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The most common refrain at the Czech Grand Prix last weekend was “what’s your plan for the summer break?” Once the niceties had been sorted the second most popular question was ‘What’s happening with your riders for next year?’. The MotoGP rider market sets the scene for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship line-up. When MotoGP falls into place, WorldSBK follows. The Pramac Yamaha seat alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is the most obvious to fill and the one with the biggest impact on our grid for next year.

THE GRAND PRIX NAMES IN THE MIX: who could stop across to WorldSBK?

Jack Miller is at the top of the shopping list for multiple manufacturers in WorldSBK. The Australian, a ten-time Grand Prix winner, would be a very popular addition to the Championship. He is, however, holding out to stay on the MotoGP grid. With the promise of a Yamaha V4 on the horizon, it’s understandable that he is looking for one last shot in the prototype class.

Manu Gonzalez, the 2019 WorldSSP300 Champion and two-time WorldSSP race winner, leads the Moto2 Championship. With four wins and eight podiums from the opening 12 Grands Prix of the season, he is primed to claim the Championship. Gonzalez is looking to move to MotoGP next year and Yamaha are keen to work with him. The rider that Gonzalez is fighting for the title, Aron Canet, is very clearly in play in the WorldSBK paddock. The Spaniard, who turns 26 in September, is unlikely to get a MotoGP shot at any point. That’s why he’s shopping his options around. He could remain in Moto2 and challenge for titles or move to WorldSBK and get a good opportunity to race at the front and earn well.

CANET’S CHOICES: BMW or Ducati?

Canet’s primary option was BMW to replace Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). The alternative is much more interesting, though. A switch to the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati squad would give him a 2026 Ducati V4R and the best bike on the grid. He’d have to sacrifice wages for performance but those closest to Canet have said winning would be the bigger spur. In Moto2, he took 69 races to win a race but now he has that taste again he’d struggle to give it up.

If he decides to move, Canet would be the latest in a long line of Moto2 riders making the switch to WorldSBK. Nicolo Bulega is the most successful transfer for the WorldSBK class but Randy Krummenacher, Andrea Locatelli and Dominique Aegerter all won WorldSSP titles having moved across. This year, Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) is well on his way to matching their feats. The transition from Moto2 to the World Superbike class is a trend where teams have seen Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) make a big step forward in his sophomore season. It looks likely that he’ll be joined on the grid by Jake Dixon with the six-time Moto2 race winner rumoured to move to Honda next year; another Moto2 race winner could be on the way.

CHANGES TO COME AT HONDA? Plenty of names linked…

Dixon’s move would be a clear upgrade for Honda. His Grand Prix success outstrips Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) or teammate Xavi Vierge and would give Honda a rookie to partner with a more experienced racer. Dixon, a British Superbike race winner, has shown a consistent turn of speed since Pirelli were introduced to Moto2. The switch of rubber made the transition easier for riders coming from Moto2 and he would be an exciting addition to the grid. It’s possible that he could be partnered with Miller if the Aussie moves to WorldSBK.

YAMAHA’S OPTIONS: where will they shop if Rea doesn’t stay if blue?

At Yamaha, the situation is a little different. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) is already under contract and Manzi is almost certain to step up to the big class. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team), arguably the fastest rider in WorldSSP this season, has an option to move to WorldSBK or the Moto2 class. It’s likely that he’ll opt to race in the Grand Prix paddock to race against his brother Deniz. That should mean that Remy Gardner stays on for another season, but Yamaha will then need to find a fourth rider, should they move on from Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha).

REA AND BAUTISTA’S FUTURE: where could they be in 2026?

Rea, and Bautista, are both interesting riders to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Do you want to hire the best available WorldSBK riders? If so, you look at these World Champions. Their reputations have been damaged over the last two years but if you can hire them for pennies on the pound and pay them with big bonuses is there any real risk? Rea is motivated and ready to move on from a torrid time in blue. If BMW look to make a splash with their rider hirings, maybe Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), then Rea would surely try and seize the moment to move to the Barni squad. An independent Ducati will definitely be the goal for him. At Donington Park it was clear that Rea had held some discussions with Honda too. He’ll have options but will they be good enough? Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) should be in play for someone. If Andrea Iannone leaves Team Pata GoEleven, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s replaced by Bautista.

There are a lot of moving parts to be fitted into place over the coming weeks. In Hungary, the chat around the paddock will be “what comes first, your holiday or a decision on your rider?”

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