Confirmed: Xavi Vierge to succeed Álvaro Bautista at Barni Ducati

It had been clear since August that Xavi Vierge and Yamaha would be parting ways, as Jack Miller was moving from MotoGP to the Pata Maxus works team. This was officially confirmed on 8 September. By that point, it was already clear that the Spaniard would land on his feet: he was on the verge of signing for the top-tier Ducati team, Barni Racing, where he would replace two-time Superbike World Champion Álvaro Bautista.

On Thursday lunchtime, Vierge’s signing for the 2027 Superbike World Championship was confirmed. For team boss Marco Barnabo, there were many reasons to back Vierge. The 29-year-old has distinguished himself in recent years with many positive attributes. Throughout four challenging seasons with Honda, he remained loyal, motivated and willing to take risks, and ultimately proved more successful than his then-team-mate Iker Lecuona, who is set to finish this season as runner-up in the world championship as a Ducati works rider. Vierge, for his part, impressed with his ability to adapt quickly and raced on a par with his Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli. Both Japanese factory teams also praised Vierge’s personal qualities.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Xavi Vierge for the 2027 season. We were in agreement on our goals and priorities right from the start and shared a clear vision of what we want to achieve together,” said Barnabo. “We are ready to embark on this new path with great motivation and determination.”

For Vierge, the move to Ducati is a stroke of luck, as the V4R is the most powerful motorbike this year – something that can no longer be said of Yamaha.

“I’m delighted about this new step in my career,” said the 29-year-old, visibly relieved. “Riding a Ducati for the first time in 2027 and joining the Barni Spark Racing Team at the same time is a huge motivation for me. I’m looking forward to getting to know the Panigale V4R, working with the team and taking the next steps together. I want to contribute my experience whilst learning as much as possible from this new challenge.”

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