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Ducati pays tribute to Alvaro Bautista as Iker Lecuona is confirmed as his WorldSBK replacement from 2026.
Ducati has officially announced that Iker Lecuona will be joining Niccolò Bulega at the factory Aruba.it squad in WorldSBK for the upcoming season, taking over from the two-time world champion Alvaro Bautista.
This news follows Honda’s decision to part ways with Lecuona at the conclusion of 2025.
Meanwhile, Bautista is expected to transition to Barni Ducati to replace Danilo Petrucci, who is heading to BMW.
In their statement, Ducati confirmed Lecuona will pilot the new Ducati Panigale V4R in the 2026 WorldSBK campaign, highlighting his career progression from Moto2 to MotoGP and his recent success in World Superbike.
The team also acknowledged Bautista’s significant contributions to Ducati, recognizing his achievements of 63 wins, two world titles, 120 podium finishes, and 10 pole positions during his tenure with the team.
