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After a little over a month’s break since the first preseason test event at the same circuit, your MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship riders return to the tarmac for their second test event of the season. Hosting a much larger cadre of 2026’s grid than the first test, for some riders, it will give a first look atop World Superbike machinery such as newcomers to the WorldSBK paddock like Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) and Jake Dixon (Honda HRC).

A NEW LOOK FOR BMW: The German manufacturer’s all-new rider pair is all set to take to the track

With their 2025 World Championship-winning Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) riding into the MotoGP paddock for 2026, and Michael van der Mark taking on a new test rider role with the team, BMW have welcomed a new rider pair into their garage. Miguel Oliveira arrives to BMW with a wealth of MotoGP experience and speed, and arriving to the team alongside him is Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who has finished fifth in the Championship the last two seasons. The Portuguese-Italian pairing will be looking to understand the new bike and find a direction with their new M 1000 RR.

YAMAHA ARRIVING IN FORCE: Two returning riders, two new faces

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) will look to pick up from where they and their teams left off in the first test at Jerez. The foursome appeared in one of the two days on track last time out, and each posted competitive times; however, this time out will be a better measuring stick with more of the 2026 grid set to appear.

BIMOTA BACK IN ACTION: Bassani and Alex Lowes will look to keep up the strong times posted at Jerez’s last test

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) again showed the potential of Bimota’s KB998 Rimini last time out in Southern Spain as he placed third fastest on the day. He and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) will strive to continue the engine and suspension work they undertook last time out in pursuit of improved straight-line speed. The pair will only appear on Day 2 of the test, while text rider Xavi Fores will carry the Bimota banner on Day 1.

CHANTRA AND DIXON HOLD HONDA’S HOPES: The Thai and English riders usher in a new era for the Japanese Manufacturer

After four seasons with their Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge pairing, Honda will welcome Somkiat Chantra and Jake Dixon into their garage for 2026. This test in Jerez will be the first look at the pair in red and blue Honda WorldSBK colours. While the team recently announced Jonathan Rea would return to where his WorldSBK saga began as a test rider, he won’t be participating in the test; instead, Japanese rider Tetsuta Nagashima will ride as a test rider for the team.

WorldSSP: Exciting debuts for several riders

Two-time WorldSSP Champion Dominique Aegerter returns to the WorldSSP field, where he will compete alongside exciting sophomore prospect Jeremy Alcoba with the Kawasaki WorldSSP Team. WRP Racing will feature Petr Svoboda alongside 2025 third-place MotoE rider Matteo Ferrari at the test. Giving him a bit more familiarity, Ferrari competed with the team in a wildcard appearance at the Spanish Round last season. With Debise’s departure from the Ducati-powered Renzi Corse team, Italian Rider Riccardo Rossi will take up the mantle with the team, and the test will be his first official taste of their bike. Returning for Honda Racing World Supersport, Ana Carrasco and Corentin Perolari get set to work on their 2026 package after Perolari rode at Jerez’s first test.

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