WorldSBK 2026
January Jerez Test – Day One
January 21, 2026
The 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season officially began this week at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, with WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders returning to the track for the first private test of the year.
Persistent rain throughout the day significantly restricted running, limiting meaningful comparisons but allowing teams to carry out baseline checks on new machinery, rider line-ups and technical packages ahead of the Australian season opener at Phillip Island next month.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026
Despite the conditions, Danilo Petrucci emerged fastest on the timesheets aboard the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M 1000 RR, posting a best lap of 1’52.976 during a brief dry window. The Italian was followed by Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) and BMW teammate Miguel Oliveira, who completed the most laps of any full-time rider as he continues to adapt to his new machinery.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Miguel Oliveira
BMW leads early running in wet conditions
Petrucci’s headline time came during his second stint of the day and remained unbeaten as rain returned.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Danilo Petrucci
BMW teammate Oliveira logged 31 laps, focusing on familiarisation rather than outright pace, and finished third overall with a best of 1’54.260.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Miguel Oliveira
BMW test rider Michael van der Mark also appeared late in the session, completing limited mileage.
Ducati work begins for new combinations
While Ducati was well represented on track, 2025 championship runner-up Nicolo Bulega elected not to ride in the wet conditions. That left Iker Lecuona as the sole Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider, completing 14 laps and finishing fifth.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Iker Lecuona
At Barni Spark Racing, Yari Montella topped the Ducati runners in second place overall as he continues preparations for his sophomore WorldSBK season.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Yari Montella
Álvaro Bautista, making his first public appearance in Barni Ducati colours, focused on initial set-up evaluation and finished eighth after 18 laps.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Alvaro Bautista
Further down the order, Alberto Surra continued his WorldSBK rookie preparations with Motocorsa Racing, while WorldSSP regular Philipp Oettl rode as a test rider for Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Alberto Surra
Yamaha collects data rather than chasing lap times
Yamaha’s strongest showing came from Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha), who placed fourth overall and logged the second-highest lap count of the day.
Factory rider Andrea Locatelli finished seventh, narrowly missing sixth, while Xavi Vierge, newly arrived from Honda, continued his adaptation with a 12th-place finish.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Xavi Vierge
Pata Maxus Yamaha’s programme remained focused on early data collection rather than performance chasing as conditions deteriorated later in the session.
Remy Gardner is sidelined from this test through injury.
bimota and Kawasaki continue development work
The bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team continued its steady development programme, with test rider Xavi Fores recording the team’s fastest lap to finish sixth overall.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Xavi Fores
Axel Bassani logged solid mileage in 13th position as he continues working with a new crew chief, while Alex Lowes did not participate.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Kawasaki ZX-10RR
At Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, Garrett Gerloff completed 26 laps aboard the ZX-10RR Ninja, concentrating on familiarity with his 2026 package and after being reunited with crew chief Les Pearson. The Texan finished 14th overall.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Garrett Gerloff
Honda focuses on mileage amid injury absences
Honda HRC fielded Jake Dixon as its sole full-time rider, with Somkiat Chantra sidelined after a training injury. Dixon completed 16 laps and placed ninth overall.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Jake Dixon
HRC Test rider Tetsuta Nagashima undertook extensive wet-weather running, logging 27 laps across the day.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Testuta Nagashima
Alcoba tops WorldSSP runners at home test
In WorldSSP, Jeremy Alcoba led the way on home soil, finishing fastest of the Supersport riders and setting a time that placed him ahead of several WorldSBK competitors.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Jeremy Alcoba and the Kawasaki ZX-6R
Dominique Aegerter followed among the WorldSSP ranks, while Matteo Ferrari, Philipp Oettl and Borja Jimenez focused on adaptation and mileage rather than outright pace.
WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Dominique Aegerter
Testing Continues
With weather limiting representative lap times, Day 1 at Jerez served primarily as a systems check rather than a form guide. Teams will be hoping for better weather on Thursday before the paddock then packs up and heads to Portimao for another two-day test next week.
