WorldSBK and FIM EWC 2026
BMW
BMW enters 2026 with a clearer, extra unified racing technique than at any level since its fashionable return to elite-level manufacturing racing. The M 1000 RR now sits on the centre of a world programme that spans WorldSBK, World Endurance, and key buyer racing markets.
In WorldSBK, BMW arrives because the defending benchmark when Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu was within the sizzling seat. Consecutive world titles have established the M 1000 RR as a really robust Superbike bundle, notably over race distance.
For 2026, the main target shifts from defending with continuity to rebuilding with intent, following a full reset of the manufacturing facility rider line-up and the departure of some large footwear…
Sven Blusch – Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport
“After the 2 world championship titles in 2024 and 2025, our full focus is now on persevering with this momentum. On the WorldSBK facet, we’re completely positioned. With Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira, we’ve introduced on board two skilled prime riders, whom we’ve already had the prospect to get to know a little bit over the winter. We head to Australia with an excellent feeling. Though we had loads of rain throughout testing and would have favored a couple of extra laps, we’re already wanting ahead to Phillip Island. Within the FIM EWC, after final 12 months’s dramatic season finale, we’re much more decided to win the title. With the addition of Michael van der Mark to the group, alongside Steven Odendaal and Markus Reiterberger on bike #37, we’re very nicely positioned for the mission of successful the championship. Over the winter, we ready intensively, each operationally and technically. In buyer racing, our purpose for 2026 is to additional internationalise. Among the many additional BMW-supported groups within the FIM EWC can also be the AutoRace Ube Racing Crew, our Official Crew from Japan, which has very robust riders in Sylvain Guintoli, Hannes Soomer, and Naomichi Uramoto. With the Orange Cat Racing Crew, we’ve a brand new Official Crew for the USA, which can subject two bikes within the MotoAmerica Superbike class, that includes two younger, proficient riders: Sean Dylan Kelly and Jayson Uribe. Right here, our purpose as BMW is to defend the title. Within the BSB and Street Racing, our Official Crew from the UK, 8TEN Racing with Peter Hickman and Davey Todd, will compete. That is additionally an extremely robust rider mixture. We hope for good leads to the BSB and maintain our fingers crossed for the Isle of Man TT and different street races, the place the 2 are among the many absolute favourites. Total, it will be important for us to strengthen worldwide motorsport in buyer racing. With this lineup, we’re heading into the 2026 season extremely motivated – it embodies our ambition, our drive, and our dedication to go full throttle from the very first race.”
Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira convey completely different strengths however comparable expertise.
Shaun Muir – Crew Principal ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew
“We’re actually wanting ahead to the 2026 season. Now we have a brand new set of targets, a brand new set of targets with our two new riders Danilo and Miguel. It’s actually thrilling to begin the brand new chapter of the World Superbike programme with BMW Motorrad and our sponsors. I feel the expectation is actually excessive additionally, ending as World Champions for the final two years, and we’re actually decided to present the riders the perfect instruments we presumably can to achieve the rostrum as quickly as potential. I feel that after we get into Europe from spherical two, three onwards, we’ll actually begin to see the true potential of the rider/bike combos so we’re wanting ahead to that. Most vital is that we give Danilo and Miguel the total assist and present how decided we’re to proceed the great work that we’ve performed prior to now. We consider that the BMW M 1000 RR goes to develop as a bundle within the coming months and the proof of that would be the performances that each the riders give us on monitor. So I’m wanting ahead to the season – we are able to take the combat to the competitors.”
Petrucci has already demonstrated he can win races and maintain championship momentum on a BMW from a privateer platform.
Danilo Petrucci – ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew
“I’m so glad and proud to affix the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew. It’s the group that has received the final championships and I’m so proud to be a part of it. I can’t wait to race with this bike. We did a couple of assessments, and in wet situations the scenario is actually good. We have to spend a while extra within the dry as a result of we didn’t have a lot time in such situations but. For certain there’s loads of expectation however primarily I wish to get pleasure from. I don’t have any explicit end in thoughts. I simply wish to be as quick as I can and enhance the outcomes of my earlier season.”
