The 2026 British Superbike Championship kicks off this weekend with Ducati arming itself with a stellar rider line-up that includes two-time BSB Champion Kyle Ryde for the first time.
The Italian manufacturer will be present and correct at the Oulton Park curtain raiser on 2-4 May boasting five teams and six riders, with each bringing their own impressive pedigree to the Ducati Panigale V4 R package.
Significantly, the coveted #1 plate will be worn by a Ducati this season following the move by Nitrous Competitions Racing to switch allegiance to the manufacturer over the winter.
The team – formerly known as OMG Racing – clinched the BSB title in 2022 with Bradley Ray before securing back-to-back titles in the hands of Ryde in 2024 and 2025.
Though Nitrous Competitions Racing only came on board at the eleventh hour ahead of the 2025 BSB season as OMG Racing began the process of stepping away from the series, Ryde maintained his focus to win six races and claim 21 podiums en route to becoming the first rider to defend his title since Shane Byrne in 2017.
For 2026, Nitrous Competitions Racing retains the services of both Ryde and 2023 BSB runner-up Glenn Irwin but take on Ducati machinery for the first time.
Despite a disrupted build-up to the season as the team waited to take delivery of their machinery, Ryde recently concluded pre-season testing quickest of all.
Ryde won’t be the only rider in Ducati’s camp with credentials as a title-winner, with Scott Redding and Leon Haslam also lining up.
Redding – who clinched the 2019 BSB Champion with Ducati – is a hot title favourite tip after impressing upon returning to the national championship part-way through the 2025 season.
The ex-MotoGP rider, who had been competing in WorldSBK prior to his comeback, wasted little time getting back up to speed with the PBM Hager team, steamrolling to seven wins before the season was out, catapulting him to fourth in the standings despite missing the first three events of the year.
Despite making his BSB debut all the way back in 2003, Haslam proved he can still be a reckoned force as he returned to winning ways on the Moto Rapido Ducati in 2025.
Ultra experienced and ultra consistent, Haslam mounted a long-distance title fight before settling for third overall as Ducati’s highest-placed contender last year.
Elsewhere, Bathams AJN Racing also switches to Ducati machinery, bringing the precocious Storm Stacey along with it.
Though only 23-years old, incredibly this will be Stacey’s seventh season in the top flight.
Having enjoyed his strongest campaign yet last season with ten top five finishes on unfavourable machinery, Stacey is aiming for much bigger things on the Ducati package in 2026.
Finally, Andrew Irwin will join his brother Glenn in piloting Ducati machinery as part of the brand-new MET foneCAB Racing team.
The Ulsterman has endured a series of injury woes in recent years but has four BSB wins to his name and looked strong in pre-season testing despite the late formation of his team.
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