The 2026 World Supersport season is set to kick back into life at Phillip Island this month.
With reigning world champion Stefano Manzi stepping up to the Superbike class, there are a number of new names and familiar faces that could all have a shot at the 2026 crown.
2025 runner-up, Can Oncu, moves across to Ten Kate Yamaha for 2026. The Turkish rider looked unstoppable at points during the 2025 season, though he ultimately lacked the consistency that Manzi had. Moving into the class’s most successful team, Oncu is in his best position yet to try and claim World Supersport glory.
Oncu will be partnered with former Japanese Superbike champion Yuki Okamoto, who endured a difficult 2025 but with a years experience of racing in Europe, 2026 should be a much better season for the #31.
GMT94 returns for 2026 with Lucas Mahias, who had his strongest season in several years in 2025 – though the top step eluded the 2017 series champion. The veteran Frenchman will be looking to build upon a strong first year aboard his Yamaha R9, and will also be aiming for his first victory in the class since 2020.
Mahias will be joined by the impressive Spaniard, Roberto Garcia. The 2024 European Moto2 champion makes his full-time debut in 2026, after replacing Michael Ruben Rinaldi midway through 2025. A consistent front-runner by the end of last season, expect Garcia to be a serious threat for the title in 2026.
Former Yamaha team and class champions, Evan Bros, make the switch to ZXMoto for 2026. The Italian squad has opted to become the official team for the new Chinese marque this year. Class veterans Frederico Caricasulo and Valentin Debise both return to the team after having previously competed with Evan Bros in 2019 and 2024 respectively. Debise and Caricasulo bring a wealth of experience and pedigree to the team, which should help accelerate development of the brand new 820RR-RS.
QJMoto returns for a third season in World Supersport, making it two Chinese brands on the grid in 2026. Raffaele De Rosa stays put after a strong end to 2025. The veteran Italian proved that the QJ is capable of top ten results in the final rounds of last season. De Rosa will be joined by Moto2 exile, Marcos Ramirez. After several years in the Grand Prix paddock, Ramirez returns to the World Supersport paddock – having last raced in the class back in 2015. The Chinese outfit will be hoping to become a regular thorn in the side of the Japanese and European factories in 2026.
Kawasaki line up on the grid with an all-new ZX6R for 2026. After an impressive rookie season in the class last year, Jeremy Alcoba is joined by former double champion Dominique Aergerter. Aergerter returns to his former stomping ground with a point to prove after three underwhelming seasons in Superbike, which yielded just two podiums.
PTR Triumph returns with an unchanged lineup for 2026. Both Tom-Booth Amos and Oli Bayliss remain with Simon Buckmaster’s outfit. 2025 was a breakout season for Booth-Amos, who narrowly missed out on third in the championship. Whilst Bayliss didn’t quite enjoy the same fortunes last season, the Australian will be looking to finally make the step to become a regular top-five contender this season.
Ducati is the most popular bike choice for 2026, with seven teams opting for the Italian brand this year. Philip Otl and the Feel Racing team will be looking to establish themselves as the top team in red, after injuries hamstrung the German’s 2025 campaign.
Orelac Racing’s Jaume Masia will most likely be expecting to be in contention for the 2026 world title after an impressive rookie season in the class. He will be joined in the team by former Moto3 rider, Josh Whatley, who returns to the world stage after a season in European Moto2.
MotoE refugees, Mattia Casadei, Matteo Ferrari, and the most recent champion, Alessandro Zaccone, all move across to World Supersport aboard Ducati machinery. All three should be expected to be occasional, if not regular, podium finishers in 2026.
Honda France returns as the series’ sole Honda outfit, after the departure of MIE Racing. Corentin Perolari returns, after some impressive performances last season, on an often outgunned CBR600. He will once again be joined by former Supersport 300 champion Ana Carrasco.
With no clear favourite heading into 2026, World Supersport will surely be the class to watch. Make sure to tune into the season opener at Phillip Island on the 21st of February.