Two-time WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista has agreed to join Barni Spark Racing for the 2026 campaign.

The Spaniard will leave the factory Ducati outfit for a second time after it decided to replace him with fellow countryman Iker Lecuona.

Bautista’s future in WorldSBK had been uncertain since Ducati chose not to exercise the second year of his 1+1 contract.

After reported talks with six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea fell through, Barni Spark presented a deal with the 40-year-old.

Bautista’s extensive knowledge of the Panigale is believed to have made him an attractive option ahead of the debut of Ducati’s new V4R model in 2026.

He will replace Italian rider Danilo Petrucci, who agreed to join BMW on a one-year deal earlier this year.

 “I want to thank Barni for the trust and interest he has shown in me,” Bautista shared.

“Right after the announcement that I would be free for the 2026 season, he contacted me without hesitation and that means a lot to me.

“I’m happy to remain in the Ducati family, where I have already achieved success and I believe that together with Barni we can reach great results.

“The team is constantly growing season after season, and this agreement represents another step forward.

“It will take commitment since I’ll be working with new people, but I’m confident because I see in Barni great motivation and a strong competitive spirit. I want to prove that I can still win.

“The last two years have not been easy due to the new regulations, but now with the new Panigale V4 and Ducati’s support, we’ll have everything we need to be competitive.

“The goal is to reach our maximum potential and from there aim even higher.”

Barni Spark Racing Team Principal Marco Barnabo stated: “We are proud to welcome Alvaro to our team for the upcoming season.

“For a private team, having a three-time World Champion is a source of great satisfaction and proves the solid credibility and stature of our team.

“Important challenges await us, but that’s exactly what drives us to constantly improve.

“Alvaro is still proving his worth today, and we are certain he can give us a fundamental contribution to continue growing.”

READ MORE – Six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea announces retirement after the 2025 season

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Danilo Petrucci wrapped up the WorldSBK ‘Best Independent Rider’ title at Estoril thanks to two fifth-place finishes.

Petrucci’s rollercoaster of a 2024 season suggests the Italian never expected to be in this position after experiencing major injuries from a motocross accident earlier in the year.

His battles with injuries were life-threatening, with fractures to his right jaw and right collarbone, which led to him missing the Dutch round at Assen and needing multiple surgeries.

“I must say that the accident I had made me understand the value of life and what matters,” Petrucci told WorldSBK.com.

“From the accident I had during the training in April, from that moment on we had always good fights in the top five, and in August and September we were really good.

“Now I have no pressure, I still have a good fight with Alex Lowes for fourth place in the championship but for sure the weekend was something unexpected.”

The 33-year-old now holds a six-point advantage over Alex Lowes in their battle for fourth place in the championship. However, Petrucci admitted that being in this position and securing the Independent title had once seemed like a pipe dream.

“I’m really happy, exhausted,” Petrucci said. “Who would have predicted this many podiums and wins, fourth place in the championship, especially having missed one-and-a-half rounds?

“In fact, this has been our worst weekend, because I crashed yesterday, fifth this morning and this afternoon.

“We have faced a lot of difficulties with traction and so on, we are still to understand why, because in testing here it was a good test and we were quite confident.

“In the end we managed to enjoy and hope to have a good final round in Jerez.”

Danilo Petrucci makes WorldSBK history (again)

Earlier this season, Petrucci secured a hat trick of wins at his home race at the inaugural Cremona round.

His three wins that weekend meant he became only the fourth rider to win all three races on one weekend since the introduction of the three-race format.

The Italian rider joined Jonathan Rea, Alvaro Bautista, and Toprak Razgatlioglu but is the sole rider able to complete this feat with an independent racing team.

Petrucci’s success means he is the only rider to win races in MotoGP, WorldSBK, and MotoAmerica and has a stage win at the Dakar Rally to his name.

Barni Spark Racing and Petrucci’s affiliation continues into 2025, with both parties wanting to challenge the factory Ducati’s and BMW rider Toprak Razgatlioglu.

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