A familiar face has ridden back into the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock for the first time since 2024, and the first time on the WorldSBK grid since 2023. Lorenzo Baldassarri put pen to paper this offseason and signed on as Team GoEleven’s sole rider atop their Ducati Panigale V4 R after the team and former rider Andrea Iannone parted ways.

The Italian will look to first re-find his footing in the category, as he hasn’t competed in the class since 2023, where he struggled to find consistent point-scoring form that season when on the Yamaha R1. Aiding him, however, will be that he arrives to the paddock in good form; he took home sixth place in the MotoE Riders’ Championship in 2025, and if he can find a way to translate that success into WorldSBK, he may soon find that yellow is a good colour on the #34.

Baldassarri said about his upcoming season: "The bike is amazing, I can't wait to try it in dry conditions at Phillip Island, because besides being beautiful, I also think it's the best package there is right now. The previous Panigale was already at an excellent level, I think the latest version is even stronger. Ducati is always working on something better, I think I'm in the best shape possible, both physically and mentally, and in a team with the right harmony, we can achieve some great results. Unfortunately, the tests took place in wet conditions, so we don't have a real starting point, but in Australia we still have a few days before the official start of the Championship. The main goal is to grow throughout the season and be able to fight for the top positions after the initial adaptation period. I'm ready and I can't wait to start having fun!"

In his box, ‘Balda’ can count on the experienced guidance of his Team Manager, Denis Sacchetti and crew chief Filippo Burgatti. 2026 brings a new challenge with the arrival of Baldassarri, but everyone will be aiming high with their new rider as the Italian goes in search of a first World Superbike rostrum in his second year.

On the campaign that awaits them, Team Owner Gianni Ramello said: “A new season is upon us, as we get close to our 20th anniversary in World Superbike! Our new double-sided Ducati Panigale is unbelievable. The yellow colour, which I'm particularly fond of, will stand out on the WorldSBK grid and is unique. Technically, thanks also to the support and help of our partners, I'm confident the bike will be competitive and capable of achieving important results. For this new year, we've welcomed Lorenzo Baldassarri. We're confident in his talent and speed, and we'll do everything necessary to enable him to perform at his best. We know it will take some time to get to know the bike, and unfortunately we haven't ridden much over the winter, but we're confident the results will come quickly. The debut is almost here—one last unveiling before we all fly to Australia!"

Catch ‘Balda’ back in action in 2026 live and OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass!