Ducati has officially announced the signing of Honda rider Iker Lecuona for the 2026 WorldSBK season.
Following its June announcement to part ways with two-time champion Alvaro Bautista after the 2025 season, Ducati believes the two-time WorldSBK podium finisher is the ideal replacement.
Still just 25, he has already built a strong resume across MotoGP and WorldSBK, racing for Tech3 KTM in 2020 and 2021, and spending the past four seasons with Honda.
The two-time podium finisher will join forces with Nicolo Bulega, who is two months his senior, for the 2026 season.
Due to the budget allocated for its second rider, reports indicate that the Spaniard has agreed to a reduced salary to ride the all-new 2026 Panigale.
Ducati’s official statement reads: “The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with Iker Lecuona, who will ride the new Ducati Panigale V4R in the 2026 WorldSBK season.
“Born on January 6, 2000, in Valencia, the Spanish rider made his debut in the Moto2 category at the age of 16, where he remained for four seasons before moving up to MotoGP in 2020 with the Tech3 team.
“Since 2022, he has been competing in World Superbike with the Honda HRC team, with whom he has achieved two podiums and one pole position in the 113 races he has contested so far.”
Honda added: “Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and rider Iker Lecuona will bring their collaboration to a close at the end of the 2025 Superbike World Championship season.
“Since joining Honda HRC in 2022, Lecuona has proved his dedication and racing spirit, working closely with his crew to steadily improve on performance and consistently fight inside the top ten.
“His best WorldSBK results include two podium finishes, at Assen in 2022 and at Estoril in 2024.
“Committed to his role as a Honda rider, Lecuona also represented the company during several MotoGP rounds, as a replacement rider, and was part of the triumphant Honda line-up at the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in 2022, riding the CBR1000RR-R SP.
“Honda HRC wishes to thank Iker Lecuona for his dedication and professionalism throughout these four years together.”
Discussion about this post