WorldSBK Testing gets underway in Jerez - Day One Recap

WorldSBK 2026

January Jerez Take a look at – Day One
January 21, 2026

The 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season formally started this week on the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, with WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders returning to the monitor for the primary personal take a look at of the yr.

Persistent rain all through the day considerably restricted working, limiting significant comparisons however permitting groups to hold out baseline checks on new equipment, rider line-ups and technical packages forward of the Australian season opener at Phillip Island subsequent month.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026

Regardless of the circumstances, Danilo Petrucci emerged quickest on the timesheets aboard the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Group M 1000 RR, posting a finest lap of 1’52.976 throughout a short dry window. The Italian was adopted by Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Group Ducati) and BMW teammate Miguel Oliveira, who accomplished probably the most laps of any full-time rider as he continues to adapt to his new equipment.

BMW leads early working in moist circumstances

Petrucci’s headline time got here throughout his second stint of the day and remained unbeaten as rain returned.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Danilo Petrucci

BMW teammate Oliveira logged 31 laps, specializing in familiarisation slightly than outright tempo, and completed third general with a better of 1’54.260.

BMW take a look at rider Michael van der Mark additionally appeared late within the session, finishing restricted mileage.

Ducati work begins for brand spanking new combos

Whereas Ducati was nicely represented on monitor, 2025 championship runner-up Nicolo Bulega elected to not trip within the moist circumstances. That left Iker Lecuona as the only real Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider, finishing 14 laps and ending fifth.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Iker Lecuona

At Barni Spark Racing, Yari Montella topped the Ducati runners in second place general as he continues preparations for his sophomore WorldSBK season.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Yari Montella

Álvaro Bautista, making his first public look in Barni Ducati colors, centered on preliminary set-up analysis and completed eighth after 18 laps.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Alvaro Bautista

Additional down the order, Alberto Surra continued his WorldSBK rookie preparations with Motocorsa Racing, whereas WorldSSP common Philipp Oettl rode as a take a look at rider for Aruba.it Racing Ducati.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Alberto Surra

Yamaha collects information slightly than chasing lap occasions

Yamaha’s strongest displaying got here from Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha), who positioned fourth general and logged the second-highest lap rely of the day.

Manufacturing facility rider Andrea Locatelli completed seventh, narrowly lacking sixth, whereas Xavi Vierge, newly arrived from Honda, continued his adaptation with a Twelfth-place end.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Xavi Vierge

Pata Maxus Yamaha’s programme remained centered on early information assortment slightly than efficiency chasing as circumstances deteriorated later within the session.

Remy Gardner is sidelined from this take a look at via damage.

bimota and Kawasaki proceed improvement work

The bimota by Kawasaki Racing Group continued its regular improvement programme, with take a look at rider Xavi Fores recording the staff’s quickest lap to complete sixth general.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Xavi Fores

Axel Bassani logged stable mileage in thirteenth place as he continues working with a brand new crew chief, whereas Alex Lowes didn’t take part.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Kawasaki ZX-10RR

At Kawasaki WorldSBK Group, Garrett Gerloff accomplished 26 laps aboard the ZX-10RR Ninja, concentrating on familiarity together with his 2026 bundle and after being reunited with crew chief Les Pearson. The Texan completed 14th general.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Garrett Gerloff

Honda focuses on mileage amid damage absences

Honda HRC fielded Jake Dixon as its sole full-time rider, with Somkiat Chantra sidelined after a coaching damage. Dixon accomplished 16 laps and positioned ninth general.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Jake Dixon

HRC Take a look at rider Tetsuta Nagashima undertook in depth wet-weather working, logging 27 laps throughout the day.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Testuta Nagashima

Alcoba tops WorldSSP runners at residence take a look at

In WorldSSP, Jeremy Alcoba led the way in which on residence soil, ending quickest of the Supersport riders and setting a time that positioned him forward of a number of WorldSBK opponents.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Jeremy Alcoba and the Kawasaki ZX-6R

Dominique Aegerter adopted among the many WorldSSP ranks, whereas Matteo Ferrari, Philipp Oettl and Borja Jimenez centered on adaptation and mileage slightly than outright tempo.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Take a look at – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Dominique Aegerter

Testing Continues

With climate limiting consultant lap occasions, Day 1 at Jerez served primarily as a methods examine slightly than a type information. Groups might be hoping for higher climate on Thursday earlier than the paddock then packs up and heads to Portimao for an additional two-day take a look at subsequent week.

WorldSBK Jerez Take a look at Instances
Day One – Jan 21, 2026


Pos	Class	Piloto	Bike	Time	Hole	Velocity
1	SBK	D. Petrucci	BMW	1m52.976		257.1
2	SBK	Y. Montella	Duc	1m54.194	+1.218	261.5
3	SBK	M. Oliveira	BMW	1m54.260	+1.284	259.6
4	SBK	S. Manzi	Yam	1m55.044	+2.068	252.9
5	SBK	I. Lecuona	Duc	1m55.605	+2.629	260.9
6	SBK	X. Forés	Bim	1m55.917	+2.941	251.7
7	SBK	A. Locatelli	Yam	1m55.935	+2.959	255.3
8	SBK	Á. Bautista	Duc	1m56.770	+3.794	260.9
9	SBK	J. Dixon	Hon	1m57.109	+4.133	252.9
10	SSP	J. Alcoba	Kaw	1m57.205	+4.229	228.8
11	SBK	HRC Take a look at Rider	Hon	1m57.672	+4.696	255.3
12	SBK	X. Vierge	Yam	1m57.784	+4.808	255.3
13	SBK	A. Bassani	Bim	1m57.830	+4.854	254.7
14	SBK	G. Gerloff	Kaw	1m57.916	+4.940	259.0
15	SBK	A. Surra	Duc	1m58.634	+5.658	252.9
16	SBK	Aruba Take a look at Rider	Duc	1m58.887	+5.911	262.8
17	SSP	L. Lehmann	Yam	1m59.575	+6.599	216.4
18	SSP	D. Aegerter	Kaw	1m59.986	+7.010	229.8
19	EWC	Foray-Checa-Schrotter	Duc	2m00.330	+7.354	250.0
20	SBK	M. vd Mark	BMW	2m01.143	+8.167	249.4
21	SBK	T. Smits	Yam	2m02.135	+9.159	248.3
22	SSP	M. Ferrari	Duc	2m04.119	+11.143	220.9
23	SSP	P. Öttl	Duc	2m04.770	+11.794	224.5
24	SSP	D. Geiger	Yam	2m10.389	+17.413	208.5
25	SSP	B. Jiménez	Duc	2m12.354	+19.378	224.5

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
9/11 Oct	POR	Estoril	X	X
16-18 Oct	ESP	Jerez – Angel Nieto*	X	X	X

2026 World Superbike Championship Entry Record


Rider	Bike	Group
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