INTRODUCING WORLD SPORTBIKE: Six manufacturers join the grid for WorldSPB’s first season
Six brands will compete for glory in the Championship’s inaugural season as WorldSPB kicks off in 2026
A new era begins in 2026 with the introduction of the FIM World Sportbike Championship and it’s a stacked field already, with six manufacturers competing. Some were racing in WorldSSP300 recently, while others are returning to the WorldSBK paddock. A mix of bikes, technical specifications and engine configurations are sure to make this season an incredible viewing experience.
KOVE AIM FOR GLORY AGAIN: Aiming high with the 450RR
Kove made history in 2025 by winning the WorldSSP300 title in the hands of Benat Fernandez (Kove Racing Team 109), and the same rider-team-manufacturer combination will go again in 2026. The #7 will have the Kove 450RR at his disposal in 2026, which has a 443cc four-cylinder engine producing around 70 horsepower. In the British Sportbike championship, the highest-placed Kove machine was 12th, although it’s worth noting Casey O’Gorman didn’t do the full season but was fighting in the top five.
APRILIA RETURN TO THE WORLD SUPERBIKE PADDOCK: Competing with the RS 660 Factory
Aprilia last had representation in the WorldSBK paddock in 2020, and their last full-season entry was in 2018 in World Superbike. The Noale manufacturer return to the paddock this season in World Sportbike with the RS 660 Factory machine with four riders, including multiple WorldSSP300 race winner Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2). The bike features a twin-cylinder 659cc engine with aerodynamics inspired by MotoGP which produces around 105 horsepower.
SUZUKI ARE IN THE PADDOCK: The GSX-8R aims to take the Championship by storm
Like Aprilia, Suzuki make a welcome return to the WorldSBK paddock with their World Sportbike machine. Three riders will compete on the GSX-8R, most notably two-time WorldSSP300 Champion Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing). With a 776cc two-cylinder engine, the bike has already competed in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup and the British Sportbike championship, winning the title in the hands of Kas Beekmans (VLR Racing Team Suzuki) – who is on the WorldSPB grid in 2026. Suzuki finished fourth in the British Sportbike championship in 2025.
TRIUMPH JOIN THE PARTY: A WorldSSP and WorldSPB effort for the British brand
British manufacturer Triumph have already made waves in WorldSSP in recent seasons but will now hope to do the same in WorldSPB. Harrison Dessoy (PHR Performance Triumph) and teammate Fenton Seabright are the two riders on the Triumph Daytona 660 as they expand into WorldSPB alongside having representation in WorldSSP. Their machine has an inline three-cylinder engine with a peak of 95 horsepower. In the IDM Sportbike championship, Triumph finished 1-2-3 in the standings.
FAMILIAR BRAND: Yamaha in WorldSPB with the R7
Yamaha will continue to be represented in all four categories in 2026 as they join World Sportbike with the Yamaha R7. It’s one of the most popular choices in 2026 with 12 riders competing on it, including multiple WorldSSP300 race winners Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) and Carter Thompson, his teammate in 2026. The bike features a 689cc twin-cylinder engine which produces a peak of 73 horsepower.
KAWASAKI IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP: The ZX-6R 636 aims for glory
Kawasaki enjoyed so much success in WorldSSP300 and will hope that continues in WorldSPB with the Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 machine. Eight riders have it at their disposal in 2026, with Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki), teammate Loris Veneman plus 2025 title contender David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) some of the more high-profile names. It has a 636cc engine with four cylinders producing a peak power of 124 horsepower.
TO NOTE: Balancing system, Honda homologated
With so many different bikes, with different engine configurations and power outputs, there will be a balancing system in place to achieve the equalisation of performances between the machines. These can include, but aren’t limited to, engine concession parts, torque limited map with rev limits and minimum weight. This features a balancing calculation that looks at many different areas of performance. You can read more details about this HERE (from Page 170). Elsewhere, a seventh manufacturer have had their bike homologated but do not appear on the permanently provisional entry list. The Honda CBR600RR is eligible for competition in 2026 so there is a possibility that seven manufacturers compete against each other at some point during the season.
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