Action returns to the Algarve this weekend as Xavi Vierge and Andrea Locatelli line up for the second round of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship with Pata Maxus Yamaha at Portimão, from 27-29 March. “The Rollercoaster” also known officially as the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, has seen some incredible fights in the WorldSBK category – with Yamaha’s official riders in the mix. Locatelli has enjoyed three podiums at the venue since 2021, and has always been a str

After challenging conditions earlier this week, Pata Maxus Yamaha and its Official WorldSBK riders Xavi Vierge and Andrea Locatelli remained in Portimão to take advantage of clear weather at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve today. Leading the charge and completing 74 laps on the final day of the test was 28-year-old Vierge, whose running plan included refining the base set-up of the #97 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK to further match his riding style in advance of the second round

Andrea Locatelli came through from 15th on the grid to a fighting fifth-place finish in Race 2 at Phillip Island, concluding Round 1 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship in Australia, today. The strong result from the rain-soaked final feature of the weekend was a silver lining in a difficult opening round for Yamaha’s Official WorldSBK Team. A disappointing 14th-place finish in the dry Superpole Race this morning was not enough for the team’s #55 rider to improve his

Xavi Vierge led the charge for Pata Maxus Yamaha on the first race day of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship, until an unexpected high-side ended his potential for a top-eight finish at Phillip Island in Australia today. The Spaniard qualified on the third row of the grid in his debut race for Yamaha’s Official Team, having found more confidence on his R1 WorldSBK in Free Practice 3 this morning. With a good race start as the lights went out this afternoon, Vierge was

Xavi Vierge and Andrea Locatelli began the first round of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship in earnest with Friday Free Practice at Phillip Island in Australia today. An additional Pirelli tyre option for the race weekend, differing from the test earlier in the week, meant a new “starting position” for both Pata Maxus Yamaha riders when the pit lane opened this morning for Free Practice 1. Finishing the day P10 on FP2’s timesheet, Vierge was pleased with the work comp

Xavi Vierge and Andrea Locatelli showcased the Pata Maxus Yamaha colours on track for the first time in 2026 “Down Under” during the two-day Official Test prior to the opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia, which concluded today. With limited tyre options available, the eight hours of available track time across four two-hour sessions required a different approach to manage the allocation – and the compounds fo

With the covers taken off the 2026 Pata Maxus Yamaha R1 WorldSBK, Andrea Locatelli and new-signing Xavi Vierge discuss this year’s FIM Superbike World Championship ambitions – alongside key insights from Team Principal Paul Denning. Yamaha Motor Europe and Crescent Yamaha’s impressive 11-year WorldSBK Official Team partnership continues to move from strength-to-strength, with the project-leading Motorsport Division at Yamaha R&D Europe’s campus in Gerno di Lesmo at the spearh

Andrea Locatelli and new Yamaha signing Xavi Vierge returned to the track for the first time in 2026 with two days of very mixed weather conditions in pre-season winter testing at Circuito de Jerez in Andalucia, Spain. Both riders sported one-off black, grey and blue camo-coloured test leathers, taking design cues from the 2026 Yamaha Racing Paddock Blue clothing range, as the final elements of this year’s R1 WorldSBK performance package come together. Vierge continued to get

Pata Maxus Yamaha’s 2026 riders Andrea Locatelli and Xavi Vierge completed two days of intensive on-track testing at Circuito de Jerez in Andalucia, Spain, today as winter preparation for the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship continues. With a solid two days under his belt on the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK, new signing Vierge finished the test with the second-fastest overall lap time of 1:38.058 and completed 132 Laps in total. It was a personal-best lap time for Vierge at Jerez

Straight after the final round of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship season finale, Pata Maxus Yamaha’s 2026 line-up of Andrea Locatelli and new signing Xavi Vierge took to the track to complete the first winter test in preparation for the new season. Vierge enjoyed his first day aboard the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK, adapting quickly following four years with his previous team to finish second-fastest overall with a lap time of 1:39.137 (61 Laps). Teammate Locatelli continued

