Álvaro Bautista will leave Ducati’s factory World Superbike team to join the Barni Spark Racing Team for the 2026 season, officials confirmed on August 27, 2025. The move came after Ducati decided to replace Bautista in its factory lineup, with Bautista set to continue riding a Ducati Panigale V4 under Barni’s banner.
The move follows Ducati’s decision to replace Bautista in its factory World Superbike lineup with Iker Lecuona, according to reports from Motorsportweek and Sky Sport Italia dated August 26, 2025. Sources confirmed Multiple outlets, including Mundo Deportivo and Sky Sport Italia, reported Bautista would continue racing a Ducati Panigale V4 R with Barni, preserving his association with Ducati machinery despite the team change.
Ducati informed Bautista he was no longer part of the factory team’s plans, with WorldSBK’s official rider profile stating Bautista was “unable to keep his factory Ducati seat” and subsequently signed with the independent Barni Spark Racing Team for the 2026 season.
The agreement was reportedly finalized in late August 2025, with BikeSport News noting on August 22 that Bautista was “closing in on a new World Superbike deal” to remain on a Ducati Panigale V4 R with Barni. The timing allowed Bautista to potentially test the 2026-spec Panigale V4 R at the MotorLand Aragón test on August 25–26, as noted by BikeSport News and Paddock-GP. The 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R is expected to be Bautista’s machine for the upcoming season, according to sources including Mundo Deportivo and WorldSBK’s official communications.
Ducati’s factory team restructuring, which led to Bautista’s departure, was linked to the promotion of fellow Spaniard Iker Lecuona, who is set to replace Bautista in the Aruba.it Racing factory squad, as reported by Sky Sport Italia and Motorsportweek. Paddock-GP also cited Ducati’s decision to not extend Bautista’s factory contract beyond 2025, consistent with earlier reports from Crash.net in June 2025 detailing the option structure that allowed Ducati to cancel the factory year for Bautista.
In a related development, SPEEDWEEK.com reported on August 23, 2026, that Xavi Vierge was “nearing” a ride with Barni Racing for the following season. Vierge, who was under contract with Pata Maxus Yamaha at the time, was linked to a Ducati seat within the Barni structure, aligning with the team’s use of Ducati Panigale V4 machinery. However, no official announcement regarding Vierge’s signing was available in the sources reviewed. This potential move suggests a continuation of Barni’s Ducati-powered presence in World Superbike beyond Bautista’s tenure.
Álvaro Bautista, a two-time World Superbike champion, has had multiple stints with Ducati, including his current factory ride. His transition to Barni Spark Racing Team marks a return to a satellite Ducati outfit, where he will continue competing aboard the latest Panigale V4 R. The Barni team has operated Ducati machinery in World Superbike for several seasons, providing a platform for riders outside the factory squad. Bautista’s move follows a broader trend of Ducati reshuffling its rider lineup ahead of the 2026 season.
The developments come amid ongoing preparations for the 2026 World Superbike season, with teams conducting tests and finalizing contracts in the late summer of 2025. Bautista’s potential participation in the Aragón test with Barni and the 2026-spec Panigale V4 R is indicative of the team’s intent to remain competitive. Meanwhile, the reported near-deal involving Xavi Vierge points to continued rider movements within the Ducati satellite teams, though confirmation is pending.
Records show Ducati’s factory team decisions and satellite team arrangements have significant implications for rider careers and team strategies in the World Superbike championship. Bautista’s shift to Barni and the possible arrival of Vierge underscore the dynamic nature of team compositions as the 2026 season approaches. Further official announcements are expected as teams finalize their lineups and prepare for upcoming race events.
