WorldSBK Testing gets underway in Jerez – Day One Recap

WorldSBK 2026

January Jerez Test – Day One
January 21, 2026

The 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season officially began this week at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, with WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders returning to the track for the first private test of the year.

Persistent rain throughout the day significantly restricted running, limiting meaningful comparisons but allowing teams to carry out baseline checks on new machinery, rider line-ups and technical packages ahead of the Australian season opener at Phillip Island next month.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026

Despite the conditions, Danilo Petrucci emerged fastest on the timesheets aboard the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M 1000 RR, posting a best lap of 1’52.976 during a brief dry window. The Italian was followed by Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) and BMW teammate Miguel Oliveira, who completed the most laps of any full-time rider as he continues to adapt to his new machinery.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Miguel Oliveira

BMW leads early running in wet conditions

Petrucci’s headline time came during his second stint of the day and remained unbeaten as rain returned.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Danilo Petrucci

BMW teammate Oliveira logged 31 laps, focusing on familiarisation rather than outright pace, and finished third overall with a best of 1’54.260.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Miguel Oliveira

BMW test rider Michael van der Mark also appeared late in the session, completing limited mileage.

Ducati work begins for new combinations

While Ducati was well represented on track, 2025 championship runner-up Nicolo Bulega elected not to ride in the wet conditions. That left Iker Lecuona as the sole Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider, completing 14 laps and finishing fifth.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Iker Lecuona

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

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Yari Montella

Álvaro Bautista, making his first public appearance in Barni Ducati colours, focused on initial set-up evaluation and finished eighth after 18 laps.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Alvaro Bautista

Further down the order, Alberto Surra continued his WorldSBK rookie preparations with Motocorsa Racing, while WorldSSP regular Philipp Oettl rode as a test rider for Aruba.it Racing Ducati.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Alberto Surra

Yamaha collects data rather than chasing lap times

Yamaha’s strongest showing came from Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha), who placed fourth overall and logged the second-highest lap count of the day.

Factory rider Andrea Locatelli finished seventh, narrowly missing sixth, while Xavi Vierge, newly arrived from Honda, continued his adaptation with a 12th-place finish.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Xavi Vierge

Pata Maxus Yamaha’s programme remained focused on early data collection rather than performance chasing as conditions deteriorated later in the session.

Remy Gardner is sidelined from this test through injury.

bimota and Kawasaki continue development work

The bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team continued its steady development programme, with test rider Xavi Fores recording the team’s fastest lap to finish sixth overall.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Xavi Fores

Axel Bassani logged solid mileage in 13th position as he continues working with a new crew chief, while Alex Lowes did not participate.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Kawasaki ZX-10RR

At Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, Garrett Gerloff completed 26 laps aboard the ZX-10RR Ninja, concentrating on familiarity with his 2026 package and after being reunited with crew chief Les Pearson. The Texan finished 14th overall.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Garrett Gerloff

Honda focuses on mileage amid injury absences

Honda HRC fielded Jake Dixon as its sole full-time rider, with Somkiat Chantra sidelined after a training injury. Dixon completed 16 laps and placed ninth overall.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Jake Dixon

HRC Test rider Tetsuta Nagashima undertook extensive wet-weather running, logging 27 laps across the day.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Testuta Nagashima

Alcoba tops WorldSSP runners at home test

In WorldSSP, Jeremy Alcoba led the way on home soil, finishing fastest of the Supersport riders and setting a time that placed him ahead of several WorldSBK competitors.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Jeremy Alcoba and the Kawasaki ZX-6R

Dominique Aegerter followed among the WorldSSP ranks, while Matteo Ferrari, Philipp Oettl and Borja Jimenez focused on adaptation and mileage rather than outright pace.

WorldSBK 2026 – January Jerez Test – Day One – January 21, 2026 – Dominique Aegerter

Testing Continues

With weather limiting representative lap times, Day 1 at Jerez served primarily as a systems check rather than a form guide. Teams will be hoping for better weather on Thursday before the paddock then packs up and heads to Portimao for another two-day test next week.

WorldSBK Jerez Test Times
Day One – Jan 21, 2026

Pos	Class	Piloto	Bike	Time	Gap	Speed
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 Test 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 Test 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

2026 World Superbike Championship Entry List