Another piece of the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid has fallen into place. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) will remain in red for the 2026 campaign – but a different shade – as he moves from the factory Honda team to the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati factory effort. The #7 completes the team’s line-up for next season as he joins 2025 Championship contender Nicolo Bulega on the Bologna-based manufacturer’s new machine next season.

MAKING WAVES: Lecuona’s rise through the MotoGP paddock

After taking a best of sixth in the standings in the Moto2 European Championship, Valencia-born Lecuona made his Moto2 World Championship debut in 2016 and remained there until 2019. He secured his personal best of second at his home Grand Prix in Valencia, from 21^st on the grid, while his only other podium was third in Thailand. However, he moved up to MotoGP in 2020 with Red Bull KTM Tech3 for two seasons, taking a best finish of sixth in the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix, but he found refuge in a new home in WorldSBK.

IMPRESSING AT HONDA: a pole and two podiums for the Japanese manufacturer

Lecuona formed part of a new line-up for Honda HRC when he joined the factory squad in 2022, alongside fellow rookie Xavi Vierge. He didn’t have to wait too long for his one, and so far, only pole in WorldSBK as he stunned the grid at the 2022 Catalunya Round; he eventually finished Race 1 in sixth. His first podium came at Assen in the same year, taking advantage of a chaotic race to finish in third. However, he’d have to wait more than two years for his next podium, which came at Estoril from 14^th on the grid – and he admitted afterwards that such a long wait for another podium, plus plenty of injuries, led him to doubt himself.

A NEW CHALLENGE AWAITS: a factory Ducati seat is Lecuona’s

Lecuona will leave Honda after four campaigns on the CBR1000RR-R, claiming two podiums and one pole position. For 2026, he stays in red but will base with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad as he looks to add wins and more podiums to his name on the Ducati machine, with the Italian brand set to introduce a new bike next year. He’ll partner Nicolo Bulega, with the #11 set for his third campaign with Ducati.

BAUTISTA’S FUTURE UP IN THE AIR: the #19 won’t race at the factory team

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) first broke the news that he wouldn’t race for the factory Ducati team at Misano after he said the team wouldn’t take up their option on him. However, as recently as the UK Round, the two-time Champion stated that the door wasn’t closed. However, that door has now been shut with the announcement that Lecuona will race alongside Bulega, leaving the #19 without a seat for 2026; although, given the Misano news from Bautista, it’s inevitable he and his manager will have been working on options for next season.

THE TEAM’S ANNOUNCEMENT: “The team would like to express its heartfelt thanks for the five years spent together and the extraordinary results achieved”

Announcing the signing, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team said in a statement: “The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with Iker Lecuona, who will ride the new Ducati Panigale V4R in the 2026 WorldSBK season. Born on January 6, 2000, in Valencia, the Spanish rider made his debut in the Moto2 category at the age of 16, where he remained for four seasons before moving up to MotoGP in 2020 with the Tech3 team. Since 2022, he has been competing in World Superbike with the Honda HRC team, with whom he has achieved two podiums and one pole position in the 113 races he has contested so far.

“Inevitably, with the arrival of Lecuona, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team and Alvaro Bautista will be parting ways. Having completed 228 races to date on the Panigale V4R, with 63 wins that made him the most successful Ducati rider in WorldSBK history, 120 podiums in total, 10 pole positions and, of course, two World Championship titles, these numbers alone are enough to define the relationship that has been built with Alvaro, an exemplary rider and professional both on and off the track. For this reason, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team would like to express its heartfelt thanks for the five years spent together and the extraordinary results achieved.”

HONDA’S STATEMENT: “Honda HRC wishes to thank Iker Lecuona for his dedication and professionalism throughout these four years together”

Announcing Lecuona’s departure from Honda HRC, a statement said: “Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and rider Iker Lecuona will bring their collaboration to a close at the end of the 2025 Superbike World Championship season. Since joining Honda HRC in 2022, Lecuona has proved his dedication and racing spirit, working closely with his crew to steadily improve on performance and consistently fight inside the top ten. His best WorldSBK results include two podium finishes, at Assen in 2022 and at Estoril in 2024. Committed to his role as a Honda rider, Lecuona also represented the company during several MotoGP rounds, as a replacement rider, and was part of the triumphant Honda line-up at the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in 2022, riding the CBR1000RR-R SP. Honda HRC wishes to thank Iker Lecuona for his dedication and professionalism throughout these four years together.”

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