The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship roars back into action this weekend at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Before the French Round kicks off, Thursday’s traditional media debrief gave riders and teams a chance to reflect on a busy summer break, talk through the latest big news, and look ahead to what promises to be a pivotal set of races. The atmosphere was charged, with retirement announcements, contract confirmations, and title ambitions all on the table.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026”
The spotlight naturally fell on six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea, who only days ago confirmed he would retire at the end of this season. Rea admitted the weight had lifted once the news was public:
“I feel quite light; right now, it’s exciting because I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026, whatever that may be. I’m trying to focus on the last four rounds of the season. It was important to make the announcement before Magny-Cours. I want to finish this chapter strong; I want to be competitive.”
Rea explained the decision had crystallised after Balaton Park, calling it the hardest step any rider faces but the right one for him:
“I’ll miss the burning fire inside to win, the team working and many things; thousands of things that are incredible in this job. It was super nice to read all the comments. I was able to see those messages about the impact I’ve had in the sport, and it made me feel very proud.”
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “I had a clear idea of my future”
Another big talking point was Danilo Petrucci’s upcoming switch to BMW in 2026. The Italian said the choice to leave Barni Spark, a team central to both his MotoGP and WorldSBK career, was not taken lightly:
“I’m really happy and proud to be a factory rider. Riding with a factory team has been my goal. It was not an easy decision to leave Barni. They were the team that launched my career in MotoGP, and I stayed with them after that, now in WorldSBK, so it was very tough because we accomplished so much together.”
After technical meetings and discussions, Petrucci knew the BMW path was the right one:
“Taking Toprak’s seat is really challenging! I already feel the pressure. Rea’s the greatest rider in WorldSBK. Looking at his statistics, I think he did almost half of the WorldSBK races. He’s Mr. WorldSBK. Just the numbers can speak for him, and I’m so proud to have raced with him for the last part of his career.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “He helped me a lot”
Toprak, who returns to one of his favourite circuits this weekend, was clear about his intentions:
“This is my favourite track, and my target is to win three races. I took my first win in WorldSBK here in 2019; I’m always strong here.”
Reacting to Rea’s announcement, Toprak was openly sentimental:
“When I saw Rea’s news, I was sad. He did an incredible job and had an incredible career. Six times World Champion and all in a row, that’s incredible; it’s why I say he’s a WorldSBK legend. He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. He came to my box and showed me corner by corner, and I rode with him on the track. I’ll never forget this.”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Barni was the more exciting proposal”
Alvaro Bautista also addressed his future, confirming he will join Barni Ducati in 2026:
“I’m so happy and excited for this new challenge with Barni. After the whole situation with the factory team, I appreciated them showing me that they wanted me for their bike, and that’s always a nice feeling. I will have full factory support from Ducati. I didn’t want to keep racing just to keep racing; I want to fight for wins.”
Bautista admitted Aruba.it Racing – Ducati was an option, but Barni’s project won him over:
“I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me, but it was always clear to stay on a Ducati. It’s not easy to make the decision that Jonny made, but I wish him the best for the future, and it has been a pleasure to race against the best rider in the history of WorldSBK.”
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC): “My future is still open”
Honda’s Xavi Vierge finds himself in uncertain territory. Despite being the top Honda rider in the current standings, his contract situation remains unresolved:
“Right now, I’m the best Honda rider, and the reality right now is my future is still open. I had a clause with Honda, but this has already expired. They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time.”
For now, Vierge is focused on racing, but he admitted he may need to explore other factory options soon.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “These next races will be better”
Bulega is optimistic about his chances in France, pointing out Magny-Cours suits the strengths of his Ducati better than recent venues:
“Here, some corners are more open and faster, and these next races will be better for me and my bike. I’m very motivated to be fast. Jonny is incredible, even at his age. He’s the greatest of all time. I’m very happy and proud to say I was able to race against him.”
Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC): “I rode it recently on the PlayStation”
Sergio Garcia, stepping up for his WorldSBK debut, is approaching the challenge with excitement and humour:
“Understanding everything on the bike was super fun, and I was learning every lap I did. The bike is so fast at the end of the straight. I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “He is an all-time legend”
Finally, Andrea Locatelli reflected on teammate Rea’s decision while staying focused on his own targets:
“We have found a good base setup and a good feeling, and we’re working really well. I think from here until the end of the year, we have many possibilities for podiums and maybe even another race win. It was big news to me when I heard that Jonathan was retiring. He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished. To have his mentality to want to win at all times at 38 years old is something I’ve learned from him.”
A Weekend of Mixed Emotions
The French Round at Magny-Cours is shaping up as both a celebration and a farewell. For some, like Rea, it’s the beginning of the end of an extraordinary chapter. For others, like Bautista and Petrucci, it’s about new beginnings and factory dreams. And for the likes of Toprak, Bulega, and Vierge, the focus is squarely on performance and results.
Magny-Cours has always been a circuit full of drama, and with so many storylines colliding at once, this year’s French Round promises to be one of the most memorable in recent memory.
