Alex Marquez remains a core part of Ducati development despite his confirmed 2027 move to KTM. The Gresini rider currently works on the GP26 machine to help the Italian brand catch a dominant Aprilia. Marquez believes his future switch will not limit his technical influence. Ducati continues to trust the 2025 runner up as they fight to regain the MotoGP crown.
Nicolo Bulega may find it difficult to secure a Ducati MotoGP seat for 2027 despite testing the brand’s future 850cc prototype and showing strong form in World Superbike. Most Desmosedici seats are expected to remain occupied under current contracts, leaving limited opportunities for the Italian rider to move into MotoGP in the next rider market cycle.
KTM boss Pit Beirer has launched a furious attack on MotoGP’s tyre pressure rules, calling them “simply absurd” after Pedro Acosta was dropped from third to eighth in the COTA Sprint with an eight second post race penalty. Beirer told Speedweek the rule “needs to be changed or abolished.” Even the FIM president admitted on the grid the rule needs immediate reform.
The Supertwin class at TT 2026 has been replaced by the new Sportbike TT, with BSB Sportbike machines eligible for the first time including the Triumph Daytona 660, CFMoto 675SR-R, Suzuki GSX-8R and Honda Hornet 750, opening the class to a wider range of machinery than ever before at the Mountain Course.
Amazon MGM is producing a TT feature film and documentary series about the Isle of Man TT in 2026, adding a Hollywood dimension to what is already one of motorcycle racing’s most dramatic events. Keanu Reeves’ Arch Racing team is also eyeing a TT entry, increasing the global profile of the event significantly ahead of the May 25 start.
John McGuinness MBE, 23 time TT winner, will mark his 30th year at the Isle of Man TT Races in 2026, with the Lancashire legend among the confirmed entries alongside defending Senior TT champion Davey Todd and all time record holder Michael Dunlop. TT 2026 begins on May 25.
Jonathan Rea returns to Assen this weekend for Honda HRC, again standing in for the recovering Jake Dixon at a circuit where he has 17 wins and 25 podiums in total. Dixon is targeting a return at the Hungarian Round in May, subject to medical clearance. Assen is the most successful circuit of Rea’s legendary WorldSBK career.
Bulega’s winning streak of ten consecutive races heading into Assen is the best start to a WorldSBK season since Alvaro Bautista won 11 in a row in 2019. With six wins from six races this season alone, Bulega is also on course to challenge some of the most significant records in WorldSBK history across the remaining ten rounds.
The 2026 BSB season enters its 30th anniversary year and gets underway at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend from May 2 to 4, with two official pre season tests completed at Donington Park and a second scheduled at Oulton Park from April 22 to 23 before the competitive action begins. The 11 round season concludes at Brands Hatch in October.
Ryan Vickers says his experience in WorldSBK means he returns to BSB in 2026 as a better rider than when he left, with the Englishman having spent time on the world stage before coming back to the domestic championship. The Donington Park pre season test gave him his first laps back on British soil.