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There’s been somewhat of an upheaval at Yamaha’s two official teams for the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Half the line up has changed, with Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) joining Andrea Locatelli and Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) lining up alongside Remy Gardner. There are changes to the people in the box too, and on the bike, as Yamaha aim for more victories this season.

VIERGE JOINS: The #97 takes Rea’s spot

With Jonathan Rea retiring from full-time racing at the end of 2025, there was a spot available in the Pata Maxus Yamaha garage. Rumours swirled – as they always do when it comes to silly season – but it was Vierge who was picked to replace the six-time Champion. The Spanish rider has had plenty of mileage on the Yamaha R1 at Jerez across three tests since the end of last season, and has looked quick straight away.

CHANGES TO LOCATELLI’S CREW: Nava joins the blue squad

After a couple of seasons working with Tom O’Kane, Locatelli has another crew chief. O’Kane will work with Vierge, with the team drafting in Giulio Nava to work alongside ‘Loka’. Nava had been Alvaro Bautista's (Barni Spark Racing Team) long-term crew chief and helped him to two WorldSBK titles in 2022 and 2023 but faces a new challenge at Yamaha with Locatelli. The #55 claimed his first win last season at Assen and will be hoping to make a step with Nava as his right-hand man – as he did during his time with Andrew Pitt, and again when O’Kane came into his side of the box.

GRT YAMAHA’S NEW-LOOK LINE-UP: Two Champions in the box once again

The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team have had Champions in their box since Gardner and Dominique Aegerter joined in 2023; Gardner won the Moto2 title in 2021 while Aegerter took the WorldSSP titles in 2021 and 2022. Australian star Gardner remains with the team, aiming for better fortunes and more rostrums this season, but this time he’s joined by Manzi who graduates to WorldSBK as the current World Supersport Champion. In total, three of the four seats at Yamaha’s official teams are taken by World Champions. In terms of crew chiefs at GRT Yamaha, Gardner continues working with Damiano Evangelisti, while Manzi has Tommaso Noccioli by his side.

ELSEWHERE IN BLUE: Sofuoglu stays, Rato joins

There will be six Yamaha R1 machines on the grid in 2026, with the Motoxracing WorldSBK Team running two riders once again. Bahattin Sofuoglu stays with the squad for a second season, aiming to build on a solid rookie campaign, and secure more top-ten finishes. He becomes the de facto team leader this season, despite being just 22, as he has a rookie teammate. Mattia Rato will make his WorldSBK debut for the Independent outfit, jumping up from the Italian Supersport championship. He had a wildcard WorldSSP appearance last year on home soil at Cremona, narrowly missing out on the points-paying positions.

CHANGES TO THE BIKE: Looking for gains…

As with all six manufacturers on the grid this season, Yamaha have brought upgrades as they look to make a step forward although it’s evolution not revolution for the Japanese brand. One key change is new Ohlins front forks while a swingarm that was tested at the back end of last season featured on all four official bikes at winter testing in 2026. Between 2020 and the present day, 2020 is the only time they’ve had multiple race winners in a single campaign: Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark. Between 2021 and 2023, it was solely ‘El Turco’, while they were winless in 2024 and it was Locatelli’s turn in 2025. Can 2026 be the year for Yamaha to have two (or more) winners once again?

THE FUTURE IS NOW: Grab front row seats for an epic 2026 season using the WorldSBK VideoPass!