Confirmed: Twan Smits (22) to switch to the 2026 World Superbike Championship from Cremona onwards

It was only on Sunday that news of a last-minute line-up change at Motoxracing began to emerge. As Bahattin Sofuoglu wanted to return to the Supersport category, the Italian Yamaha team needed a suitable replacement who would be available as early as this coming weekend in Cremona.

The fact that this replacement will be Twan Smits comes as something of a surprise, as the Dutchman would normally be racing for Apreco Yamaha at the Euro Moto in Hockenheim. However, the title is out of reach for the 22-year-old, so the move to the Superbike World Championship is the more interesting option for his future.

To ensure Smits isn’t completely unprepared for the R1 in World Championship spec, Motoxracing has already organised a test. “I’m really excited and looking forward to embarking on this new experience,” said Smits regarding his move. “Racing in the World Championship is a dream come true for me. The fact that I get to do this with Motoxracing Yamaha makes it something very special. I’d like to thank everyone who has made this possible, and especially Yamaha for believing in me. I’ll do my best to repay that trust with maximum commitment.”

Team principal Sandro Carusi was already familiar with Smits, as when the Dutchman competed on a wildcard at this year’s Assen round on his Euro-Moto Yamaha, his riders had great difficulty keeping him behind them. “He is a young rider who is already showing considerable talent, and I’m sure the whole team will do everything they can to provide him with the right conditions so he can perform at his best,” promised Carusi.