WorldSBK set for a wide-open 2026 season

The 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will once again take place over 12 rounds and 36 races. The season will start in Phillip Island with the Australian Round on February 21st and while there are many changes for the coming campaign one thing remains constant, WorldSBK is Pure Motorsport.

Armed with the fastest production derived motorcycles in the world the 22 rider field will deliver excitement at every round. History has proven that in this championship that the rider has been the biggest factor in making the difference between success and failure. For the six manufacturers on the grid they’ll be hoping that their line-up proves pivotal in getting the most from their machinery and delivering success throughout the campaign.

The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team enters the season as the reigning Riders’ Championship holder but with a new line-up. Miguel Oliveira joins the series following a successful Grand Prix career that included race victories in all three classes, while three-time WorldSBK race winner Danilo Petrucci switches manufacturers after three seasons aboard Ducati machinery.

Ducati will once again be led by 2025 title runner-up Nicolo Bulega. The 26-year-old returns to the Aruba.It Racing – Ducati squad for his third Superbike season and will aim to become the first rider to win both Supersport and Superbike world titles. After finishing second in last year’s championship despite 14 race wins, Bulega enters 2026 as the title favourite. Nicolo Bulega will line up alongside a new teammate in 2026, with Iker Lecuona replacing Alvaro Bautista in the Ducati factory squad. After four seasons with Honda HRC, Lecuona has shown encouraging form during pre-season testing aboard the updated Panigale V4 R. Ducati will also boast a formidable Independent line-up, headed by Bautista following the double World Champion’s move to Barni Spark Racing Team. Sam Lowes will look to continue his upward momentum with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team after securing a pole position last season.

Yamaha heads into the new season with a revamped rider line-up, adding Xavi Vierge and reigning WorldSSP Champion Stefano Manzi. Manzi steps up to WorldSBK following his title-winning campaign, while Vierge arrives from Honda. After securing a race win last season through Andrea Locatelli, Yamaha will look to the Italian to lead its challenge, supported by former Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner as he enters his fourth year in the championship.

Bimota and Kawasaki will retain unchanged line-ups for 2026. Alex Lowes delivered a strong return season for bimota, finishing sixth in the standings and claiming four podiums. The Italian marque will aim to build on that progress, with Axel Bassani targeting further gains. Kawasaki will again be represented by Garrett Gerloff as the sole rider for the brand.

Honda has bolstered its WorldSBK effort with the signing of two Moto2 race winners. Jake Dixon returns to Superbike competition after seven years in Grand Prix racing to contest his first full WorldSBK season, having previously appeared as a wildcard at Donington Park in 2017. He will be joined by Somkiat Chantra on the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. Chantra is set to make history as the first full-time Thai rider in WorldSBK, though a pre-season injury will rule him out of the opening round.

WorldSBK boasts a rich heritage and celebrated its landmark 1,000th race last season. With only one Superbike World Champion on the grid for 2026, the stage is set for a new name to be written into the history books.

WorldSBK is back for more in 2026, with the season getting underway at the Australian Round at Phillip Island on 20-22 February.

With WorldSSP entering the fifth year of its “Next Generation” regulations, the series continues to grow in stature. This season, eight manufacturers will take to the grid, with ZXMOTO joining in 2026. The Chinese manufacturer has partnered with the World Championship-winning Evan Bros Racing team and will field two bikes for Valentin Debise and Federico Caricasulo. The regulations allow a wide range of machinery to be competitive, with the grid featuring two-, three-, and four-cylinder machines. Last year, four manufacturers claimed victories, and with double WorldSSP champion Dominique Aegerter returning to the class, Kawasaki will be confident of winning races for the first time since 2023.

Last year’s champion, Manzi, has been promoted to the Superbike class, but the majority of last year’s front-runners will be back for 2026. Can Oncu replaces Manzi at the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing squad, and having proven himself with six victories last year, the Turkish rider will be the early-season favourite. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) return to the class this year and will be confident of adding to their race-winning pedigree, while former champions like Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) and Aegerter will look to return to the front of the field.

WorldSBK will feature a new class in 2026, with the FIM Sportbike World Championship making its debut at the Portuguese Round. With six manufacturers competing, the new class has already proven very popular, with Aprilia and Suzuki returning to the paddock.

The Portuguese Round will also be the first round of the WorldWCR season, with Maria Herrera returning as the defending champion.