Entering his sixth season in WorldSBK, “Loka” is on the precipice of becoming the longest-serving Yamaha Official Rider in the series – with consistency and accuracy to envy. After his maiden victory in Assen in 2025, the now-29-year-old Italian fought for third in the championship right to the final round in Jerez. Locatelli is ready to capitalise on his undeniable potential once again this season.

​

“I know the R1 WorldSBK inside and out – it’s strengths and where we are focused on improving to make another step forward. It will be a long season with many opportunities – the target will be to fight for victories and aim to be on the podium every weekend. We were close to third in the championship last year so the goal can only be the top three. I believe in this project and if we can work well, focus on doing the best job we can do as a team and with Yamaha, we can be there.”

​

Personal Details:

Date of birth: 16-10-1996, Alzano Lombardo, Italy 
Nationality: Italian 
Height: 173cm 
Weight: 65kg 
Hobbies: Triathlon, working on car/bike 

​

Andrea Locatelli announced himself in the Grand Prix paddock in 2013, with sporadic appearances in the Moto3 class, before earning a full-time ride the following year. After a year of learning, the Italian became a regular points scorer, with his strongest season coming in 2016, where he scored a pair of podium finishes on his way to ninth in the Moto3 standings. 

 

For 2017, Locatelli stepped up to the competitive Moto2 class and scored his first points that year. Across both 2018 and 2019 seasons he was a consistent points finisher before he moved over to contest WorldSSP in 2020.  

​

Riding for the title-winning Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team, Locatelli dominated the competition, winning 12 of the 14 races, scoring seven pole positions, and finished the season with a record-breaking 333 points.

​

 'Loka' then stepped up to the FIM Superbike World Championship with Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK in 2021, and enjoyed a superb maiden campaign. The Italian scored four podiums on his way to fourth in the standings, picking up Rookie of the Year and contributing to both the teams' and manufacturers' titles.  

​

He added to his podium tally with strong end-of-season form in 2022 seeing him pick up fifth in the riders’ standings. In 2023 the Italian entered his third WorldSBK campaign with the Pata Yamaha Squad taking a further brace of podiums, as well as leading several races showing his ambition to take his maiden Superbike victory was strong. 

​

The Italian came closer to that first victory than he's ever been in the 2024 season opener in Phillip Island, until a crash on the last lap saw him ruled out of contention. Despite a challenging season, five podium finishes in total saw Locatelli finish seventh overall in 2024. 

​

In 2025 Locatelli remained with the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team, where he achieved his first podium of the season at Portimão. It was at the TT Circuit Assen where the Italian rider took another podium in race one, before finally achieving his first ever World Superbike victory in race two. He would go on to challenge for third place in the championship with another podium in front of his home race fans in Misano, before finally ending the championship in fourth place overall. 

​

Locatelli was also chosen as the third rider for the Yamaha Racing Team at the Suzuka 8 Hours, joining MotoGP’s Jack Miller and four-time Suzuka 8 Hours winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga, where the team achieved second place overall, with Loka taking the honours of setting the fastest lap of the race, breaking the race lap record in the process. 

​

For the 2026 season Locatelli will continue with the Pata Maxus Yamaha Team, where he will be looking to build on his strengths and continue to be at the front end of the championship battle.