Barni is banking on continuity: first rider for the 2027 World Superbike Championship confirmed!

The rider line-up for the Superbike World Championship is taking further shape: the Barni team has extended Yari Montella’s contract early, until the end of 2027. The Italian will thus be contesting his fifth season for the Calvenzano-based team, having first joined them in the Supersport World Championship in 2023.

Montella initially established himself in the middleweight class of the production-based championship. After finishing 9th in his Supersport World Championship debut season in 2023 with five podium finishes, he improved significantly in 2024, battling for the world title right until the end and finishing the season in third place in the championship with seven wins and a total of 14 podium finishes. These performances earned him promotion to the World Superbike Championship.

Currently third in the World Championship: Montella has shown strong progress

As expected, his debut season in 2025 was a learning year. Nevertheless, the team and rider stuck to their shared plan and have already extended their contract for 2026. This decision has paid off: after seven race weekends of the current season, Montella has already secured eight podium finishes. He celebrated his first Superbike podium with a third-place finish in the first race at Phillip Island; since then, he has added one second-place finish and seven third-place finishes.

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

“Extending my contract was one of my goals following the first half of the season,” explained Montella. “Next year will mark five years together with Barni. I’m proud of that, because we’ve experienced both wonderful and difficult moments together and have strengthened our partnership year on year. But for now, our focus remains entirely on the current season. The confirmation for 2027 gives me the peace of mind to concentrate fully on 2026.”

Topic of the week

From major doubts to a major spectacle: why GP fans have reason to be delighted

Before the start of the season, critical voices dominated, but the World Championship rounds so far have shown that the rule changes are delivering exactly what was hoped for: excitement right up to the final lap.

Read more

TV program

Live

Donington Park: FP1

FIM Superbike World Championship

10.07.2026 - 11:15

Who will be Montella’s team-mate?

Team principal Marco Barnabo sees the contract extension as a logical step: “The results show that continuity, hard work and commitment pay off. Even though there have been difficult phases, this season confirms that we’re on the right track. We’re still missing that final step to be competitive on all circuits. We’re convinced that we can take that step together with Yari. That’s why extending his contract was a natural decision.”

Yari Montella und Marco Barnabo

Foto: Barni Racing

It remains to be seen who will ride the second Barni Ducati next season. Alvaro Bautista has had a difficult season so far and currently sits only eighth in the riders’ standings. This means the two-time world champion is merely the sixth-best Ducati rider in the field. Furthermore, Bautista will celebrate his 42nd birthday in November. There are therefore strong indications that 2026 could be his final season in the World Superbike Championship. Danilo Petrucci is considered a possible successor; his move to the BMW works team has so far fallen short of expectations.