Champion Albert Arenas leaves Yamaha: the aim is a new Superbike works team!

It has been confirmed since last summer that the Chinese motorbike manufacturer CF Moto will enter the Superbike World Championship in 2027. The bike will not be ready for the start of the season in Australia at the end of February, nor for the European opener at the end of March. Realistically, we expect to see the V4 SR-RR on the starting grid for the first time after the summer break. Then, from early September, there will be three rounds at Magny-Cours, Cremona and Estoril, before the first-ever SBK event in China takes place on the last weekend of October.

Numerous teams have approached CF Moto and offered to partner with them; it is rare for a new manufacturer to enter the World Superbike Championship. CF Moto has long had a partnership with the Aspar team in the MotoGP paddock, but Jorge Martinez is already heavily committed with his involvement in the Moto3 and Moto2 World Championships, his work with young talent and his own racetrack. Consequently, there are strong indications that CF Moto will join forces with a team that has Superbike experience.

Andrea Quadranti’s AS team – this year’s most successful team in the Supersport World Championship with Yamaha, and previously a long-standing partner of MV Agusta in the Superbike and Supersport World Championships – was turned down. A partnership with Marc VDS is conceivable – Martinez and team principal Marina Rossi know each other well from their many years together in the MotoGP paddock. If this deal goes ahead, it would come as no surprise to anyone if Sam Lowes were to ride the new Superbike. The Englishman is the second-best privateer in the current World Championship and is married to Marina.

That would be bad news for three-time world champion Alvaro Bautista – SPEEDWEEK.com reported on his interest in CF Moto.

First rider at CF Moto on the horizon

The first rider for the Chinese giant is emerging: the new Supersport champion, Albert Arenas!

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At Yamaha, only one of the four factory bikes was available for the 2027 Superbike World Championship, and this was awarded to Jack Miller. Arenas was offered a Superbike seat for 2028 as well as several R1 test days next year, provided he rides another season in Supersport for the Blues. However, he found this proposal unattractive.

“They’ve opted for Jack Miller, which is fair enough,” Arenas explained during a meeting with SPEEDWEEK.com in Estoril. “He comes from MotoGP and is very experienced; they chose him over me. I accept that, but I’m sad. Over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken a lot with Niccolo Canepa (Yamaha’s racing director – the author); I’m very grateful for what Yamaha has done for me. But I can’t carry on with them. I’m very proud to represent a factory team; I’m in a position to grow and develop something. It’s a shame we can’t do that in Superbikes.”

Albert Arenas wants to seize his opportunity

Out of respect for Yamaha – and because, as he himself says, he hasn’t signed a contract yet – the 29-year-old avoids mentioning the name CF Moto. However, he said meaningfully: “I’m trying to stay calm, believe in myself and take the risk of finding what suits me best for the future. I don’t want to ride in Supersport for another year, partly because of my age. I want to develop, so I have to be brave and take risks. I don’t want to settle for less, but rather seize the opportunities that come my way. On top of that, the rules are changing for next year – that’s a key moment. Why should I have to adapt to a bike with different performance and new tyres in the Supersport class? I don’t want that. As a rider, I want to grow through the challenges I face.”