Jerez, Round 2: Yamaha victory in the final – Kawasaki ace Artigas is world champion

With his victory in the first race, Xavi Artigas turned the 2026 Sportbike World Championship standings on their head and heads into the final race of the season as leader, 13 points ahead of David Salvador. The title will be decided between the two Spaniards, who will start the second race side by side from 7th and 8th on the grid.

This is because, in the entry-level series of the production-based World Championship, the starting grid for Sunday’s race is not determined solely by Superpole. For the first nine positions, the fastest lap from Saturday’s race is used; from the tenth starting position onwards, the qualifying results apply. The front row therefore consisted of Alvaro Fuertes (Kawasaki), Matteo Vannucci (Aprilia) and Antonio Torres (Kawasaki). Jeffrey Buis (Suzuki) and Alessandri Di Persio (Yamaha) were unable to continue after crashing in the first race.

The race, which started at 1.00 pm, was over eleven laps. The sky was overcast, but there was no sign of the rain that had been feared. Torres took the lead off the line, entering the first corner in front of Fuertes, Risueno and Vannucci. Seabright, Ieraci, Schunselaar and Sovicka all crashed on the very first lap.

Title rivals Salvador and Artigas produced a very strong opening lap, emerging from the first lap in first and second place. Salvador had nothing to lose and set a fast pace, but his breakaway attempt was thwarted by Artigas and Carter Thompson (Yamaha).

The lead changed hands several times between Artigas, Salvador and Thompson, though the leading group consisted of nine riders. Tayo Aksu, riding the only Honda, was among the frontrunners for the first time.

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Jerez: Rennen 2

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18.10.2026 - 14:40

The Spaniards battling for the title kept a close eye on each other and hindered one another. When the opportunity arose, Thompson capitalised on the situation and pulled clear at the front. After six laps, the Australian led by 1.3 seconds ahead of Torres, Fuertes, Salvador and Artigas. As the pace wasn’t particularly high, 15 riders were now battling for podium places.

Behind Thompson in first place, Torres pulled away from the rest of the field to take second place in the second half of the race. The battle for the final podium place was fiercely contested. For Salvador, the World Championship title was now only mathematically possible. Going into the final lap, Salvador and Artigas were in 5th and 9th places respectively.

Whilst Thompson celebrated his second win of the season, Torres crossed the finish line in second place and Pepe Osuna prevailed in the chasing pack. Salvador brought his bike home in fourth place – eighth place was enough for Artigas to secure the Sportbike crown.