Surprise: Twan Smits skips Euro Moto finale for SBK in Cremona

Following mixed results at the start of the 2026 Euro Moto season, Twan Smits has staged a comeback at his home race in Assen. The Apreco-Yamaha rider claimed victory in both races from pole position and went on to dominate in the same manner at the Nürburgring. Currently third in the overall standings, the 22-year-old can now only displace Marcel Schrötter (BMW) from second place at the season finale in Hockenheim.

Smits is competing in his second season in the Superbike category and made his World Championship debut at the TT Circuit Assen in mid-April on a wildcard entry. As the bike did not comply with World Championship regulations, his 21st, 21st and 22nd-place finishes were to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Superbike World Championship opportunity takes precedence over EuroMoto final

It has now emerged that Smits will not be competing at Hockenheim, but will instead spend the final three rounds of the 2026 Superbike World Championship with the Yamaha Motoxracing team. Bahattin Sofuoglu’s place on the team has become vacant. The chance to make his mark in the World Championship is more important to Smits than the Euro Moto, even if this means he could potentially lose third place to Markus Reiterberger (BMW).

However, his stint with Motoxracing will be no easy task, as the team led by Sandro Carusi is having a disappointing season – partly due to Yamaha’s difficulties, which are hitting the privateer team even harder than the factory riders. The second rider is rookie Mattia Rato, who will set the benchmark for Smits.

Bahattin Sofuoglu: Return to the Supersport category

Sofuoglu, meanwhile, will return to the Supersport category and finish the season with QJ Motor. As no third bike will be fielded, this spells the end of the road for Marcos Ramirez, from whom more had been expected.

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