Andrea Locatelli led the charge for Pata Maxus Yamaha on the final day of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship, giving his absolute maximum until the very end with a fine fourth place in Race 2 at Jerez in Spain today. Starting from ninth on the grid this morning, Locatelli made progress in the latter stages of the Superpole Race to finish P6 and secure a better start for the final race of the season. From the second row of the grid, he was able to climb to third positio

Pata Maxus Yamaha and Locatelli Salvage Seventh Place in Challenging Jerez Race 1 The penultimate race day of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship was not without its challenges, as Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea contested Race 1 for Pata Maxus Yamaha at Circuito de Jerez in Spain today. Rea qualified strongly for Race 1 after posting the overall fourth-fastest lap time in Free Practice 3, lining up on the second row of the grid in sixth place. As the lights went out

Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea started the final round of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship with Friday Free Practice at Circuito de Jerez in Spain today. The Pata Maxus Yamaha pair focused on race set-up for their respective Yamaha R1 WorldSBK machines, working to combat the October heat and find confidence in the Pirelli tyre options available for the main points-paying races this weekend. Both riders commented on front tyre feeling in particular and will work wi

Two more hard-fought top five results keep Pata Maxus Yamaha and Andrea Locatelli’s hopes of securing the bronze medal in the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship alive after the final day at Circuito Estoril, while teammate Jonathan Rea re-joined the battle at the front. Sunday’s 10-Lap Superpole Race this morning was another thrilling opportunity for the two Official Yamaha R1 WorldSBK riders to mount a challenge for the podium, as the close group vying for P3 once again w

Pata Maxus Yamaha’s riders Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea both returned to the podium fight in Race 1 at Circuito Estoril, at the penultimate round of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship in Portugal today. An incredibly close Superpole qualifying, with Rea starting from P6 on the grid and Locatelli P8, set the stage for the duo to launch straight into the fight for the final podium position at the start of Race 1 this afternoon. Following the red-flagged race restart

Jonathan Rea picked up right where he left off from the last FIM Superbike World Championship round with strong top six pace in Friday Free Practice on the opening day at Circuito Estoril in Portugal today. Pata Maxus Yamaha’s riders Rea and Andrea Locatelli got to work to dial in their Yamaha R1 WorldSBK race machines to the shorter 4.182km circuit layout with two 45-minute sessions, under clear blue, sunny skies. Rea’s pace shows promising potential for the weekend ahead, w

Chamois, the UK-based specialist PR and marketing agency, is delighted to announce the establishment of an exciting new partnership with the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team. The partnership places Chamois as Official Marketing and PR Partner for the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). The arrangement will combine Chamois’ PR and Marketing expertise together with the team’s legendary racing pedigree, to mutual benefit. As part of this partnership, Chamoi

As the end of an era, and the conclusion of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship draws closer, Pata Maxus Yamaha are ready to double down on the final two rounds of the season as the double-header of Estoril and Jerez kicks off this weekend in Portugal from 10-12 October. Six-time WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea understandably has mixed emotions as his full-time racing career draws to a close, but it’s clear that none of the fire that made the Northern Irishman successful

Pata Maxus Yamaha’s Jonathan Rea took a massive step forward on Sunday, fighting hard in the top group close to the podium in Race 2 at Aragon, as Round 10 of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship concluded in Spain today. In another rampant Superpole Race this morning, Rea netted a P8 and third-row start for the final race of the weekend to give himself the best opportunity to push for advantageous track position. With improvements to his Yamaha R1 WorldSBK set-up to man

Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce Xavi Vierge will join the official Yamaha team in the FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2026 season.   The 28-year-old brings a wealth of experience to Yamaha’s WorldSBK project, having competed in the Moto2 Grand Prix World Championship and Superbike World Championship, achieving podium finishes in both categories.   Vierge will get a first taste of the R1 WorldSBK in Jerez following the final round of the 2025 season next mo