About us

Francis and Patricia Batta first discovered world championship motorcycle racing in 1982. They started by providing the hospitality for the Kevin Schwantz Lucky Strike Suzuki squad and loved the experience so much that they then went on to work with several other teams. After a brief foray in powerboat racing in the early 90s, Francis Batta’s career took a decisive turn when he became General Manager of the Superbike World Championship, one of the world’s most exciting and spectacular forms of motor sport. This adventure reinforced Francis and Patricia’s desire to create their own team and in 1992, their stunning brainchild, Alstare Racing, was born.

Following a successful three-year collaboration with Ducati, Alstare decided to take its ambitions to a higher level by teaming up with Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. While Francis liaised with Japan and managed the racing side of things, Patricia kept busy organising the corporate image of the team.

Team Alstare Suzuki’s headquarters are situated in Alleur near Liege, in Eastern Belgium - ideally located in the heart of Europe. Team Alstare’s main area of focus has been the Superbike World Championship, but it has been a regular competitor in the World Supersport, the European Superstock 1000 Championship and has also been the organiser of the GSX-R European Cup, a one-make championship aimed at discovering the champions of tomorrow.

In a totally revamped former marmalade factory, where technical expertise meets sheer motivation to create pure excitement and world-class entertainment, Alstare builds and prepares race bikes with one sole objective in mind: victory. Having won 8 world titles since the team was created, it can be said that this philosophy has paid off. Even after all these years, Team Alstare still has an unquenchable thirst for victory. Within Team Alstare's crew, technical skills and professionalism perfectly match creativity and ambition. This explosive mix culminated in Troy Corser’s Superbike World Championship title at the end of the 2005 season.

Although Francis Batta’s squad was unable to regain the world title the year after, its harvest of podiums and wins increased year by year. In 2007 Alstare brought 4 times Moto Gp 250 World Champion and Italian star Max Biaggi into WSBK. Max battled for the world title until the very last race of the year but, in the end, he failed by the narrowest of margins. At the end of the year he left the team, as did Alstare’s historic sponsor : Mexican beer Corona Extra.

2008 was not an easy crossroads for the Belgian squad, after a decade of association with Corona Extra, but throughout the year Alstare's strength and determination were shown by several outstanding performances by its riders Fonsi Nieto and German champion Max Neukirchner.

In 2009, Team Alstare Suzuki started with an ideal combination of experience (Yukio Kagayama) and youth (Max Neukirchner), but the season was marred by a number of crashes by both riders, including a possible career-threatening one by Neukirchner. The young German was unable to complete the season and concerns about his long-term health prompted Francis to think about 2010 with a completely fresh mind.

2010 saw a new decade and an all-new line-up for Alstare Suzuki. In came gutsy young Briton Leon Haslam and former GP rider Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli. Leon’s performances in Alstare’s winter tests showed he was a force to be reckoned with. He began the season in scintillating form, by winning on his debut and then taking a staggering nine podiums in the first twelve races. A heavy crash in USA dented his progress, but he battled throughout the rest of the season, finishing a superb runner-up in the championship to former Alstare rider Max Biaggi. Sylvain Guintoli started the year well, had a bit of a dip in the middle, before ending strongly to finish a creditable seventh in arguably the toughest season for many years.

2011 was a challenging year for the team and their ageing Suzuki GSXR1000, but Alstare attacked it with their usual enthusiasm and professionalism. Italian (and former Alstare rider) Michel Fabrizio was their sole representative in what was yet another hard fought season. Fabrizio finished 12th, with one podium to his name.

2012 – 2013 Alstare took a year off in 2012, but entered 2013 as the representative of the Ducati factory team on the all new, radical Panigale 1199. Early season injuries to both riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, together with developing the new bike, hampered their progress and the year proved to be more than challenging. Badovini finished 12th and Checa, who was forced into retirement, with four races of the season remaining, ended 15th.

2014 Sees a new venture for Alstare - the most experienced team in the WSBK paddock – co-operation with one of he most legendary marques in motorcycling Bimota. The weapon that Alstare and Bimota will be attacking the EVO class of the World Superbike Championship is the formidable Bimota BB3 - a thrilling mix of Italian flair and German engineering. The engine comes from the BMW S1000RR and has already proved itself in the WSBK championship, so there is much excitement about what this esoteric hybrid can achieve. For Alstare and Bimota, 2014 once again represents a big challenge, but such challenges are the kind of projects that Alstare relish. A lot of work has to be done before the Bimota Alstare BB3 makes its track appearance, but Alstare are more than ready for the battle and are looking forward to once again mixing with the best in WSBK.

