Xavi Vierge to join Yamaha WorldSBK team in 2026

The seat at Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK that’s to be vacated by the retiring Jonathan Rea at the end of this season has been filled, with Xavi Vierge signing for the team in September. The 28-year-old from Barcelona will join the factory Yamaha team on a one-year deal, after spending four seasons in WorldSBK with Honda HRC.

Vierge’s signing completes Yamaha’s WorldSBK lineup for 2026, with Andrea Locatelli re-signing for the factory team, while the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team will field Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi; the latter replacing Dominique Aegerter.

Vierge will get his first taste of the WorldSBK-spec Yamaha YZF-R1 following the final round of the 2025 season at Jerez.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Xavi Vierge that will see him join the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team for 2026,” said Niccolo Canepa, Road Racing Sporting Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe.

“He brings a lot of experience to our project, both from within Superbike and his time in Grand Prix racing. We are excited to see what he can achieve and look forward to starting our journey together.

“Through the winter, we will continue to work hard on developing the R1 and with Vierge joining Locatelli at Pata Maxus Yamaha and Manzi moving up from Supersport to join Gardner at GYTR GRT Yamaha, we have four young and hungry riders on the bike next year which is an exciting prospect.”

Vierge came to WorldSBK after six full seasons in the Moto2 World Championship. Highlights there included four podium finishes and a best championship placing of tenth.

In his (almost) four seasons on the Honda CBR1000 RR-R for Honda HRC in WorldSBK, Vierge has had mixed results. Solid top ten finishes in some rounds have been countered by finishing well outside the top ten on many other occasions.

At time of writing, Vierge’s sole podium was achieved at Mandalika in 2022, although he has multiple top five placings this year, finishing inside the top ten more often than not. Vierge is also the best placed Honda rider in the championship, currently in eighth overall.