Garrett Gerloff has signed a contract extension with the Kawasaki WorldSBK team, keeping him with the squad through the end of the 2026 season.
The Texan joined the Japanese marque after spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Bavarian brand BMW at Bonovo Racing.
Gerloff took over the reigns of the Kawasaki project after Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani joined the newly formed Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team in 2025.
At the halfway point of the season, Gerloff sits 17th in the WorldSBK standings after a challenging start with Kawasaki, but a best result of eighth in Race 2 at Misano shows encouraging signs for the project.
The 29-year-old expressed his delight at the renewal, stating: “I am very happy to have signed again with the Kawasaki WorldSBK Team for the 2026 season.
“I have been confident in the team and everything we have been doing. We are moving forward, even if it has been tough at times.
“I am happy with the team, the progress that we have made in the first half of the season, and their belief in me.
“They have been great at not putting undue pressure on me. I can see that they believe in the project, and they also believe in me.
“We all want to keep investing and developing the bike. I am excited to build on what I have come to know about the Ninja ZX-10RR.
“It’s going to be nice to continue with the same project, the same people, and while not having to re-learn anything fundamental.
“For 2026, I am sure that is going to be positive for us.”
Kawasaki Team Manager Manuel Puccetti added: “It is a pleasure to continue to work with Garrett because, for us, he is a real top rider, the same level as the front guys.
“I think we will have better and better results. Our collaboration started this year, together with our new Kawasaki supported team, in WorldSBK.
“This achievement makes me incredibly proud. It is also a big responsibility to do our best for a wonderful brand that we have worked with for more than 20 years, in one form or another.
“We have continuously improved with Garrett this year, and I am quite positive that for next year, we will make a good step and have better and better results. We are super-pleased to work with Garrett as he is such a nice guy.
“I saw in the history of Kawasaki’s collaboration with new riders that they only improve in their speed, progression, and performance.”
READ MORE – Tarran Mackenzie departs Petronas MIE Honda WorldSBK team
