WorldSBK, a revolution on track: the World Sportbike Championship is born

The World Championship for production-derived bikes changes face. From 2026 the Superbike World Championship introduces a new category set to become the first rung of the pyramid: the World Sportbike. Not a simple addition, but a true overhaul of the pathway for young riders.

Goodbye Supersport 300, welcome to a new era

The biggest news is historic: the World Sportbike officially replaces the Supersport 300 World Championship, which ended after the 2025 season.

The aim is clear: improve rider training and make the races safer and technically more relevant. The old 300, while it had been a great school, showed clear limits in terms of performance and race dynamics.

An entry-level category… but much more advanced

The World Sportbike remains the gateway to the World Championship, but it clearly raises the technical level. The bikes are production-derived, mid-capacity, more powerful and closer to the higher categories.

The target is said to be around 90 horsepower, with regulations designed to balance performance between different bikes through balancing systems (weight, restrictors, etc.).

Among the admitted models we find:

Aprilia RS 660

Yamaha YZF-R7

Suzuki GSX-8R

Triumph Daytona 660

Kawasaki ZX-6R 636

A varied list mixing modern twin-cylinders and some 4-cylinder bikes adapted to the regulations.

Young riders at the heart of the project

The philosophy is clear: build champions.

Minimum age: 16 years

Standard age: up to 25 years

Possible exceptions up to 28 years for already experienced riders

Figures that confirm the category’s vocation: to be a true world training ground.

Full grid and manufacturers’ interest

The first season already starts on solid foundations: around 30+ riders and strong interest from manufacturers.

The championship will run within the same WorldSBK calendar, with iconic rounds such as:

Portimão

Assen

Misano

Jerez

A sign that the category is not an experiment, but a pillar of the future.

More balance, more spectacle

The real key point is technical balancing. As already seen in Superbike, corrective measures will also be applied here to avoid outright domination.

In other words:
fewer differences between bikes → more battles on track.

The future of WorldSBK starts here

The World Sportbike is not just a new category: it is an investment in the future.

More safety than the 300, bikes more relevant to the market and a more logical path towards the Supersport World Championship and Superbike.

The final verdict will come, as always, on track.
But one thing is already clear: the Superbike World Championship has just fired up the engine of a new generation.