Italian rider Yari Montella renewed his contract with Barni Spark Racing Team (Barni Ducati) through the end of the 2027 World Superbike (WorldSBK) season, officials confirmed during World Ducati Week. The multi-year extension secures Montella’s place for a third WorldSBK season with Barni, following two prior World Supersport campaigns, ensuring continuity on the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid.
Montella’s multi-year contract extension with Barni Spark Racing Team, confirmed during World Ducati Week, secures his place on the team through the 2027 World Superbike season, marking his third consecutive year in the premier class with Barni Ducati. According to WorldSBK.com, the Italian rider, who races under number 5, had already been contracted through 2026, and the recent renewal extends that agreement by an additional year. The partnership between Montella and Barni now spans five consecutive seasons, including two years in the World Supersport Championship (2023 and 2024) followed by the current and future WorldSBK campaigns from 2025 to 2027, officials said.
At the time of the announcement, Montella was ranked third in the 2026 WorldSBK Riders’ Championship standings, reflecting his strong performances throughout the season.
Motorsport media outlet CorseDiMoto reported that Montella had achieved eight podium finishes since the opening round at Phillip Island, demonstrating consistent form that contributed to his elevated championship position. These results, combined with his development trajectory, prompted Barni team principal Marco Barnabò to extend Montella’s contract beyond the 2026 season, sources confirmed. Barnabò described the renewal as a vote of confidence in the 25-year-old rider’s progress and maturity within the team.
Montella’s rise through the ranks has been closely tied to Barni Ducati, a Bergamo-based independent team led by Barnabò. The team competes on the Ducati Panigale V4 R, and Montella’s continued presence ensures stability in one of the two seats Barni fields in WorldSBK. Spanish and Italian motorsport reports emphasized that Barni’s confirmation of Montella for 2027 anchors their WorldSBK project amid ongoing negotiations concerning other Ducati riders, including Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci. Montella’s role as a leading independent Ducati rider is underscored by his long-term commitment and technical familiarity with the Panigale V4 R, which he first piloted in his WorldSBK debut season in 2025 alongside Petrucci.
Before stepping up to WorldSBK, Montella established himself as a front-runner in the World Supersport Championship with Barni Spark Racing Team. Records show he finished as vice-champion in the 2024 WorldSSP season, securing seven wins and 19 podium finishes over two years with the team. This strong Supersport performance laid the foundation for his promotion to the premier class. Montella’s career progression from WorldSSP to WorldSBK within the same team reflects a strategic development plan by Barni, according to team insiders and media reports.
The contract extension was officially announced on WorldSBK.com under the headline “Montella stays put: The #5 renews with Barni Ducati, continuing their agreement through 2027,” and corroborated by specialist outlets including CorseDiMoto and SAPO. These sources highlighted that the renewal is a continuation of an existing relationship rather than a new signing, emphasizing the multi-year nature of the agreement that clarifies Montella’s future in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid. The extension also aligns with Barni’s broader strategy to maintain a competitive presence with two Ducati Panigale V4 R machines in the championship.
Montella, born on January 5, 2000, is currently 26 years old and has developed into a key rider within the Ducati ecosystem. His long-term commitment to Barni Ducati positions him as a medium-term project rider, providing a stable platform to build on his Supersport success and further establish himself among WorldSBK front-runners. With the renewal in place, media coverage indicates that attention within Ducati’s WorldSBK structure is now shifting towards resolving contracts for other riders, including Bautista and Petrucci.
The extension through 2027 ensures Montella remains an integral part of the Ducati rider pool in WorldSBK, competing alongside factory-backed teams such as Aruba.it and other Ducati-powered independent outfits. His continued development on the Panigale V4 R is expected to benefit from the technical consistency and team familiarity that a long-term contract with Barni provides, according to industry analysts and team statements.
