Sometime MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona has secured his medium-term future with a new factory Ducati deal in World Superbike.
Lecuona had got his big breakthrough for 2026 with a one-year deal at Ducati (which he's described as "life-changing") after four mixed, injury-complicated seasons as a Honda works rider.
Though he was relatively unfancied as a signing, he quickly proved his worth, finishing second to team-mate Nicolo Bulega in a surreal 18 consecutive races, before finally beating him to victory at Donington (and then crashing in the next race to end the 1-2 streak).
Bulega, who was left standing as WorldSBK's unquestionable top rider following the MotoGP switch for Toprak Razgatlioglu, should claim the 2026 title - but is then expected to join the VR46 Ducati team in MotoGP.
It means Lecuona could be positioned to lead WorldSBK's top factory instead. His continuation at Ducati was in little doubt for months now - and it was thought some sort of option covered 2027 anyway - but a new two-year commitment represents a show of faith.
"From the very beginning, we believed in his talent, but what truly won us over was the way he became part of the group: he adapted to the bike and to the team with surprising naturalness, always bringing the same passion, dedication and team spirit that define our garage," raved team boss Stefano Cecconi.
It won't have hurt that Lecuona was superb in his single MotoGP appearance in 2026.
His full-time career in MotoGP had fizzled out half a decade prior as he struggled to kick on at Tech3 KTM, but as injury stand-in for Alex Marquez at the Hungarian Grand Prix this year - donning Gresini colours and riding a 2026-spec Ducati Desmosedici - Lecuona delivered what may well be the best MotoGP weekend of his career so far, taking seventh place in the grand prix.
There is no mention of any MotoGP duties in his deal but, with Bulega switching over full-time and Ducati MotoGP tester Michele Pirro increasingly ageing out of stand-in viability, Lecuona may well become one of the go-to options for Ducati as a MotoGP replacement rider.
In the meantime, Ducati will need to complete its factory line-up in WorldSBK.
There is though to be interest from several MotoGP veterans who are finding themselves without a premier-class seat, but also rumours that Ducati is more interested in youth - which tally with a Speedweek.com report that it is targeting Moto2 points leader Manu Gonzalez.
from The Race https://ift.tt/TkKn4Yp
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