Xavi Cardelús: "Done with Moto2, now I want to get to WorldSBK"

He had already competed in a few races back in 2017, when he took part in some rounds with Alex Baldolini’s Race Department ATK#25 team, but this year he’s joined the Supersport World Championship full-time, bringing with him two seasons in the Moto2 World Championship and three in MotoE. Who are we talking about? Xavi Cardelús.

Born in 1998 in Andorra, Cardelús is facing his first full season in WorldSSP aboard the Ducati of the Orelac Racing VerdNatura team, alongside Jaume Masiá. The first part of the season hasn’t been easy, but there have been some highlights, including a sixth and a seventh place in Cremona. In any case, the Andorran rider is experiencing a new beginning after many years spent in prototype racing. He achieved solid results in the Moto2 European Championship (where he earned several podiums and even a victory in 2023 at Barcelona), competed in the MotoE World Cup from 2020 to 2022 (with a best result of sixth at the Red Bull Ring), and took part in the Moto2 World Championship in 2019 and again in 2024. The latter was a difficult year for Cardelús: racing with the Fantic Racing team, he couldn’t do better than a 16th place in Barcelona. This led him to restart from Supersport, aiming to rebuild and give new momentum to his career.

Xavi Cardelús spoke about the 2025 season, his career so far, and the future in an interview with Palmen in Motorradsport, who were pleased to share their chat with him.

Xavi, a new chapter for you… or rather, a return, since you’re back in the World Supersport Championship after seven years. How has the season gone so far?

Well, to be honest, I’m happy. I knew what this championship was like, since I had done four or five races in 2017, and the first approach this year has been very positive. We’re going well on every circuit and in all conditions, but for one reason or another, the results hadn’t come yet. Cremona was the first weekend where we managed to put together a good overall package and fight for important positions, so I’m satisfied.

Do you have a specific goal for this season?

For the last two or three years, I’ve said the same thing: the first goal is to have fun,  especially after the year I had in 2024, which was very tough and complicated. So, the main goal is to enjoy myself, and I’m doing that. When you’re having fun, you feel a different kind of energy, and you have a better chance of doing well. In terms of results, the goal is to be consistently within the top six or seven. It’s true that the level is very high this year, but we’re showing that we’re fast and that we can fight for those positions.

So the aim is to be up at the front.

Exactly. It’s also true that I still have a lot to learn about my competitors. After all, this championship is new to me, and I still need to get to know the other riders' "cards" better. So I think from here on, we can only improve.

This new chapter comes after several years in Moto2, between the European and World Championships. What are your best memories from the European Championship?

Obviously, the best memory is when I won the European Championship race in Barcelona in 2023. In Andorra, we don’t have any racetracks, so I consider Barcelona my home race since it's the closest one. Winning there… wow, I still remember it vividly, and every time I talk about it, I get emotional. That year also ended with a second place in the overall standings, and we were very competitive throughout the season.

You raced two seasons in the Moto2 World Championship, one with Aspar in 2019 with KTM, and again in 2024 with Fantic. Both years were difficult. What can you tell us about those two seasons, and why do you think they didn’t work out?

In 2019, I simply wasn’t ready and I think it was a misstep. There was too much rush, and that’s a common mistake: arriving in the world championship without being fully prepared. It’s also true that KTM wasn’t in a great moment back then, but when things start going wrong, you get into a negative spiral that’s hard to break out of. After that, I spent two or three years in the European Championship and returned being the “old Xavi” and felt again motivated and competitive.

In 2024, I returned to the world championship with Fantic, a top team, but for one reason or another, it just wasn’t the year we were hoping for. I came into it after my best season as a racer, more prepared than ever and really eager for the challenge, but it didn’t turn out the way we wanted or, honestly, the way I think we deserved. In the end, though, I try to see the positive side: I view it as a very important experience. I’ll always be grateful to those who gave me that opportunity. As for Moto2, that chapter is closed for me now. I just want to enjoy this new category and this new championship.

In 2019 you moved up to the world championship with Aspar and KTM, and you said it was too soon. What exactly were you missing at that point?

Experience. I was racing in the Moto2 European Championship and hadn’t done anything substantial in the world championship yet. I was fast, everything was going well, but I just wasn’t at the right level to make that leap. That’s why I call it a misstep. In 2018 I had done a few wildcards and ended the season with the Snipers team (where I replaced Romano Fenati after the Misano incident), but I was still just a kid with no experience at world level, whereas most of the others had come up through Moto3 or already had a lot more experience than I did. I think that was one of the main reasons.

What do you think you’ve learned the most from your Moto2 experience?

Above all, how to manage a race weekend: how to approach it, how to react when things don’t go as expected, how to handle emotions… I know I’m not a rider who’s used to winning races or fighting for a championship. In fact, I’ve only won one race in my whole career. But I’m a realistic person, and I know when it’s time to push and when it’s time to be smart.

For example, in Cremona I knew I had three very strong points on the track, but with the front tyre wearing out, the situation was getting tricky. In moments like that, if you overdo it in your strong areas, it often leads to mistakes or crashes, but I managed everything well. So even though I haven’t had a ton of experiences, I think I’ve had enough to understand a lot of different situations during a race.

And for the future, where would you like to go?

Now that I’ve made the move from the MotoGP paddock to the World Superbike Championship, the goal is to build a solid foundation here and reach Superbike. As I said earlier, the MotoGP chapter is about 90% closed for me. Not so much due to external factors, but because of a personal decision. I already had an opportunity, and it didn’t go the way I hoped. So now the objective is to establish myself here and work my way up to Superbike.

How do you find life in the WorldSBK paddock, which is a bit different from MotoGP’s?

I like it a lot. It’s smaller and calmer, and that helps reduce the pressure a bit. As I mentioned before, when you’re having fun, feeling competitive, and running near the front, you create a stronger bond with the team and the people around you. And when you see that you're enjoying yourself with the team and things start clicking, everything begins to come more naturally, right?

Is there anything you miss from the MotoGP paddock?

No, not really. The only thing I might miss a little is the weekend format. In Supersport, there’s less time to test: on Friday you only get one free practice session, and then it’s already time for qualifying. But on the other hand, there are fewer race weekends overall, which means more time to work on your weaknesses. And if you get injured, you have more time to recover too. In the end, I honestly see mostly advantages compared to when I was racing in Moto2.

Who do you want to thank for everything you’ve experienced and achieved so far?

Well, a lot of people. First and foremost, those closest to me: my father, my family, my girlfriend. Each of them, in their own way, has played an important role.

To conclude, how did your passion for motorcycling begin?

Well, what my parents have always told me is that I was obsessed with motorcycles from a very young age. The moment I saw one on the street, I’d go crazy. I actually started racing with go-karts when I was four, but bikes were already in my blood. On top of that, my father was European Champion in 1987, so he’s the one who passed this passion on to me. It all started as a hobby, but then it became more and more serious and professional, and that’s when you realize what you truly want. A lot of kids go play football after school; I spent my weekends on a motorbike. In the end, these are childhood passions, hobbies that you later decide to turn into a profession and make a life out of.

And if you weren’t a rider, what would you be doing?

Right now, I couldn’t say for sure. But definitely something related to motorsports: cars, karts... anything! Maybe I’d work in a team, I don’t know. But it would definitely be something tied to gasoline.

The gasoline that runs in your veins.

Exactly (laughs).

Palmen in Motorradsport thanks Xavi Cardelús for his time and the Orelac Racing VerdNatura team for making the interview possible. Wishing Xavi the very best for his upcoming races and seasons.