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Lorenzo Baldassarri will make a return to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2026 as he joins Team Pata GoEleven for next season. It will mean ‘Balda’ is back on the WorldSBK grid for the first time since 2023 and will ride the new Ducati Panigale V4R machine when he re-joins the field. Baldassarri steps in to replace Andrea Iannone, who announced his departure from the team on Thursday at Estoril.

THE PATH TO WORLD SUPERBIKE: Title contender in WorldSSP after Moto2 victories

The 29-year-old got his first taste of the WorldSBK paddock in 2022 when he raced for the Evan Bros Yamaha outfit in WorldSSP, finishing second in the standings behind Dominique Aegerter, with 16 podiums and four wins in 24 races. That secured him a promotion to WorldSBK with GMT94 Yamaha, but 2023 was tricky for both team and rider, with ‘Balda’ taking a best finish of P12 on the Yamaha R1 at Jerez – in both Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race. Prior to his time in the WorldSBK paddock, Baldassarri won the 2011 Red Bull Rookies Cup and claimed five Moto2 wins in 135 races, with 12 rostrums to his name.

BACK TO WORLD SUPERSPORT: A difficult 2024 campaign

Baldassarri returned to WorldSSP for 2024 but endured a challenging season. He started it on the Ducati Panigale V2 with Orelac Racing VerdNatura but, with only one top-ten finish in six races, left the team to join WRP by SKM-Triumph on the Street Triple RS 765. His woes continued with only one top-ten finish to his name in 12 races, coming in the penultimate race of the campaign when he finished 10^th in Race 1 at Jerez.

REBUILDING IN MotoE: A title contender in his rookie season

For 2025, Baldassarri switched to MotoE and has secured consistent results, which have allowed him to be a title contender. Ahead of the final round at Portimao in November, ‘Balda’ sits fourth in the standings, 12 points behind Alessandro Zaccone. Although he hasn’t stood on the top step of the podium this season, three podiums and only one finish outside the top six (tenth in Race 1 at Misano) means Baldassarri has a mathematical chance of the title. The pressure of looking for a ride for his future is now off, too, after securing a deal with GoEleven Ducati in WorldSBK.

BALDASSARRI’S COMMENTS: “I can't wait to start the new season with GoEleven, because I think it's an excellent team, putting me in the position to express my potential”

Discussing his return to WorldSBK, ‘Balda’ stated: “I'm very happy that this opportunity has become true. I thank the team, all the people who believed in the project and those who have always been by my side. I'm motivated and excited. I've had some difficult years, but this year I've relaunched myself in MotoE, a somewhat unusual Championship, but one in which I managed to return to the top and onto the podium. Now I'll go to Portimao to fight for the title. I can't wait to start the new season with GoEleven, because I think it's an excellent team, both familiar and professional at the same time, putting me in the position to express my potential, with the goal of a growing season. We'll have to work and improve gradually, but at the beginning I'll want to enjoy the bike, the 2026 V4R, which will be an extraordinary bike. I had the chance to race with the road version, and I immediately felt comfortable, I think the racing version is a step up. Now I'm focused on preparing for the season as best as possible, having a good pre-season with the team, to come to Australia ready: Phillip Island is my favourite track, it will be to start from there!”

THE TEAM’S VIEW: “We're starting with no expectations, and I hope to improve race after race, but I'm aware that it will take a period of adaptation to the category and to Ducati

Speaking about the Italian’s arrival, Team Owner Gianni Romello added: “I had the opportunity to personally follow the negotiations with Lorenzo, and I'm happy and motivated to welcome him to my team. I don't think he's ever had a real chance to show his potential in WorldSBK, but I hope he can do so with us. He's a rider who had won in Moto2, constantly on the podium in the Supersport World Championship, and I believe he can create a great atmosphere within the team; working with young riders is an extra motivation for me. I can't wait to see him in action, and we're also waiting for the new V4 to be delivered so we can organise the first winter tests. We're starting with no expectations, and I hope to improve race after race, but I'm aware that it will take a period of adaptation to the category and to Ducati. Welcome, Lorenzo!”

SACCHETTI SAYS: “Speaking with him, I found a guy with a hunger to reach the top, aware that it will be a long and challenging journey, but his mentality is right”

Team Manager Denis Sacchetti stated: “We're thrilled to welcome Baldassarri to GoEleven. Lorenzo has proven he can ride very fast in recent years, and his performance proves it, even if recent seasons weren’t really positive. We're convinced he has the potential to be a surprise in WorldSBK. He's still young, but at the same time he has the right experience to take on this challenge. Speaking with him, I found a guy with a hunger to reach the top, aware that it will be a long and challenging journey, but his mentality is right. He'll have the latest version of Panigale and full Ducati support. We'll have the first official tests with the new bike in January, and we're all excited to begin this adventure.”

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