Oliveira arrives from MotoGP with a status for adaptability and race intelligence, relatively than quick, outright aggression.
Miguel Oliveira – ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew
“I’m excited for certain. I don’t know actually what to anticipate. I do know it‘s going to be a troublesome, aggressive setting by means of the entire grid. So my purpose is to be as much as that problem and be as prepared as I can to combat for prime positions and make my adaptation as quick as potential, particularly to have enjoyable and to make the group benefit from the races.”
Early testing has been compromised by climate, however BMW’s confidence seems rooted within the M 1000 RR’s maturity. The bike’s stability below braking, tyre administration and electronics platform have reached some extent the place rider adaptation is predicted to occur quicker than in earlier seasons.
Christian Gonschor – Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport
“2026 can be an thrilling 12 months of motorsport for BMW Motorrad Motorsport, with clear targets and focus. The combo of latest riders and technicians, together with our already robust race groups, companions, and sponsors, makes us anticipating extra. Everyone seems to be wanting ahead to the season opener in all related lessons. The restricted dry-weather testing alternatives for our Superbike World Championship group solely gasoline the ambition of the riders and the group much more. When time is restricted, ardour and self-confidence assist. Danilo and Miguel really feel the unwavering dedication of everybody within the group and encourage with their dedication, nice personalities, and unimaginable expertise. Representing BMW Motorrad Motorsport on the rostrum commonly with each riders is the clear purpose for 2026. Standing nonetheless is falling behind, so the wheel will maintain handing over each the check group and our Munich headquarters. The riders can stay up for steady improvement. Within the Endurance World Championship, the benchmark is obvious: to lastly convey the 2025 world title, narrowly missed on the finish, again to Munich. A motorbike additional optimised for the championship and tyres, along with the strengthened rider lineup together with Michael van der Mark, presents excellent alternatives for profitable 24-hour races and glorious leads to the eight-hour races at Spa and Suzuka. The need to make historical past as the primary European producer within the EWC 2026 is the last word motivation for everybody within the group. We’re able to go.”
The place WorldSBK is about sustaining supremacy, BMW’s method to the FIM Endurance World Championship is extra overtly unfinished enterprise.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew got here inside minutes of the 2025 title, solely to lose it on the Bol d’Or by means of a late technical failure. For 2026, the construction stays largely intact, however the addition of Michael van der Mark provides confirmed Superbike tempo and technical suggestions into an already cohesive endurance squad.
Werner Daemen – Crew Supervisor BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew
“We anticipate that we go in the identical approach that we ended 2025 – besides after all the final 25 minutes, as a result of the remainder of 2025 was actually good. I feel we’ve an excellent bike and really robust riders with Markus, Steven, now Michael van der Mark and Hannes as fourth rider. I feel we’ve one purpose which is for going for the championship. In the mean time, all fits nicely. We’re nicely ready from the technical facet and testing begins from February on. I anticipate that we’re operating in entrance and, okay, you want some luck. I additionally assume when we’ve the luck on our facet, we are able to go once more for the world title. This 12 months, we additionally do the EuroMoto, the brand new IDM class, the place Markus and Hannes can put together themselves for the World Championship. Steven Odendaal will do the ESBK on the inventory BMW – so I feel we can be very nicely ready for the season.”
The target is unambiguous: convert near-misses right into a championship. BMW believes the present M 1000 RR endurance bundle is robust sufficient throughout each eight-hour and 24-hour codecs, supplied execution matches preparation. Suzuka, Spa and Le Mans are not targets of alternative however anticipated battlegrounds.
Crucially, BMW’s endurance effort feeds immediately again into its Superbike programme. Van der Mark’s twin position as EWC rider and WorldSBK check rider underlines how tightly built-in the programmes have change into.
