Overview
- Bahattin Sofuoglu is retained for a second WorldSBK season on the Yamaha R1 after a 2025 rookie campaign that yielded 26 points and a best finish of 10th at Magny-Cours.
- Italian 20-year-old Mattia Rato steps up to a full-time Superbike seat after a WorldSSP appearance in 2025 and third place in the Italian Supersport series with three wins and seven podiums.
- Team Manager Sandro Carusi says the squad will add new technicians in 2026 as part of its stated mission to highlight young riders, thanking Yamaha and Niccolo Canepa for their backing.
- Sofuoglu says he and the team made steady progress in his debut Superbike year and aims to keep improving in 2026, while Rato calls the opportunity unexpected and embraces the challenge.
- The new lineup follows 2025 stretches alongside Sofuoglu by veterans Tito Rabat and Michael Rinaldi, positioning Sofuoglu as the more experienced rider in the box for 2026.