SBK, here is the Barni Ducati team for the Superbike World Championship with Bautista and Montella: the photos

Renewed, confident and above all ambitious: the Barni Spark Racing Team wants to play a leading role in the World Superbike 2026 thanks to Alvaro Bautista And Yari Montella. On Sunday 11 January 2026 the two drivers were presented nthe prestigious showroom of Dream Wheelsin Reggio Emilia, which also hosted the new one Ducati Panigale V4 RS26. Compared to last season, the livery, designed by Oscar Pozzini, changes creative director by Babol Communication: red becomes the dominant color compared to black. However, the desire to surprise remains unchanged. An approach that is always present in the career of Marco Barnabòwho will celebrate his thirtieth year as team principal in the season starting on February 22nd from Australia.

bautista and the desire for redemption

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In addition to the livery, the big news is represented by the presence of Alvaro Bautista. The Spaniard, king in 125 in 2006 and Superbike champion between 2022 and 2023, takes the place of Danilo Petruccifreshly signed with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSbk team (where, in turn, he will replace the reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, ready for a new challenge in the MotoGP world championship. The goal is to redeem himself after the last two years. “I’m very excited about this new challenge. There will certainly be many changes, a new team and a new work team. It won’t be easy at the beginning, but I believe that with commitment and ambition, we can achieve everything.” Alvaro is fresh from third place in the general classification achieved aboard the team’s Ducati Aruba.it Racing. “I am also very happy to become part of the Barni family, because from the outside you can perceive a truly united team, constantly growing and increasingly competitive. Barnabò wants to win, he is very determined, a great stimulus for the riders. Together we can do an excellent job.” Bautista does not hide his ambitions. “I feel very excited, both physically and mentally and I’m ready to give 100%. We have to work to find the right feeling and understand how to best manage the new bike. The official support from Ducati represents a great added value.” And he concludes: “I continue to run because I feel ready to win.”

montella and a 2025 to improve

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Also Yari Montella he wants to grow after the results obtained in his debut season (which ended in 18th place in the general classification) in the Superbike world championship. “I am focused on work and, thanks to the experience gained in 2025, we are trying to strengthen our weak points. The objective is to improve what we did last year, also because 2026 will be important for my personal and professional path”. Now in his fourth season with the Barni team, the driver from Campania talks about his sensations. “I’m focused, but calm, with a great desire to get started – declared the 2020 European Cev Moto2 champion -. It will also be very stimulating to share the garage with a rider like Alvaro, I will certainly have the opportunity to learn and compare myself with different methods”.

barnabò, 30 years in… the saddle: ambitions

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In 2025 the Barni team was the best independent team in the Superbike World Championship. A special achievement for the team principal Marco Barnabòalready projected towards the new season. “I am very proud of the position that my team and I have achieved. The new season will be particularly important: in 2026 we will start with a completely new bike, just unveiled by Ducati, and with two riders competing in the Superbike category. For a private team this is a significant achievement.” Then the manager of the Bergamo facility focuses on the confirmation of Montella and the hiring of Bautista: “I’m happy to continue the path started with Yari. He’s fast, he just needs to materialize the work we started together in the past years. At the same time, we are extremely satisfied to have a driver of Alvaro’s caliber. His experience will help us grow further, allowing us to take a further step forward in terms of competitiveness. I admire the commitment he shows every day, despite having already achieved extraordinary goals.” Finally a comment on 30 years as team principal: “Thanks to those who support us, to all the people who work in the team. A special recognition goes to Ducati, which continues to always give its best for our team.”