Michael van der Mark – BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew
“I’m actually wanting ahead to it. I had a pleasant expertise with them final 12 months at Suzuka and I actually loved working with Steven and Markus and we’re a pleasant group. It’s nice to know the group already and I feel it’s fairly clear that we’ve one purpose and that’s to win the Endurance World Championship. They had been so shut final 12 months however sadly it’s a part of endurance racing. I’m wanting ahead to attempting and serving to them to get a world title. I can even be within the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Take a look at Crew. We’re doing loads of testing work earlier than getting the elements over to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew and in addition to the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew. It’s a distinct form of job, but additionally actually pleasurable. Generally it’s loads of work, and I’m actually having fun with it as nicely. It’s nice to stick with the BMW Motorsport household and I may be busy in the course of the 12 months.”
Past manufacturing facility racing, BMW’s buyer technique in 2026 displays measured internationalisation relatively than quantity. Orange Cat Racing’s step into MotoAmerica Superbike, 8TEN Racing’s continued Street Racing and BSB assault, and AutoRace Ube Racing’s twin home and endurance commitments reinforce the M 1000 RR’s versatility with out diluting manufacturing facility focus.
Davey Todd – 8TEN Racing
“I’m actually wanting ahead to 2026. It’s going to be one other enjoyable 12 months with our 8TEN Racing group. We’ve been engaged on every part and have had a little bit bit extra time this 12 months to arrange, which is what we’re doing proper now. Spending a while making ready is strictly what we didn’t have firstly of 2025, and we nonetheless completed with some excellent outcomes on the finish of the 12 months. So we all know we are able to come into 2026 and enhance throughout all areas, notably on circuits and at BSB. We expect we are able to make some steps there after which go into the roads, the North West, the TT, the Southern 100, for myself and the Macau Grand Prix. I’m actually wanting ahead to all of the street races as at all times. I wish to win extra races like we did final 12 months. Turning into king of the roads once more for the third time for me in 2025: I wish to maintain that going. Most significantly, taking TT wins, which I do know for certain my teammate’s going to be amongst the hardest competitors there. We’re actually wanting ahead to it. As we did at Macau final 12 months, we’re hoping for lots of one-twos this season.”
Peter Hickman – 8TEN Racing
“We’re really actually wanting ahead to the 2026 season. Clearly, final 12 months was virtually a rushed 12 months for us, a technique or one other, and naturally, I had a giant damage as nicely. So for 2026, we’re a lot, rather more ready as a group. Each Davey and I’ve obtained rather more of a deal with on what‘s really happening, and the group’s working actually, rather well. We’re proud of the bikes, we’re proud of every part for the season. Now we have a full British Superbike season to stay up for, in addition to the North West 200, the Isle of Man TT, and possibly even one or two different races as nicely. Clearly, we did Macau final 12 months, the place we completed one and two. Total, final 12 months was extra of a constructing 12 months, because it ended up having to be, after which this 12 months we are able to actually form of hit the bottom operating, a lot, rather more ready and actually wanting ahead to it.”
Whereas BMW beforehand figured prominently in Australian Superbike competitors, its numbers in ASBK have dwindled markedly over current seasons, and once more, no front-runners can be on the German model in 2026.
In WorldSBK, the duty is to show the bike wins no matter rider change. In endurance racing, it’s to show efficiency into titles. Each hinge on the identical platform, the identical improvement philosophy, and more and more, the identical individuals.
Subsequent cease Portimão
The BMW WorldSBK squad can be at Portimão this week for the ultimate European pre-season check earlier than travelling to Australia. A closing official check at Phillip Island on February 16–17 will precede the opening spherical of the 2026 WorldSBK season from February 20–22.
BMW M 1000 RR WorldSBK
2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar
 |
|||||
|
……Date……. |
Nation |
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 Could |
HUN |
Balaton Park |
X |
X |
|
|
15-17 Could |
CZE |
Most |
X |
X |
X |
|
29-31 Could |
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 |
|
Sept. 11 Oct |
POR |
Estoril |
X |
X |
|
|
16-18 Oct |
ESP |
Jerez – Angel Nieto* |
X |
X |
X |
2026 World Superbike Championship Entry Record
|
||
|
Rider |
Bike |
Crew |
|
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 |
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