Will MGM-Ducati still be in the World Superbike Championship in 2027? “The odds are 50:50”
Optical Express came on board as the main sponsor for MGM-Ducati in 2026. Whether the partnership will continue in 2027 remains to be seen. Michael Galinski spoke exclusively about his team’s future prospects.
This article is an automatically generated English version. The
Kann das deutsche MGM-Team die Saison 2027 finanzieren?
Foto: MGM
Kann das deutsche MGM-Team die Saison 2027 finanzieren?
© MGM
Ahead of the start of the 2026 season, Michael Galinski’s Superbike team announced Optical Express as its new main sponsor. Initially, there was talk of a multi-year project. However, it is currently unclear whether MGM-Ducati will also compete in the Superbike World Championship in 2027.
The contact with the sponsor was established through Tarran Mackenzie. The Scot has been sidelined with an injury since his crash at Donington in July. According to the team, communication has slowed down somewhat.
“The odds are currently about 50:50,” said Galinski in an exclusive interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. The budget presents the team with a major challenge: “A season here costs 1.6 million. We have until November to let Ducati know. I’ll take my time and make a decision at the end of October after the final race. Then we can determine whether it’s possible or not.”
Willkommen zum Rennen in Cremona
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Nicolò Bulega ist Superbike-Weltmeister 2026
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Cremona-Sieger Iker Lecuona
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Willkommen zum Rennen in Cremona
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A major challenge: finding sponsors for the Superbike project
Galinski is currently unable to say whether Optical Express will continue to support the team next year. The search for sponsors is proving difficult: “As a German team, it’s not easy. The hype surrounding the ‘green thumb’ is becoming increasingly prominent among large companies. Optical Express, our current main sponsor, comes from Tarran’s side. At the moment, I can’t really say how things will pan out. Tarran’s father, Niall, is handling this matter.”
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For now, the team boss hopes to see Mackenzie back on the Ducati before the end of the season. “We spoke on Saturday. He’s training every day for his comeback. I can’t put a percentage on the chances. He’s really keen, and I think it will become clear over the next six or seven days whether he’ll be back. I do, of course, hope that he’ll be back.”
Tarran Mackenzie ist seit Mitte Juli verletzt
Foto: Gold & Goose
Tarran Mackenzie ist seit Mitte Juli verletzt
© Gold & Goose
His return would also be important from a sporting perspective for Galinski. “Last year, we had a really good end to the season with Tarran. He got better and better from race to race and gelled more and more with the bike. That trend has continued this year. He put in some superb races until he got injured at Donington. His progress was really excellent. With him, we were able to hold our own in the 5th to 10th place range. At the moment, we’re not really performing to our potential. 15th-place finishes aren’t our style. I’d love to have a positive end to the season with Tarran.”
Points in both races: Loris Baz made a solid World Championship comeback
At Cremona, Loris Baz took over the Ducati from the injured Mackenzie. The Frenchman scored points in both main races: he finished 15th in the first race and 14th in the second.
Galinski praised his efforts and highlighted the difficult conditions: “I chose Loris because he already knew the team and always works with great focus. But it was really important to me that the team had already gained experience with the rider and knew him. He did a good job. You have to bear in mind that he hadn’t been able to ride on Pirelli tyres for three years. The circuit was also new to him.”
Loris Baz sprang zuletzt in Cremona ein
Foto: Gold & Goose
Loris Baz sprang zuletzt in Cremona ein
© Gold & Goose
Whether Mackenzie will return for the remaining race weekends at Estoril and Jerez should become clear in the next few days. Then comes the next step – negotiations for the future.
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