2013

    World Superbike Championship

  • Carlos Checa (ES-Ducati Panigale R SBK), finished 15th
  • Ayrton Badovini (I-Ducati Panigale R SBK), finished 12th, (1 podium)

2011

    World Superbike Championship

  • Michel Fabrizio (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 12th, (1 podium)

2010

World Superbike Championship

    Leon Haslam (GB-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 2nd, (14 podiums including 3 wins)

    Sylvain Guintoli (F-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 7th

2009

World Superbike Championship

  • Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 12th, (1 podium)
  • Sylvain Guintoli (F-Suzuki GSX-R 1000) finished 33rd (took part in 1 race only)

Superstock 1000 European Championship

  • Claudio Corti (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 2nd, (5 podiums, including 2 wins)

2008

World Superbike Championship

  • Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 11th
  • Max Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 5th, (7 podiums, including 2 wins)
  • Fonsi Nieto (Esp-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 6th, (3 podiums, including 1 win

Superstock 1000 European Championship

  • Xavier Simeon (B-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 4th, (5 podiums, including 2 wins)

2007

World Superbike Championship

  • Max Biaggi (Ita-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 3rd, ( 17 podiums including 3 wins)
  • Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 13th, (2 podiums)

Superstock 1000 European Championship

  • Xavier Simeon (B-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 4th, ( 3 podiums including 1 win)

2006

World Superbike Championship

  • Troy Corser (Aus-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 4th, (9 podiums including 2 wins)
  • Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 7th, (5 podiums including 3 wins)
  • Fabien Foret (F-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 20th
  • Max Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 18th

Superstock 600 European Championship

  • Xavier Simeon (B-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 1st, (10 podiums including 5 wins)

Suzuki European GSX-R Cup

  • Xavier Simeon (B-Suzuki GSX-R 750), finished 1st, (5 podiums including 4 wins)

2005

World Superbike Championship

  • Troy Corser (Aus-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 1st, ( 18 podiums, including 8 wins)
  • Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 5th, (8 podiums, including 1 win)

World Supersport Championship

  • Javi Fores (E-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 9th

Superstock 1000 FIM Cup

  • Riccardo Chiarello (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 6th, (3 podiums, including 2 wins)

Superstock 600 European Championship

  • Xavier Simeon (B-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 5th, (2 podiums)

2004

World Supersport Championship

  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 8th,
  • Katsuaki Fujiwara (I-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 10th, (1 podium)

Superstock 1000 European Championship

  • Riccardo Chiarello (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 5th, (2 podiums, including 1 win)

2003

World Superbike Championship

  • Gregorio Lavilla (E-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 5th, (7 podiums)

World Supersport Championship

  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 2nd, (3 podiums, including 1 win)
  • Katsuaki Fujiwara (J-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 5th, (5 podiums, including 1 win)

Superstock 1000 European Championship

  • Michel Fabrizio (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 1st, (5 podiums, including 4 wins)

2002

World Superbike Championship

  • Gregorio Lavilla (E-Suzuki GSX-R750), finished 10th

World Supersport Championship

  • Katsuaki Fujiwara (J-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 2nd, (7 podiums, including 3 wins)
  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX- R 600), finished 3rd, (7 podiums, including 1 win)

Superstock 1000 European Championship

  • Vittorio Iannuzzo (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 1st, (5 podiums, including 4 wins)

2001

World Superbike Championship

  • Pierfrancesco Chili (I-Suzuki GSX-R 750), finished 7th, (2 podiums, including 1 win)
  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX-R 750),) finished 12th

World Supersport Championship

  • Karl Muggeridge (Aus-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 7th, (3 podiums)
  • Katsuaki Fujiwara (J-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 11th

2000

World Superbike Championship

  • Pierfrancesco Chili (I-Suzuki GSX-R 750), finished 4th, (10 podiums, including 1 win)
  • Katsuaki Fujiwara (J-Suzuki GSX-R 750), finished 9th, (1 podium)

World Supersport Championship

  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 2nd, (6 podiums including 1 win)
  • Fabrizio Pirovano (I-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 9th

1999

World Superbike Championship

  • Pierfrancesco Chili (I-Suzuki GSX-R 750), finished 6th, (6 podiums, including 2 wins)
  • Katsuaki Fujiwara (J-Suzuki GSX-R 750), finished 9th

World Supersport Championship

  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 1st, (5 podiums including 2 wins)
  • Fabrizio Pirovano (I-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 7th, (1 podium)

1998

Supersport World Series

  • Fabrizio Pirovano (I-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 1st, (7 podiums, including 5 wins)
  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Suzuki GSX-R 600), finished 3rd, (4 podiums, including 1 win)

1997

Supersport World Series

  • Stéphane Chambon (F-Ducati 748SP), finished 4th, (3 podiums including 1 win)
  • Fabrizio Pirovano (I-Ducati 748SP), finished 8th, (3 podiums including 1 win)

1996

World Superbike Championship

  • Michael Paquay (B-Ducati 916), finished 31st

Open Supersport Championship

  • Fabrizio Pirovano (I-Ducati 748SP), finished 1st, (9 podiums including 6 wins)

1995

European 600 Championship

  • Michael Paquay (B-Ducati 748SP) finished 1st, (8 podiums, including 7 wins)

Alstare in figures

  • Superbike titles - 1
  • Superbike victories - 25
  • Superbike podiums - 105
  • Supersport titles - 3
  • Supersport victories - 23
  • Supersport podiums - 64
  • Superstock 1000 titles - 2
  • Superstock 1000 victories - 13
  • Superstock 1000 podiums - 22
  • Superstock 600 titles - 1
  • Superstock 600 victories - 4
  • Superstock 600 podiums - 7
  • Total titles - 7
  • Total victories - 67
  • Total podiums - 200
  • Manufacturer's title (Superbike) -1 (2005)
  • Manufacturer's title (Supersport) - 2 (1998 and 2002)
  • Manufacturer's title (Superstock 600) - 1 (2006)