Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) has closed out the 2026 FIM Supersport World Championship battle early after taking a P4 finish at the Circuito Estoril. The WorldSSP rookie’s breakout campaign bulldozed the competition as his podium consistency etched his name ever-present on the rostrum. His triumph this season was earned after fighting tooth and nail each round with a host of talented riders; going head-to-head with a record-setting nine different race winners.
A ROSTRUM REGULAR
While runaway pace from rivals like Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) led him to more race wins this season than the #75, Arenas’s composure in the heat of battle saw him lock down podiums more consistently this season than any other rider. 16 podiums out of 21 races, including 11 P2s, with only three wins, proved too tall a challenge for his rivals to overcome as even when he was beaten for pace, he prevented strong swings in points.
TITLE TRIBULATIONS
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) came out of the gate firing on all cylinders over the first three rounds; while Arenas managed a win and three podiums over the first three rounds, he lurked behind his countryman in P2. The #75 picked his moment well at Balaton Park, seizing the title lead with a Race 1 P2 when Masia crashed out from the contest. Once he got his hands on P1, he sunk his teeth into the 2026 calendar. After a Race 1 bronze medal and a controversial Race 2 crash after contact with the #5 at Most, Arenas set off on a six-race streak placing at least P2, including a Race 2 win at Misano. That streak proved the difference, as while his rivals each had moments of brilliance, none could consistently emerge near the front race in, race out as Arenas.
AMONG THE GREAT ROOKIE TITLE RUNS
The emphatic nature of his trophy-lifting campaign makes it easy to forget that back in February, Arenas was riding in his maiden WorldSSP races as a rookie in the paddock. He was one of the most highly-anticipated rookies to have joined the paddock in recent memory; yet 2020 Moto3 World Championship or not, questions swirled pertaining to how he would acclimate to the paddock with such a weather-abridged preseason of testing. He would prove a fast learner however, and joins: Dominique Aegerter (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team), Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Sandro Cortese, and Cal Crutchlow among the riders to have achieved a Supersport World Championship in their first full season.
“I’M SUPER, SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT”
Reflecting on his 2026 success, Arenas said: “It feels so, so good, so special to give this title to my team, especially after they did such an incredible job all season. It’s amazing how much hard work they and Yamaha put in. I’m super, super happy about the achievement.”
You can read more from Arenas HERE.
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