FIGHTING TALK: Pata Maxus Yamaha Reveal 2026 WorldSBK Ambitions with New Look Line-Up

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 spearhead of technical development, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of a winning package.

Familiar to all Yamaha WorldSBK fans is Italian Andrea Locatelli, entering his sixth year with the three-tuning fork brand with a sense of “unfinished business” after narrowly missing out on third in the championship standings last year. The 29-year-old Italian has built upon the speed and consistency that have been apparent since his first season at the top level of competition for production motorcycle racing in 2021, and is ready to follow up his maiden race win with more fighting performances in 2026.

Stepping out for the first time in Yamaha Racing blue is new teammate Xavi Vierge, ready to fully confirm his talent with the Pata Maxus Yamaha squad in 2026. Rightly tipped as “one to watch” after early testing, the ultra-professional Spaniard has demonstrated clear speed and swift adaptation to the #97 R1 WorldSBK – with the aim to join Locatelli in battling for podiums and victories as soon as possible.

Pata Maxus Yamaha is proudly supported by Italy’s beloved snack manufacturer Pata Snack, led by its passionate owner Remo Gobbi and entering an outstanding 11th year as Title Sponsor – joined by Co-Title Partner MAXUS, the market-leading commercial vehicle brand with distribution spanning the UK and Ireland by Dublin-based Harris Group.

Yamaha welcomes new partnerships with DP World, the leading global end-to-end logistics provider, and Spanish motorcycle and motor insurance specialists Pont Grup. IT solutions partner Ampito and Corpay’s Cross-Border FX risk management arm continue to feature strongly on the Official R1 WorldSBK livery, joined in 2026 by iXS – the Swiss clothing and performance brand of the Hostettler Group. Further committed returning partners include Yamaha Indonesia with its “Semakin Di Depan” message, Akrapovic, Pro-Bolt, Hel Performance, GB Racing, Sapphire Vehicle Services and two long-time team supporters with new brand representation in the form of JUTA and Zensec cyber security.

Weather permitting, Pata Maxus Yamaha and its riders are due to continue pre-season testing tomorrow with three potential days of running scheduled at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão, Portugal), before the long flight to Australia next month for the opening round of the 2026 WorldSBK Championship at Phillip Island from 20-22 February.

Andrea Locatelli:

“I am excited for the new WorldSBK season with Pata Maxus Yamaha for 2026! We know that it is not always easy – every year our competitors are working hard and we have to respond by doing our very best at all races, in all conditions. It’s already a long time since I started working with Yamaha and I know the R1 WorldSBK inside and out – it’s strengths and also the points where we are focused on improving to make another step forward. The Yamaha WorldSBK project continues to grow, it’s impressive that Yamaha and the team are always working to be stronger and capitalise on our potential. I have a new teammate in Xavi, and we will push each other to maximise and improve the package, and try to improve ourselves also. It will be a long season with many opportunities – the target will be to fight for the 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 the best job that we can do as a team and with Yamaha, then we can be there. I can’t wait to be in Phillip Island, fighting again during the races – the race weekend is an unbelievable atmosphere and a special feeling that I always enjoy. I’d like to wish everyone “good luck” for the season ahead and say thank you to everyone, to all our partners for their support, and to the Crescent team and Yamaha for continuing to work so hard during the winter in preparation for 2026.”

Xavi Vierge:

“I’m so pleased to join this project with Yamaha; it is a winning project of course – the team has achieved amazing results in the past and they are hungry for more. It is super exciting for me, the first feeling with the Pata Maxus Yamaha team has been very good and I feel like I am home because the people understand me and know what I need. With the R1 WorldSBK it was like a “first love” and directly I felt very, very comfortable with the bike and it’s clear that my riding style fits well. So, it has been a really positive start, of course we have only had some days of testing and need to keep our feet on the ground and keep working. I can learn something about the R1 from my teammate Loka, since he has been with this team for five years and able to get some great results. Of course, my goal is also to be fighting at the front as soon as possible – but, the most important thing for me is to enjoy the process, because I believe it is the way to achieve the results we want. Since the first day, I have felt like a kid every time I jump on the R1, discovering where the limit is and enjoying every moment, so I want to keep moving forward and “grow up” with Yamaha and the Crescent team as we start the new season. The look of Pata Maxus Yamaha this season is amazing – one of my favourite colours is blue and as soon as I saw the new design of the R1 I was just in love and I can’t wait for everyone to see it on track in Phillip Island.”

Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Maxus Yamaha:

“Everyone within the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK project is motivated for the year’s first round in Australia, and to see what we can achieve over the season. The ingredients are all there for us to perform – a competitive R1 that Yamaha R&D’s development team in Milan have further improved compared to 2025, a strengthened race team, two superb riders and the backing of so many fantastic partners. Our competitors are also working hard and the 2026 field is as stacked as ever, but I would describe our mood as “quietly optimistic” as we approach the first race.

Andrea Locatelli needs no introduction as a Yamaha WorldSBK racer and we expect nothing less than stellar performances from him all season. He is now able to deliver a mix of speed and experience, combined with an aggressive approach to the early laps of every race that should see “Loka” consistently fighting with the fastest riders. Every year we have seen a step forward in Andrea’s overall level and we expect this to be repeated in 2026 – he has the structure and support around him that he needs, alongside the trust that will see him become Yamaha’s longest ever serving factory WorldSBK rider. “Loka” has the tools and capability to deliver, and we will help him every step of the way!

Xavi Vierge, in contrast, is completely new to the R1 and the team, having only completed four days of testing at the time of writing. It’s possible that we may be in the “honeymoon period” together and of course we expect challenges along the way, but it’s been nothing other than a dream start to Xavi’s partnership with the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK machine and the Pata Maxus Yamaha crew. From the outset in Jerez, Xavi has looked so comfortable on the bike and that’s been reflected by his speed and consistency. As a person and as a professional, he is so easy to work with and it’s clear that Xavi comes into this partnership highly motivated for much stronger results than he has so far delivered in his four years of WorldSBK to date. I have no doubt that this target at the very minimum can be achieved. A huge “welcome” from all of us, Xavi!

As we launch the 2026 Pata Maxus Yamaha R1 WorldSBK, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners for their trust and support. Remo Gobbi’s Pata Snack brand enters its 11th consecutive year as Title Sponsor, as MAXUS commercial vehicles and the Dublin-based Harris Group remain as Co-Title Partner. Significant partners Ampito and Corpay again feature heavily within the team’s livery, joined by important new relationships with Hostettler AG’s Swiss “iXS” clothing brand and DP World, the Dubai-based global leader in supply chain solutions and logistics. Further enhanced by Pont Grup’s Spanish insurance business, JUTA, Hel Performance and Pro-Bolt, the team has a formidable roster of additional partners for whom we are eager to deliver results and value. I would like to thank every single one of them – all are stakeholders, all are vital to our performance and we are proud to represent such pro-active businesses and brands.”