The 2026 racing season ignites with a thrilling start! But will the weather play spoilsport? LIVE UPDATES: Every moment of the opening day's action at the Jerez circuit!
The Jerez paddock buzzes with anticipation as the world's fastest riders gear up for their first on-track battle of the year. The 2026 preseason testing in Jerez is a pivotal moment, especially with the rain adding an extra layer of challenge. Despite the downpour, the excitement is electric as teams and riders gear up for a new era in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.
13:04 - Iker Lecuona's Ducati Debut: Iker Lecuona, part of the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team, marks his first lap of the day, gearing up for his inaugural season with the factory Ducati team. His teammate, Nicolo Bulega, might have to wait for Day 2 due to the persistent rain.
13:00 - Bimota's Progress: Xavi Fores, riding the Bimota KB998 Rimini, continues to impress as he clocks the fourth fastest time (1'55.917s) after 17 laps, showcasing the engineers' advancements.
12:56 - 'Petrux' Extends His Lead: Danilo Petrucci, affectionately known as 'Petrux', sets another fastest lap on his 12th circuit, clocking an impressive 1'52.976s, extending his lead to 1.284s.
12:51 - Axel Bassani Joins the Action: Axel Bassani, riding for the Kawasaki Racing Team, becomes the second Bimota rider to participate, completing six laps in his initial stint, with a fastest time of 1'57.978s, placing him in P8.
12:37 - Yari Montella's Comfort Quest: Yari Montella, from the Barni Spark Racing Team, is on his second stint, aiming to get more acquainted with the 2026 Panigale V4R, particularly its new swing arm.
12:33 - Oliveira's Leap: Miguel Oliveira makes a significant jump to P2 on the timesheet during his third stint, trailing only his new teammate, Petrucci, by a slim margin of 0.558s.
12:11 - Honda's Dixon Takes the Stage: Jake Dixon, one of Honda HRC's star riders, rides his first lap of the season before heading back to the garage.
12:09 - Oliveira and Petrucci's Battle: Oliveira moves up to third fastest, while Petrucci, in P1, continues to dominate, setting a time of 1'54.17ss, creating a gap of over two seconds from the rest of the field.
12:06 - Petrucci's BMW Debut: Danilo Petrucci, BMW's new signing, has an impressive start, shooting to the top of the timesheet with a 1'56.117s lap, outpacing Manzi by nearly two-tenths of a second.
12:00 - Surra's Solo Ride: Alberto Surra, Motocorsa's rookie, is the only rider on track as he adapts to his Ducati Panigale V4R, filling the seat left by Ryan Vickers from the 2025 season.
11:56 - Gerloff's Kawasaki Launch: American rider Garrett Gerloff begins his preseason atop the Kawasaki team's ZX-10RR Ninja.
11:44 - Surra's WorldSBK Debut: Alberto Surra, after an impressive WorldSSP showing, makes his WorldSBK debut, having earned his ride with Motocorsa.
11:42 - Nagashima's Honda Data Collection: Tetsuta Nagashima, Honda HRC's test rider, completes six laps, gathering data for the team's new riders, Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra, the latter unable to test due to an injury sustained in Malaysia.
11:36 - Manzi's Moment: Stefano Manzi, riding for GYTR GRT Yamaha, claims the top spot with a time of 1'56.307s, nudging Oliveira to second.
11:33 - Rain's Brief Reprieve: The rain seems to be easing, but the track remains wet, adding an extra dimension to the testing.
11:32 - Bautista's Barni Ducati Bow: Alvaro Bautista officially debuts with the Barni Ducati team, joining his competitors on the track.
11:30 - Fores' Bimota Power: Xavi Fores, the Bimota test rider, showcases the potential of the KB998 Rimini, clocking a 2'00.873s lap, moving up to third on the day.
11:27 - Oliveira's Top Spot: Miguel Oliveira takes the lead with a 1'56.886s lap, closely followed by Stefano Manzi, who is keen to make an impact in his WorldSBK debut season.
11:22 - Aegerter's WorldSSP Return: Dominique Aegerter, returning to WorldSSP, hits the circuit, aiming to reclaim his Championship-winning form.
11:18 - Manzi and Montella's Jerez Start: Stefano Manzi and Yari Montella begin their Jerez test, kicking off their Day 1 action.
11:14 - Oliveira's Second Stint: Miguel Oliveira returns to the track for his second stint, aiming to fill the shoes of Michael van der Mark and three-time World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu.
10:58 - Locatelli's Early Lead: Andrea Locatelli returns to the box after three laps, leading the timesheet with a 2'01.385s lap, just ahead of Oliveira's 2'02:297s.
10:50 - Oliveira's MotoGP Transition: Miguel Oliveira, after seven seasons in MotoGP, takes to the track, adapting to the M 1000 RR.
10:42 - Locatelli Leads the Way: Andrea Locatelli, riding for Pata Maxus Yamaha, is the first rider on track, setting the pace despite the wet conditions.
The rain in Jerez adds an intriguing twist to the day's proceedings. Will it favor some riders over others? And how will it impact the overall testing results? Stay tuned as we bring you live updates throughout the day, and don't forget to check the links for full details on the rider line-up and live timings!
