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The grid for the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has a few pieces of the puzzle confirmed but many more riders do not yet have their future confirmed, including the top three in the Championship. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), teammate Alvaro Bautista, and Toprak Razgatlioglu do not yet have their 2026 plans as the talk about next season ramps up just as much as this year’s title battle.

CONFIRMED FOR 2026: just a few riders…

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, no factory riders have their future announced, the make-up of the grid is unknown with the majority of the grid out of contract.

OUT OF CONTRACT: everyone’s futures up in the air

While three riders have been confirmed for 2026, that means most haven’t – including Champions and title contenders. Razgatlioglu is approaching the end of his two-year BMW deal and there has been no announcement about his future yet, likewise Bulega at the factory Ducati squad. Bautista signed a one-year deal last year, so his future is unknown at this point. Looking up the grid, six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) is also out of contract. Teammate Andrea Locatelli, WorldSBK’s newest race winner, is also 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. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and teammate Dominique Aegerter are both searching for a spot as is Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) following his move to Kawasaki. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is also yet to have his future confirmed, meaning all but two factory seats are up for grabs for 2026.

In terms of Independent riders, everyone bar Vickers out of contract for 2026, including race winners Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven), plus podium contenders such as Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) as well as all four rookies on the 2025 grid.

WHAT’S BEEN SAID SO FAR: “Kenan’s still talking to other brands…”

The Czech Round is where talk of the future started ramping up and several riders spoke about 2026. Razgatlioglu said his future is still undecided as manager and mentor Kenan Sofuoglu is “still talking to other brands”, while Bautista announced his intention to race in 2026 but is waiting for an answer from the team. As for teammate Bulega, the #11 stated his goal was to stay with Ducati. Rea also spoke about his future, giving a one-word answer when asked if there was an update: “No”.

Confirmed 2026 grid so far

Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team – Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani

Motocorsa Racing – Ryan Vickers

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