THE FUTURE IS NOW – Get up to speed with 2026’s newest works of art on two wheels as their riders look to pilot them to glory!
Ducati and Kawasaki are getting formidable new editions of their manufacturer’s bikes, get the full picture here!
With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s 2026 season getting ready to get underway, and with that, two brand new superbikes and four tweaked versions of 2025 models are having their final adjustments made before lights out on this campaign. What’s new with each team’s racing package? Find out about all 2026’s novelties and more!
DUCATI’S PANIGALE V4 R: The seventh generation of racing greatness
Ducati’s Panigale V4 R superbike has brought the Bologna-based manufacturer even more success on top of what has been a glorious history for them in WorldSBK. Ducati have won 21 of the 38 Manufacturers’ Championships that have been up for grabs in the Championship’s history, and with their new 2026 homologation, ‘Ducatisi’ will hope for #22 by the end of this season. Their new bike features a big change to the rear of the bike, trading their old model’s single swing arm for a double swing arm in 2026, aiming to improve the rear of the bike’s stability under braking. Farther forward, Ducati consulted with engineers from their MotoGP product and have revised the bike’s aerodynamic package, adding corner sidepods. Limited testing so far have mitigated the riders feedback, but new factory rider Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) have sung its praises so far. Ducati’s current star man Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has been encouraged by what he has seen so far, but he and Ducati Technical Coordinator Marco Zambenedetti want to continue to learn the bike’s strengths and weaknesses.
KAWASAKI’S ZX-10RR NINJA: Game-changing upgrades to a legendary platform
The Kawasaki ZX-10RR platform was Jonathan Rea’s workhorse that powered him to his six consecutive World Championships. Still steeped in that glory, the green machine has gotten a substantial reword which the Japanese manufacturer hopes can propel Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) to back among the top riders. Helping him to do so, his 2026 homologation includes an all-new front aero system including front winglets to help out with grip on the front wheel. He commented on the good sensations it gave him at the Jerez test to kick off 2026’s preseason testing, and that he felt it allowed him to push harder in the corners as a result later in testing.
MINOR UPGRADES: Yamaha, BMW, Honda and Bimota are each getting minor improvements as well
The other manufacturers haven’t been standing idly by, they each have tricks up their sleeves with their bikes. Bimota’s KB998 Rimini has undergone a litany of small adaptations, including tweaks to the chassis, swingarm, the engine, and a new Showa suspension system. Honda’s work has been centred on looking to move the bike forward, while also doing what they can to ease the learning curve for both of their riders inbound from the MotoGP paddock and their substantially different bikes. BMW has talked about similar points, looking to move the package forward, while also not changing things too drastically to help their riders get up to speed. For Yamaha’s R1, the adaptations include changes to the swingarm in hopes of finding more rear grip, new Ohlins front forks, and electronics changes.
Lock in your spot to see these feats of engineering go head to head in 2026 with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
