All-new for Sportbike 2027: Kove with new riders and a new motorbike

After Kove Moto became the first Chinese manufacturer to win a world championship in 2026 with Benat Fernandez, the works team led by Paul Tobin entered the Sportbike World Championship – established as a new entry-level series – with high ambitions. However, the 450RR proved no match for the competition, which had significantly larger engine capacities. Even the Spanish 300cc World Champion could only manage a single-digit finish. And because team-mate Phillip Tonn was sidelined with a long-term injury, the team had to make do with various stand-in riders.

During the season, Kove had already begun preparing a new motorbike. And with Fernandez, as is well known, moving to the Moto3 World Championship, the factory team is completely restructuring for 2027. The strong reputation they had built up helped to attract top riders. Tobin presented the Spaniards Antonio Torres and Iker Garcia as the new rider pairing.

Torres has previously ridden for the Kawasaki ProDina team and finished the season in fourth place in the World Championship, with two wins and five podium finishes. “I’m really happy to have signed for the team for 2027,” said the 19-year-old. “I’m highly motivated to start the season, give it my all and help get the team onto the top step of the podium.”

His team-mate Garcia is a World Championship rookie, but as the 2025 JuniorGP European Stock 600 Stock champion, he should not be underestimated either. “I’m absolutely delighted and really looking forward to being part of Kove now. I can’t wait to work with the team and give my all this season.”

The bike they’ll be racing is the 650RR, which is comparable to the Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 or the Honda CBR600RR. The key specifications of the production model are impressive: In-line four-cylinder engine in an aluminium chassis, 125 PS at 13,000 rpm, 69 Nm at 11,000 rpm, 180 kg with a full tank. The Kove sports bike still needs to be homologated for use in the World Championship.