SILLY SEASON FOR 2026: Oliveira signs for BMW as Chantra, Dixon complete Honda’s factory line-up
There have been some big announcements recently, including Jonathan Rea announcing his retirement from full-time racing
Several more questions about the grid for the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship have been answered. The grid is slowly coming together piece by piece, however a handful of high-profile rider’s futures are still up in the air. The announcements keep rolling in as the months progress with factory seats and Independent rides alike starting to be secured, but who’s going where for 2026?
CONFIRMED FOR 2026: the grid starts to take shape
The first riders to be announced for 2026 were the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Duo of Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani, who had their futures announced heading into the Czech Round in mid-May, with the pair being secured for next season. Beyond that, the make-up of the grid is unknown with the majority of the grid out of contract. Between Most and Misano, it was confirmed that Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) would stay with Yamaha for 2026 and 2027. Ahead of his home round, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) was announced as having signed a one-year contract with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad to take him through to the end of the 2026 campaign. Elsewhere, on the same day as Bulega’s renewal, it was announced that ‘El Turco’ would join Pramac Racing for 2026. American rider Garrett Gerloff will be staying in green, the Texan putting pen to paper on a one-year deal that will see him remain in green through 2026.
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) will remain in place for 2026 and 2027, having signed a new two-year deal with his Marc VDS Ducati squad. In the build-up to Donington, it was confirmed that Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) would stay with Barni Ducati for a second season in 2026. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the next domino to fall when he renewed his two-year deal with his Yamaha team, securing his future through 2027. Shortly after, Gardner’s teammate was confirmed with Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) making the move to WorldSBK for two seasons. A key seat was announced in the August break with reigning Independent Riders’ title winner Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) moving to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in place of MotoGP-bound Razgatlioglu. During the Aragon Round, Xavi Vierge's future was confirmed with the Spaniard moving to Pata Maxus Yamaha for 2026. The Tuesday after Aragon was a big day as the 2026 factory seats were completed: Miguel Oliveira will join BMW for 2026, while Honda HRC’s line-up will be Somkiat Chantra and Jake Dixon. Before the season-ending Spanish Round, Andrea Iannone's (Team Pata GoEleven) replacement was confirmed: Lorenzo Baldassarri will be back on the WorldSBK grid in 2026. After the season’s dramatic final weekend in Andalucia, Yamaha Motoxracing announced their rider lineup, maintaining Turkish rider Bahattin Sofuoglu and adding Italian Rookie Mattia Rato.
A BIG MONDAY IN AUGUST: Rea announces retirement as Lecuona moves to Ducati
The 25th August, 2025 was a busy day in terms of silly season – and one that will live long in the memories of WorldSBK fans everywhere. First, Iker Lecuona was announced as leaving Honda HRC and joining Aruba.it Racing – Ducati for 2026; confirming that Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) would leave the team despite messages saying the door wasn’t closed. Then, just 90 minutes later, Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) announced his retirement from full-time racing at the end of 2025, bringing an end to an illustrious and record-breaking career. However, a day later, Bautista had his future announced: he would join the Barni Spark Racing Team for 2026, keeping him on the Panigale V4R but with an Independent outfit.
THE REMAINING SEATS: Only Independent bikes remain available
That means 19 riders have now been confirmed for the 2026 WorldSBK campaign, including all the factory seats at Bimota, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. Attention now turns to the Independent outfits who are yet to announce. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was at the heart of a saga recently, first acknowledging at Estoril his future with Motocorsa Racing was “up in the air”. On Friday in Portugal, Team Manager Lorenzo Mauri confirmed he was looking at Moto2 riders to replace Vickers for 2026. MGM BONOVO Racing and the PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team are yet to announce plans for next season. As for Iannone, at Estoril he stated that he’s working on a ‘big project’ and that he’s ‘really confident’ that he will be on the 2026 grid.
Confirmed 2026 grid so far
Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team – Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani
Pata Maxus Yamaha – Andrea Locatelli and Xavi Vierge
Aruba.it Racing – Ducati – Nicolo Bulega and Iker Lecuona
Kawasaki Racing Team – Garrett Gerloff
ELF Marc VDS Racing Team – Sam Lowes
Barni Spark Racing Team – Yari Montella and Alvaro Bautista
GYTR GRT Yamaha Racing Team – Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi
ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira
Honda HRC – Somkiat Chanta and Jake Dixon
Team Pata GoEleven – Lorenzo Baldassarri
Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team – Bahattin Sofuoglu and Mattia Rato
Watch back through 2025 with full session uploads using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
