Xavi Vierge has been announced by Yamaha as its replacement for Jonathan Rea for the 2026 WorldSBK season. Vierge will join from Honda, where he has spent all four of his seasons in World Superbike to date. He will partner Andrea Locatelli, who has been at Yamaha in WorldSBK since 2021. The statement from Yamaha announcing Vierge only makes reference to the 2026 season, and confirms that Vierge will get his first taste of the R1 at the post-race test in Jerez in October. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Xavi Vierge that will see him join the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team for 2026,” said Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Sporting Manager Niccolo Canepa.