News

After riders traded their leathers for tuxedos for the season-concluding MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship gala event, and the subsequent pair of test days at Jerez, the focus largely shifted on a dime to looking ahead to 2026. While there is plenty to look forward to, with fans and riders alike buzzing with excitement already for WorldSBK’s new era in 2026, there are still teams, manufacturers and more who deserve a look in the limelight for their victorious 2025 campaigns.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: WorldSBK’s historic 2025 campaign was a proud sendoff for several legends

In what was a season of the last ride of historic rivalries, new faces climbing to unprecedented heights and emotional goodbyes to fan-favourite riders, 2025 was a little bit of everything. Toprak Razgatlioglu and his historic pace through the midpoint of the season held on to name him the 2025 WorldSBK Riders’ Champion. The factory Ducati team didn’t go home penniless, however, as the Bologna-based manufacturer took home the Manufacturers’ title following the season’s final race, and their factory lineup of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista locked down the Teams’ Championship.

In what would turn out to be his final lap with the Honda HRC crew after four seasons together, Xavi Vierge gave a parting gift as the Spanish rider took home the best Finish Award after the final race of the season. Danilo Petrucci locked up another piece of silverware for himself at the penultimate EICMA Estoril Round, where, after Race 1, he claimed the Top Independent Rider Award. At the same round following the Superpole Race, Razgatlioglu took home the Tissot Superpole Award, and later, the Pirelli Best Lap Award. While it isn’t an official award, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) also finished as the top rookie of the 2025 class.

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and his 2025 teammate Danilo Petrucci landed a considerable achievement in their triumph to be crowned Best Independent Team, Petrucci’s consistency and Montella’s impressive flat-out speed for a rookie helped the Independent Ducati squad to meet their mark.

YAMAHA’S YEAR: The R9’s release marked a season of dominance for the manufacturer and its riders

Stefano Manzi made 2025 his own through his metronomic consistency, helping him to protect his lead and lock down the Riders’ Championship a round early after Estoril’s Race 2. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) brought an accolade to Honda as he landed the Japanese manufacturer the honour of the WorldSSP Challenge after the Estoril Round. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) took home a trio of honours as he hoisted the Pirelli Best Lap award, the Tissot Superpole award, and lifted the Teams’ Championship award, both after the conclusion of the season’s final race. It’s safe to say that Yamaha’s unveiling of their new R9 bike was a success, as the manufacturer secured the Manufacturers’ title after Race 2 of Magny Cours, locking down the title with three rounds still to play.

A PROUD FAREWELL CAMPAIGN: This season’s riders sent off the Championship well

In what was the Championship’s last ever season, Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) held off his title rivals from their late play for the crown at Jerez and locked down the title in a dramatic final corner move from the Spanish rider. While his exploits saw him lift the Riders’ Championship, one of his fiercest rivals in the title fight, David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) and his pacey compatriot teammate, Antonio Torres, were consistently around the top positions all season, earning them the Teams’ Championship. Salvador doubled up on silverware in 2025 as his prodigious one-lap pace saw him earn the Tissot Superpole Award in Jerez’s final Superpole session of the season. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki), Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Italka Racing), and a host of other talented riders joined forces with Salvador and Torres, and their efforts culminated in Kawasaki claiming the Manufacturers’ Championship in the penultimate round of the season at Estoril in Race 2. After that same contest, Fernandez took home a second award of his own in the form of the Pirelli Best Lap Award.

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON 2: WorldWCR shined again in its second season, here were some of its brightest lights

WorldWCR’s sophomore season picked up right where they left off with the Championship’s intensity and raised the bar again in speed as Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) and Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) clashed at the front. Herrera came out on top and lifted the Riders Championship after the season’s final race at Jerez. After that same decisive final weekend at Jerez, the #6 was also awarded the Tissot Superpole Award, a cherry on top of her already successful 2025 season. Her main rival at the front, Neila saw herself finish second in the final standings; however, she can hang her hat on her strong one-lap speed all season, earning her the Pirelli Best Lap Award at Jerez’s Race 2. Finally, Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) was honoured with the Best Finish Award, thanks in part to recovery rides like her P15 start to P5 finish at Assen, which was the biggest comeback of any rider all season.

Look back through how these teams and riders met their mark in 2025 and in years prior with the WorldSBK VideoPass!