways with ex-MotoGP rider Tito Rabat with five races remaining in the 2021 WorldSBK Championship, citing results that “did not meet targets”.
Rabat – the 2014 Moto2 World Champion – moved to WorldSBK for the 2021 season after completing a five-year tenure in the premier class of MotoGP and joining the Barni Racing satellite team with factory support from Ducati.
The Spaniard struggled to keep up with the performance of other WorldSBK MotoGP promotional riders like Scott Redding, Max Biaggi and Marco Melandri, however, and spent much of the year in midfield scoring points.
With only two top ten placements on his name – and a best result of only ninth place in Estoril – Rabat and Barni have therefore decided to split.
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“The Barni Racing Team and Tito Rabat have reached a mutual agreement to end their collaboration for the 2021 WorldSBK season,” the team said in a statement.
“Despite the efforts of both sides and the knowledge of the results that did not meet the target, the team and driver decided to end the cooperation.
“Team manager and team owner Marco Barnabò thanks Tito for the determination and commitment he has shown in the season so far and wishes him all the best as a professional for the future.”
Barni Racing says it will be racing with a new driver for the remainder of the new season, who will be released ahead of the next event in Barcelona on May 17-19. September will be announced.