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The defending Teams’ Champions Aruba.it Racing – Ducati have their eyes on the prize as they officially debut their new team, bike, and livery for the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season! Their team launch event gives the first look at their 2026 riders in this year’s leathers, and the team hopes they will be seeing them frequently drenched in prosecco as they battle once again for the Manufacturers’, Teams’ and Riders’ Championships.

CHAMPIONSHIP ASPIRATIONS: “Last year, we fought for the title until the last race. We have to try to put everything together to try to win the championship."

To do so, Nicolo Bulega returns as their star man, now in his third season in WorldSBK, the Italian has shown his talent from his first laps in the category, and while a World Championship has yet eluded him, with Toprak Razgatlioglu now in the MotoGP paddock, he stands as the title favourite. It will by no means be easy for him, as his former teammate Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team), Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) as well as BMW’s new rider pair  of Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Miguel Oliveira will all be making a play for the crown.

On his view of the upcoming season, Bulega said: "I'm really happy to start the season: we're finally back. The winter has been very long. Unfortunately, the weather didn't help us during testing, so I can't wait to be in Australia and quickly find the right feeling with the team. But I'm convinced that it won't take long. I'm very motivated and confident that it will be a great season. Last year, we fought for the title until the last race. We have to try to put everything together to try to win the championship."

A HIGH BAR WITH HIS NEW TEAM: “The goal is clear: to put ourselves in a position to fight for the title and try to win it" 

Iker Lecuona joins the team after four impressive years with Honda HRC. He landed two of the team’s three podiums in that period, and always pushed to the knife’s edge, and how he has landed a seat atop the prestigious factory Ducati. His adaptations have been slightly hampered by the poor weather conditions in testing so far, but as soon as he gets up to speed, his talent and fearless riding style may propel him to be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship this season.

Ahead of lights out on 2026, Lecuona said: “"I am very happy to be part of this team: the best team with the best bike. It is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity in my career so far, and for this I want to thank my family, my wife, my friends, my manager and, of course, Aruba Racing and Ducati for believing in me. Let's see what we can do during the season, how we can improve day after day. The goal is clear: to put ourselves in a position to fight for the title and try to win it." 

BELIEF IN THEIR RIDERS: “Nicolo Bulega has already shown that he has what it takes to win the title, Iker Lecuona arrives with a wealth of experience, despite being only 26 years old”

Ducati’s heavyweight status in the Championship remains ever-present ahead of 2026 after they celebrated their fourth Teams’ Championship and Manufacturers’ Championship in a row. Not content with complacency, the Italian manufacturer has unveiled a new homologation of their workhorse Panigale V4 R model. The new bike combines the winning pedigree of the Panigale V4 R and its 108 victories since its introduction in 2019, with updated features like a double swing arm and an improved front aero package.

Stefano Cecconi, Team Principal, added: “We are embarking on this new challenge knowing that we gave it our all right up to the last corner of 2025 and fully aware that the season about to begin will be a tough test. The bar has been raised, as have expectations, but that is precisely what motivates us to work even harder. Unfortunately, the weather conditions during testing limited our time on the track and prevented us from fully discovering and understanding all the qualities of the new Panigale V4R. However, I am confident we will complete the planned programme during official testing in Australia and be ready for the first weekend. I have great confidence in our riders: Nicolo Bulega has already shown that he has what it takes to win the title, Iker Lecuona arrives with a wealth of experience, despite being only 26 years old, and I am sure he will prove his worth as soon as possible. Good luck to the whole team, we can't wait to turn all our hard work into results and give all Ducatisti something to cheer about."

Luigi Dall'Igna General Manager Ducati Corse added: "In 2026, a new chapter will begin for the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team, with a clear ambition: to fight to the end for the world riders' title and bring it back to Borgo Panigale. This is our mission: we know how challenging it will be and how strong our rivals are, but we also know what it takes to be protagonists, and we have already proven it. We will do so with high expectations, thanks in part to the debut of the new Panigale V4 R, an important step in our growth and competitiveness. We have every confidence in Nicolo Bulega: in recent years, he has shown talent, consistency, and maturity, finishing as runner-up twice in Superbike, always fighting until the last round. We are confident that he has what it takes to take the decisive step. At his side is Iker Lecuona: taking over from Alvaro Bautista, who remains in the Ducati Corse family, will be a challenging task, but we have no doubt about his qualities and talent. Finally, I would like to highlight the achievements of last year in the Team and Manufacturers' World Championships: we are starting again from there, with the same determination, with the desire to experience another exciting season and with the goal of adding a third title."

Don’t miss a moment of the factory Ducati quest for the crown with the WorldSBK VideoPass!