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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: Bulega one of a handful announced for next year…

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. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) is also contracted for next year at the Independent Ducati-powered Motocorsa Racing outfit, having signed with the team for 2025 and 2026 when he joined them. 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.

OUT OF CONTRACT: a lot of riders’ futures up in the air

While 11 riders have been confirmed for 2026, that means most haven’t – including Champions and title contenders. Looking up the grid, six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) is out of contract. At Honda HRC, both Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have shown good pace in 2025 and will hope that secures them a spot for 2026. Dominique Aegerter is still searching for a ride, but this will not be with GRT Yamaha, although Yamaha’s Niccolo Canepa did state they were exploring the possibility to keep him within the Yamaha family, as is Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who is also yet to have his future confirmed.

In terms of independent riders, everyone bar Vickers, Montella, Petrucci and Sam Lowes, is out of contract for 2026, including race winner Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven). Of course, with Petrucci leaving the Barni Ducati squad at the end of the season, that opens up a seat at an Independent squad, on the Panigale V4R, which has been fighting for podiums consistently over the last few seasons.

WHAT’S BEEN SAID SO FAR: “I can see that they believe in the project, and they also believe in me”

The Czech Round is where talk of the future started ramping up and several riders spoke about 2026. Bautista announced his intention to race in 2026 but is waiting for an answer from the team. However, a month later at Misano, Bautista confirmed that, while he’d spoken to the team to take up the option, they wouldn’t be taking up their side. He said: “I communicated to the team that, from my side, I was happy and wanted to continue because I felt that, even with the rules, we’re working and arriving at a good performance. Then, Ducati said from their side, they don’t want to accept the conditions we signed so they broke the agreement; that’s all I can say because if you want to know more about this, you have to ask Ducati. I’m free for next year.” Rea also spoke about his future at Most, giving a one-word answer when asked if there was an update: “No”.

Speaking after the Hungarian Round, Bautista stated the door was not closed with Ducati but there had been no offer. For Rea, his last update also came in Hungary, when he said he “has some options” but will understand more in the summer break.

RAZGATLIOGLU'S MOVE: the knock-on effect…

Reigning Champion Razgatlioglu’s move to MotoGP comes with a big knock-on effect, in both WorldSBK and MotoGP. Starting with his current paddock, it means two seats were available at the factory BMW squad with Michael van der Mark yet to put pen to paper. The MotoGP rider market is also in full swing, but the key focus point with Toprak’s move for 2026 is Pramac Yamaha: current rider Jack Miller was signed on a deal for 2025, while teammate Miguel Oliveira has a contract until the end of 2026. However, in August, BMW confirmed that one of the vacant seats would be taken by Petrucci with the Italian ‘succeeding’ Razgatlioglu. There is still no news about who Petrucci’s teammate will be next year, with several names linked but no official announcement.

Confirmed 2026 grid so far (TBA = to be announced)

Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team – Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani

Motocorsa Racing – Ryan Vickers

Pata Maxus Yamaha – Andrea Locatelli and TBA

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati – Nicolo Bulega and TBA

Kawasaki Racing Team – Garrett Gerloff

ELF Marc VDS Racing Team – Sam Lowes

Barni Spark Racing Team – Yari Montella and TBA

GYTR GRT Yamaha Racing Team – Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi

ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – Danilo Petrucci and TBA

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