DRAMATIC TITLE DECIDER: Artigas crowned Champion as Thompson claims victory in Race 2 at Jerez

The FIM Sportbike World Championship came to a dramatic conclusion in 2026 as Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) was crowned Champion after a P8 finish at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia. The #34 secured the title despite David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) finishing ahead of him during Race 2 for the Pirelli Spanish Round, which was won by Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse).

THE TITLE IS DECIDED

The two title contenders started from seventh and eighth, with Artigas ahead of Salvador on the grid, and both were instantly on the charge with Salvador moving into fifth on Lap 1 and Artigas into sixth. On Lap 2, Salvador hit the front and immediately tried to break away from the chasing pack with Artigas in fifth, but at Turn 6 the #34 moved into second. On Lap 4, Salvador was demoted to third as Artigas and Thompson came through, before the two title rivals nearly came to blows at Turn 6. Thompson broke away from the field as everyone else started squabbling over P2. On Lap 6, Salvador pulled off an aggressive move on Artigas at Turn 2 as Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) ran in second, more than a second clear of the chasing pack. By Lap 8, Artigas had dropped to sixth place with Salvador in third, but, just a lap later, the #34 was back in the rostrum places as Salvador dropped to fifth at Turn 6. On the same lap, both ran very wide at Turn 13 as Artigas tried to pass him at Lorenzo Corner, dropping to P8 and P9. At that point, Salvador started fighting his way through the field while Artigas maintained his position at the back of the group. Despite Salvador taking fourth, Artigas finished in eighth to be crowned this year’s Champion.

THOMPSON ON TOP AGAIN

Back at the front, Thompson had bottled and he finished 4.565s ahead of Torres in second as they battled for third in the world standings. With the Australian finishing ahead of the Spaniard, Thompson secured third place with the pair level on points heading into Race 2, and Thompson claimed his second win of the season; both have come in the last two rounds. Pepe Osuna (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) claimed his first WorldSPB rostrum as he finished in third place as he led the big group with the title contenders.

BIG GROUP IN THE TOP TEN

Behind Salvador in fourth, Alvaro Fuertes (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) backed up his Race 1 rostrum with a fifth-place finish in Race 2. The Spanish rider was just two tenths away from a second podium. Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) put in a strong performance to end his campaign as he finished in sixth, ahead of Juan Risueno (Pons Motosport Italika Racing), Artigas, Elia Bartolini (CM Triumph Factory Racing) and Taiyo Aksu (PATA AG Motorsport Italia); the #89 ended his season with his best weekend of the season.

RETIREMENTS FROM RACE 2

Four riders crashed out on the opening lap in two separate incidents. At Turn 9, Indi Schunselaar (VLR Racing Team Suzuki) and Troy Sovicka (Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing) collided, while Triumph duo Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) and Bruno Ieraci (CM Triumph Factory Racing) came to blows at Turn 13. At the end of Lap 6, Mirko Gennai (Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing) crashed at Turn 12, and while he was able to get his bike back on track, he rode into the pits and retired. Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) crashed out at Turn 2 on Lap 7, while Gonzalo Sanchez (ARCO Yamaha MotoR University Team) was a late retirement from the final race of the season.

The top six from WorldSPB Race 2, full results here:

1. Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse)
2. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +4.565s
3. Pepe Osuna (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) +6.224s
4. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +6.331s
5. Alvaro Fuertes (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) +6.420s
6. Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) +6.527s
   Fastest lap: Carter Thompson (Yamaha), 1’46.716s

Championship standings

1. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) 245 points
2. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) 237
3. Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) 193
4. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) 188
5. Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) 143
6. Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) 127

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