WorldSBK Jerez Test Times
Day One – Jan 21, 2026
Pos
Class
Piloto
Bike
Time
Gap
Speed
1
SBK
D. Petrucci
BMW
1m52.976
257.1
2
SBK
Y. Montella
Duc
1m54.194
+1.218
261.5
3
SBK
M. Oliveira
BMW
1m54.260
+1.284
259.6
4
SBK
S. Manzi
Yam
1m55.044
+2.068
252.9
5
SBK
I. Lecuona
Duc
1m55.605
+2.629
260.9
6
SBK
X. Forés
Bim
1m55.917
+2.941
251.7
7
SBK
A. Locatelli
Yam
1m55.935
+2.959
255.3
8
SBK
Á. Bautista
Duc
1m56.770
+3.794
260.9
9
SBK
J. Dixon
Hon
1m57.109
+4.133
252.9
10
SSP
J. Alcoba
Kaw
1m57.205
+4.229
228.8
11
SBK
HRC Test Rider
Hon
1m57.672
+4.696
255.3
12
SBK
X. Vierge
Yam
1m57.784
+4.808
255.3
13
SBK
A. Bassani
Bim
1m57.830
+4.854
254.7
14
SBK
G. Gerloff
Kaw
1m57.916
+4.940
259.0
15
SBK
A. Surra
Duc
1m58.634
+5.658
252.9
16
SBK
Aruba Test Rider
Duc
1m58.887
+5.911
262.8
17
SSP
L. Lehmann
Yam
1m59.575
+6.599
216.4
18
SSP
D. Aegerter
Kaw
1m59.986
+7.010
229.8
19
EWC
Foray-Checa-Schrotter
Duc
2m00.330
+7.354
250.0
20
SBK
M. vd Mark
BMW
2m01.143
+8.167
249.4
21
SBK
T. Smits
Yam
2m02.135
+9.159
248.3
22
SSP
M. Ferrari
Duc
2m04.119
+11.143
220.9
23
SSP
P. Öttl
Duc
2m04.770
+11.794
224.5
24
SSP
D. Geiger
Yam
2m10.389
+17.413
208.5
25
SSP
B. Jiménez
Duc
2m12.354
+19.378
224.5
2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar
……Date…….
Country
Circuit
WorldSBK
WorldSSP
WorldSPB
20-22 Feb
AUS
Phillip Island GP
X
X
27-29 Mar
POR
Algarve Int’l
X
X
X
17-19 Apr
NED
TT Assen
X
X
X
1-3 May
HUN
Balaton Park
X
X
15-17 May
CZE
Most
X
X
X
29-31 May
ESP
MotorLand Aragon
X
X
X
12-14 Jun
ITA
Misano – Marco Simoncelli
X
X
X
10-12 Jul
UK
Donington Park
X
X
4-6 Sep
FRA
Nevers Magny-Cours
X
X
X
25-27 Sep
ITA
Cremona
X
X
X
9-11 Oct
POR
Estoril
X
X
16-18 Oct
ESP
Jerez – Angel Nieto*
X
X
X
2026 World Superbike Championship Entry List
Rider
Bike
Team
I.Lecuona
Duc
Aruba.It Ducati
N.Bulega
Duc
Aruba.It Ducati
D.Petrucci
BMW
ROKiT BMW Motorrad
M.Oliveira
BMW
ROKiT BMW Motorrad
A.Locatelli
Yam
Pata Maxus Yamaha
X.Vierge
Yam
Pata Maxus Yamaha
Y.Montella
Duc
Barni Spark
A.Bautista
Duc
Barni Spark
A.Lowes
Bim
bimota by Kawasaki
A.Bassani
Bim
bimota by Kawasaki
S.Chantra
Hon
Honda HRC
J.Dixon
Hon
Honda HRC
S.Manzi
Yam
GYTR GRT Yamaha
R.Gardner
Yam
GYTR GRT Yamaha
S.Lowes
Duc
ELF Marc VDS
L.Baldassarri
Duc
Goeleven
T.Mackenzie
Duc
MGM Racing
G.Gerloff
Kaw
Kawasaki WorldSBK
A.Surra
Duc
Motocorsa
M.Rato
Yam
Motoxracing
B.Sofuoglu
Yam
Motoxracing
A.Iannone
Duc
Cainam Racing