Jerez, Race 1: Disaster for Salvador – World Championship lead passes to Artigas

Jerez is the eighth and final race weekend of the new Sportbike World Championship. In Friday’s qualifying session, championship leader David Salvador secured pole position for the fifth time this year. The title will be decided between the Spaniard and his compatriot Xavi Artigas at the season finale – just twelve points separate the two Kawasaki riders, with Yamaha ace Carter Thompson sandwiched between them on the front row.

Dramatic warm-up lap – Jeffrey Buis (Suzuki) injured

The race got off to a dramatic start. During the warm-up lap, Julien Correa (Kawasaki), Jeffrey Buis (Suzuki) and Fenton Seabright (Triumph) crashed in the first corner – their starting positions remained vacant. The Dutchman suffered a dislocated shoulder and will miss Sunday’s race. At the start at 1.00 pm, the thermometer read 26 degrees Celsius. The race consisted of eleven laps.

Salvador won the sprint to the first corner, but Artigas was right behind him and took the lead at Turn 2. The first lap was turbulent, with several lead changes. Five Kawasakis were at the front: Alvaro Fuertes, Salvador, Artigas, Antonio Torres and Juan Risueno.

On lap 2, Bruno Ierace (Triumph) retired and Marco Gaggi (Yamaha) crashed in turn 9. Shortly afterwards, Tonn’s replacement, Hugo de Cancellis (Kove), headed for the pit lane. Meanwhile, at the front, Matteo Vannucci (Aprilia) and Thompson had fought their way into the leading group and were firmly in the mix for victory – the Italian set the fastest lap of the race so far in 1:47.020 minutes.

After five laps, Salvador led the race ahead of Torres, Thompson and Artigas. The top 10 were all within two seconds of each other. Tayo Aksu, riding the only Honda, was performing surprisingly well in 9th place.

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Jerez: Rennen 1

FIM Superbike World Championship

17.10.2026 - 14:40

In the second half of the race, eight riders had broken away at the front. Alongside five Kawasakis, the field included one Suzuki (Ferre Fleerackers), one Aprilia (Vannucci) and one Yamaha (Thompson).

On lap 8, Vannucci crashed; prior to that, Alessandri Di Persio (Yamaha), Luca Agostinelli (Aprilia) and Mattia Martella (Yamaha) had also been forced out of the race following crashes.

Carter Thompson (Yamaha) crashed into David Salvador (Kawasaki)

With two laps to go, Thompson and Salvador collided in the final corner. The Spaniard crashed as a result of the impact. Thompson was deemed to have caused the incident, for which the Australian was penalised with a long-lap penalty.

Artigas went into the final lap in the lead, followed by Fleerackers, Fuertes and Pepe Osuna. It was a close battle, but the World Championship runner-up held his own and clinched the title with his fourth win of the season. Instead of trailing by twelve points, the 23-year-old heads into the final race of the season with a 13-point lead. Fleerackers finished second, with Fuertes third.

Despite the penalty, Thompson finished sixth. Harrison Dessoy was the highest-placed Triumph rider, finishing in seventh place. Honda rider Aksu recorded his best result of the season in ninth place.

Other positions: Jurrien Van Crugten (13th/Aprilia), Benat Fernandez (15th/Kove).