The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s 2026 season finale is here. The Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia hosts this year’s action as the campaign draws to a close, and it’s sure to be a dramatic round. There will be emotional farewells at the Pirelli Spanish Round while everyone on the grid will look to end what has been a record-breaking year of World Superbike action.

A FAREWELL TO PIRELLI…

World Superbike has exclusively used Pirelli tyres since 2004, but they will depart the paddock at the end of this season. They’ve helped propel 12 different riders to WorldSBK titles over the last 23 seasons, where records have been smashed and eras have been defined: from close title races, Jonathan Rea winning six consecutive Championships for Kawasaki between 2015 and 2020, there was the ‘Titanic Trio’ era and, of course, 2026 which has been historic for so many reasons. It’s one last round for Pirelli in WorldSBK at Jerez.

…AND FAREWELLS TO RIDERS LEAVING THEIR CURRENT TEAMS

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has already been crowned Champion and has broken so many records. He could add to that tally this weekend with an 11^th pole of the year, tying the best for a season tally with Ben Spies, while he could also make it 36 podiums. The record for rostrums in one campaign is 34, set in 2019, by Jonathan Rea. Of course, ‘Bulegas’ will say goodbye to WorldSBK after Jerez as he prepares to take on the MotoGP paddock. A few riders will also say farewell to their current outfit. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) will have one last round in Yamaha blue before he moves to Barni Ducati, replacing Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team), whose future is up in the air, with Bautista stating that he isn’t worried about what’s to come. Jerez is a circuit the #19 adores and he showed podium pace at Estoril, so could there be a fairytale ending to the two-time WorldSBK Champion’s stint with Barni Ducati? Elsewhere, Danilo Petrucci's (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) one season with BMW comes to an end at Jerez and the #9 will also be aiming to go out on a high after what’s been a tough year for the three-time race winner. Like Bautista, his future is unknown, but he has stated he has to decide whether to continue in WorldSBK.

AIMING HIGH AT JEREZ

After his treble at Cremona, Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) would have wanted more from Estoril but he was beaten by Bulega all weekend. The #7 will look to end his debut Ducati campaign with more silverware but he’s stated in the past Jerez isn’t a circuit that suits him. The battle for bronze has simmered down a bit after Estoril. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) holds a 53-point lead over Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) so the #5 could cement his position in third place in Race 1, providing he remains 38 points or more clear of the #22. In his rookie campaign, Montella had a best of P11 at the Spanish venue, while Alex Lowes has taken a podium at Jerez before and hasn’t been out of the top six since 2023. While the Bimota rider will do everything he can to snatch third from Montella, he’ll also have to watch out for twin brother Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). The #14 sits just 12 points behind his sibling and will hope to bounce back from a disappointing Estoril to secure P4 in the standings; he can’t leapfrog Montella to take third.

THE FIGHTS INSIDE THE TOP TEN

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) is on course for his best WorldSBK finish as he sits sixth and his future is secure after renewing his contract with GoEleven Ducati. He’s six points ahead of Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) after the #47 finished P7, P6 and P5 at Estoril. Both will be searching for their first Jerez rostrum. They could face competition from Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing). The rookie has been in sensational form in recent rounds, taking four podiums from Cremona and Estoril, including in all three races at the Portuguese venue. His recent results – only outside the top ten in Aragon Race 1, when he had a back of the grid penalty and when he crashed from P3 in Race 1 at Cremona – have seen him climb the standings and into eighth. He’s 35 points behind ‘Balda’, and 29 behind ‘El Bocia’ with 62 available at Jerez, so perhaps P6 and P7 in the World Championship is just a bit out of reach for the #67. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) is 19 points behind Surra, on 160, and will hope he can fight for P8 in the standings, while his current position of ninth would match his best finish in WorldSBK. He’s ahead of Bautista, who will look to cement his place in the top ten but watch out for Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). The #88 found form at Estoril and is just one point behind the #19, so perhaps a late charge into the top ten isn’t off the cards.

TOP YAMAHA BATTLE

The fight to be this year’s top Yamaha will be decided at Jerez, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) on 118 points and teammate Vierge just 10 behind. ‘Loka’ was point-less last time out at Estoril and will hope to find form at a circuit he’s taken two rostrums out, while Vierge will hope to leave Paul Denning’s team by finishing as the top rider in blue. Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) will hope to consolidate 15^th in the standings ahead of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Petrucci, while the Australian’s teammate, Stefano Manzi, will harbour hopes of overhauling his 15-point deficit to ‘Petrux’. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) has found form since Cremona and is on a run of six points-scoring rides, so he’ll look to continue that at the circuit he first rode the CBR1000RR-R SP machine in testing. Similarly, his Honda teammate, Somkiat Chantra, has taken four point-scoring finishes from the last six races. Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) scored points at Estoril and will hope to end his rookie campaign in similar fashion, with teammate Twan Smits still looking to get on the board this season following his late call-up to replace Bahattin Sofuoglu. Elsewhere, Loris Baz continues to replace Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) at the season finale, with the #76 enjoying plenty of success at Jerez in the past, including a best of P4.

Get set for Jerez by watching the highlights show from Estoril HERE, read the Official Programme for Jerez and subscribe to the WorldSBK VideoPass for only €4.99!