F1 2026 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying Results
July 19, 2026
Two-time World Superbike Champion Alvaro Bautista will continue racing with the Ducati family after signing with Barni Spark Racing for 2026 WorldSBK.
The Spanish racer who has been a key figure in the championship and a stalwart of the Italian marque will move to the satellite outfit following his departure from the factory Aruba.it Racing Ducati team
Bautista’s switch to Barni Spark Racing follows Ducati’s decision not to extend his contract beyond 2025, opting instead to bring in Iker Lecuona as Nicolo Bulega’s teammate for the upcoming season.
The news came amid a busy offseason in WorldSBK’s ever-evolving rider market notably coming shortly after Jonathan Rea’s announcement that he will be retiring from full-time competition at the end of the year.
Alvaro Bautista’s move to Barni not only secures his place on the grid but also keeps him firmly within the Ducati family, an aspect he highlighted with satisfaction in his public statements.
“I want to thank Barni for the trust and interest he has shown in me,” Bautista said. “Right after the announcement that I would be free for the 2026 WorldSBK season, he contacted me without hesitation and that means a lot to me.
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“I’m happy to remain in the Ducati family, where I have already achieved success and I believe that together with Barni we can reach great results. The team is constantly growing season after season, and this agreement represents another step forward.
“It will take commitment since I’ll be working with new people, but I’m confident because I see in Barni great motivation and a strong competitive spirit. I want to prove that I can still win.
“The last two years have not been easy due to the new regulations, but now with the new Ducati Panigale V4 R and Ducati’s support, we’ll have everything we need to be competitive. The goal is to reach our maximum potential and from there aim even higher.”
The 40 year-old rider brings immense experience and an in-depth understanding of the Ducati machinery to Barni Spark Racing. His extensive knowledge of the Panigale V4 platform is regarded as a critical asset for the team as they prepare to field the new Ducati V4 R model debuting in 2026.
Barni Spark Racing Team Principal Marco Barnabo welcomed Bautista with pride, noting the significance of having a two-time world superbike champion join an independent team.
“We are proud to welcome Alvaro to our team for the upcoming season,” Barnabo added. “For a private team, having a three-time World Champion is a source of great satisfaction and proves the solid credibility and stature of our team.
“Important challenges await us, but that’s exactly what drives us to constantly improve. Alvaro is still proving his worth today and we are certain he can give us a fundamental contribution to continue growing.”
Bautista will replace the departing Danilo Petrucci who is on his way to the factory ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team to take over from Toprak Razgatlioglu who switches to MotoGP for 2026.
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