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Launch season is firmly upon the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the first team to reveal their colours for 2026 were the Barni Spark Racing Team. Ducati have introduced a new bike for this year and Barni Ducati, led by Marco Barnabo, have used this opportunity to reveal a fresh new look for incumbent rider Yari Montella and new recruit Alvaro Bautista, who joins the team for the upcoming campaign after two world titles for the factory Ducati team.

BAUTISTA’S NEW CHAPTER: Same manufacturer, new team for the #19

After making his WorldSBK debut in 2019 with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad, Bautista moved to Honda HRC for two seasons. He made a sensational return to the Italian manufacturer for 2022 and won the first of his two titles with 16 victories that year. 2023 was a record-breaking year as the Spaniard won 27 races, but he was unable to defend his title in 2024 after Toprak Razgatlioglu was victorious for BMW. A further tricky season followed in 2025 as he finished third, with the news that he would leave the factory Ducati team and move to Barni Ducati coming halfway through the year.

Previewing the 2026 season, Bautista stated: “I’m very excited about this new challenge. There will definitely be many changes, a new team and a new working group. It won’t be easy at the start, but I believe with commitment and ambition everything is achievable. I’m also very happy to join the Barni family because, from the outside, it feels like a very united team, constantly growing and increasingly competitive. Barni is someone who wants to win and is very determined, a great motivation for the riders. I believe we can do a great job together. I feel very pumped, both physically and mentally, and I’m ready to give 100%. We need to work on finding the right feeling and understanding how to best manage the new bike. Official Ducati support is also fundamental and adds great value. I’m very excited and hope that, together, we can achieve great results and positions, but above all, have fun doing our job.”

SECOND YEAR FOR MONTELLA: Can he be a top-ten contender regularly?

Montella is preparing for his second season in WorldSBK after a rollercoaster rookie year in 2025. The Italian showed top-ten pace on occasion, claiming eight finishes in the top ten but often retiring from races or being caught up in incidents. A year of experience under his belt will mean he’s hoping to be inside the top ten more often, and he’s also aiming to learn from his vastly more experienced teammate.

Montella added: “We are preparing well for the 2026 season. I’m focused on the work ahead and, thanks to the experience gained in 2025, we are working to strengthen our weak points and be ready. The goal is to improve on last season, especially since 2026 will be important for my personal and professional growth. I’m focused, but calm and eager to get started. It will also be very stimulating to share the box with a rider like Alvaro; I will definitely have the opportunity to learn and compare different methods. I’ll try to absorb as much as possible.”

THE TEAM’S VIEW: “We are extremely pleased to have brought a rider of Alvaro Bautista’s calibre into the team”

Marco Barnabo, Team Principal, stated for the team’s launch: “I am very proud of the position that my team and I have achieved. The season ahead is particularly important: in 2026 we will start with a completely new bike, recently unveiled by Ducati, and with two riders competing in WorldSBK. For a private team, this represents a significant milestone as well as a demanding challenge. I am happy to continue the journey we started with Yari Montella. We know he is a young and fast rider who simply needs to translate into results the work we have been building together over the past years. At the same time, we are extremely pleased to have brought a rider of Alvaro Bautista’s calibre into the team. A three-time World Champion, we are confident that we can achieve strong results with him and that his experience will help us grow further, taking another step forward in terms of competitiveness. What I particularly admire about Bautista is his incredible determination and commitment, which he shows every single day despite having already achieved extraordinary success. It is truly an exemplary attitude. He deserves to achieve excellent results, and we will work tirelessly to reach them together.

“I would like to thank everyone who supports us, starting with our sponsors. It is also thanks to the stability they provide that we can fully focus on developing the bike. A fundamental contribution also comes from our technical partners, who supply us with essential materials to improve the bike and make it increasingly competitive, in line with our vision. My thanks also go to all the people working within the team, from the mechanics on track to those working behind the scenes at home. A special acknowledgement goes to Ducati, with whom we have shared a partnership for over 30 years and who continues to give its full support to our team. Finally, but no less importantly, I would like to thank Pamela, who supports the team’s work from home; without her, I would not be able to do what I am doing today.”

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