P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yari Montella feels he had a “strong” rookie season in WorldSBK despite making “some mistakes”.
Despite making some mistakes, Yari Montella considers his rookie WorldSBK season to be strong and has set high goals for 2026. He entered World Superbike in 2025 after finishing third in the 2024 WorldSSP season. Montella showed flashes of potential and speed but was hampered by too many errors, finishing ahead of only one other rider in the standings among Ducati teammates. He acknowledges his mistakes but focuses on the speed he demonstrated throughout the season.
Looking ahead to 2026, Montella aims to capitalize on his experience and show more consistent results. He expresses gratitude to his team, Barni, for their unwavering support and motivation. With a new teammate in two-time World Superbike Champion Alvaro Bautista, Montella anticipates learning from Bautista’s experience and approach. One major area of improvement for Montella is adapting his race approach to the demands of Superbike racing.
In his second season in Superbike, Montella believes he has the potential to break into the top-five and showcase his speed more consistently. With a better understanding of the tracks and more experience, he is optimistic about the upcoming season.
