CREW CHIEF CHANGES: Who will be running the show from inside the boxes in 2026?
Several big changes took place over the winter break involving the minds supporting their riders from pit lane
It’s hard to overstate the importance that the right crew chief can play inside the garage, and finding that perfect fit motivated several changes this offseason within the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock. Up and down the order, factory and Independent teams alike are seeing many new faces. Find out more down below to see who’s among new company and who is preparing to run it back in the upcoming 2026 season!
MARQUEE MOVES: A litany of big crew chief changes
Joining Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) in what will be their first season together, Andrea Oleari joins the factory Ducati side after starting last season with Dominique Aegerter with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team. Teaming up with Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), the vaunted Uri Pallares joins Bimota after working with Jonathan Rea last season and working with the Ulsterman as a mechanic during his dominant six-year Championship run. With Alvaro Bautista's move to Barni Ducati, he and longtime crew chief Giulio Nava have parted ways; Nava now making a change of his own as he moves to Pata Maxus Yamaha to work with Andrea Locatelli. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is raring to ride with Former crew chief to Jonathan Rea, Australian Andrew Pitt, who replaces Toprak Razgatlioglu's former crew chief Phil Marron. Lastly, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) reunites with his former crew chief back in his Yamaha days, Les Pearson, after the Texan collaborated with Pietro Caprara during the #31’s first season in green.
SAME CREW CHIEF, DIFFERENT RIDER: These minds of the sport will try to bring their riders up to speed as fast as possible.
Alvaro Bautista will team up with Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)’s former crew chief at Barni Ducati, Luca Minelli. In light of the arrival of Nava to work with Locatelli, Tom O’Kane will change sides of the garage and will begin his work with the Pata Maxus Yamaha Team’s newest rider, Xavi Vierge. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) will be assisted by Paolo Zavalloni this year, who has previous experience as a data Engineer in MotoGP with Gresini Racing. With Michael van der Mark moving to BMW’s Endurance World Championship team, Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) takes his place with crew chief Marcus Eschenbacher. Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) joins the WorldSBK field after hoisting the WorldSSP Riders’ Championship last season, and in his box, Tommaso Noccioli will work as his crew chief. Noccioli began his work with the team last season at Misano, where he took over for Andrea Oleari while working with Dominique Aegerter (Kawaski WorldSSP Team).
BACK FOR MORE: Riders and crew chiefs staying put to team up again in 2026
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Tommaso Raponi return to make a play for the 2026 World title, where he will likely face off at the front against Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) who each remain with their same team and same crew chiefs, Pere Riba and Gorka Segura respectively. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) is chomping at the bit to get started and prove his talent to the world. Simone Corsini will be the man in his corner, hoping to help him do just that. GRT Yamaha’s favourite Aussie stays with Damiano Evangelisti in 2026, and the same can be said for Yamaha Independent rider Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), who looks to continue building continuity with Federico D’Alessandro this season.
Catch each race live or OnDemand in 2026 with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
