Fabio Di Giannantonio remains the top Ducati rider in the 2026 standings while 2027 rumours swirl. The Italian star sits third overall and faces intense interest from KTM and Trackhouse Aprilia. Di Giannantonio compares his current lack of a signed deal to his uncertain 2023 season. VR46 remains desperate to retain their standout rider despite growing factory interest from rival manufacturers.

Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola admits the manufacturer is benefitting from Marc Marquez’s poor start to the 2026 season. While Aprilia dominates the standings with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin the reigning champion remains winless on Sundays. Marquez currently sits fifth in the title race after four rounds. Rivola insists Aprilia must capitalize while the Ducati star is not at peak fitness. 

Aprilia, KTM and Yamaha boycotted Liberty Media’s official Jerez dinner. The MSMA wants a percentage-based revenue share instead of fixed payments, with MotoGP generating around 460 to 480 million euros annually. Liberty responded by switching tactics, negotiating individually with manufacturers, with Honda and Ducati reportedly moving closer to signing.

Jack Miller declared giving up on Yamaha’s V4 project is not an option after the Jerez test, saying every area of the bike needs work but insisting the machine is only six to eight months old and that the team is still gathering data to understand its strengths and weaknesses. His stance stands in stark contrast to Quartararo, who admitted he no longer wants to give his all on the V4.

Sam Lowes delivered a standout recovery ride to finish sixth in the final race at Balaton Park. The British rider started 14th on the grid but carved through the field with a series of clinical overtakes. Lowes passed Tarran Mackenzie and Alberto Surra late in the race to secure vital points. This result caps off a resilient weekend for the Marc VDS squad. 

Yari Montella returned to the podium in Race Two after capitalising on early race drama. The Barni Spark rider moved into third place on the opening lap when Lorenzo Baldassarri forced Alvaro Bautista wide at turn 15. Montella maintained a steady gap to the leaders to secure his second trophy of the weekend. This result marks a significant boost for the Independent rider. 

Iker Lecuona secured his ninth consecutive second place finish in a lonely Race Two at Balaton Park. The Spaniard tracked teammate Nicolo Bulega for the entire distance but could not find a way to bridge the gap. Lecuona remained within one second for ten laps before the leader pulled away. His consistent podium run keeps him second in the overall standings.

Nicolo Bulega completed a perfect weekend at Balaton Park by winning Race Two in dominant style. The Italian led every lap to secure his 16th consecutive victory across two seasons. This result confirms the best start to a WorldSBK campaign in history with 12 straight wins. Bulega finished two seconds clear of the field to extend his massive championship lead. 

TAS Racing returned to Yamaha machinery for the 2026 season opener at Oulton Park. Rory Skinner led the team with an eighth place finish after a progressive weekend. Teammate Danny Kent recovered from a difficult qualifying to secure 14th in the opening race. The team is still finding the limit of the R1 after two years using different manufacturers. Progress remains the priority.