Pata Maxus Yamaha Sign Off November Jerez Test with Vierge and Locatelli On Top Form

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 on Pirelli’s “SCQ” qualifying tyre, backed up with a further personal-best lap time on the race specification tyre.

Vierge wasted no time getting up to speed, one month after his first one-day introduction to the R1 and his Pata Maxus Yamaha crew, and continued to settle into the team well with an ultra-professional and detailed approach.

Locatelli ended the first day fastest overall, a good step from his new teammate in second, and spent the second day working through a considerable “to do” list of new development items delivered by Yamaha’s engineers. Times for both riders tumbled as track conditions became more favourable today, with Locatelli finishing only half a tenth back from Vierge. 

The team’s Italian rider is entering his sixth season in blue and enjoyed a positive test with steps in key areas of rear grip, turning and electronics strategies, as he welcomed a fresh new face to his side of the pit box with experienced championship-winning Crew Chief Giulio Nava.

Pata Maxus Yamaha will return to Jerez at the end of January for the next winter test, with development continuing in the interim weeks ahead.

Andrea Locatelli – 1:38.135 (138 Laps):

“It was a good test, but today the conditions of the track were changing quickly – different even compared to yesterday, but I think what we did around the bike was very positive. I was able to take a confident feeling and ride a good rhythm. A positive day, we know that the colder conditions help us a bit – it is not really hot like it was during the race weekend – but we understood a lot. Now we have a clearer direction to try to take another step in January. The lap time and in general the performance, we know it’s quite good but my approach is a bit conservative as we won’t know for sure until we try at a different circuit and in different conditions. We tried a lot of different parts and new setting direction, working especially on the rear to improve the grip and check back-to-back. I have a new Crew Chief working with me inside the box, Guilio and I are still learning each other but overall it is working well and I am happy!”

Paul Denning, Team Principal – Pata Maxus Yamaha:

“It’s been a very solid test, pretty cold but considering it’s the end of November really great weather for the past two days here in Jerez. We got through a huge amount of work with both of the riders – a completely new recruit, Xavi Vierge, and Andrea Locatelli who goes into his sixth year with us in Pata Maxus Yamaha. No accidents and no durability problems, so we’ve been able to really focus on development and testing a lot of new items that Yamaha has delivered for us to be able to take an important step in 2026. Xavi continues to impress after only his third day ever on the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK – second-quickest overall, just two-tenths off the fastest time and setting his own personal fastest ever lap times around Jerez both on race tyres and on the qualifying tyre. Consistent rhythm, great feedback – a happy rider and happy team! We haven’t faced any major challenges together so far and we’re loving having him as part of the group. Loka of course already knows the R1 inside and out, and was given a lot of new development items to try. He also performed very well with a best time on the race tyre also in the 1’38s, and matched his qualifying time from the race last month. A lot of good work completed, including progress made in generating rear grip and turning which are two areas we really wanted to improve. Also, the electronics engineers have worked on some new strategies to assist with smoother control for the riders. Testing is tough on the team with five bikes in the pit box shared between two riders and components being swapped side-to-side, and they’ve all done a brilliant job.”