After a weekend off, Pata Maxus Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli and Xavi Vierge return to action for the double-header that will bring the season to a close, beginning with Round 11 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship at Estoril, Portugal, from 9-11 October.
The championship touches down in Portugal for its penultimate round at one of the shortest circuits on the calendar – but also one of the most steeped in history. It was here that Ayrton Senna took his maiden Formula 1 victory, while the track’s most famous feature remains the Parabólica, a long, sweeping final corner that keeps bike and rider under sustained load on the run onto the main straight.
Locatelli arrives in good spirits after the consistent weekend he put together at his home round in Cremona. Estoril is a circuit the Italian thoroughly enjoys, and he returns with plenty of motivation after coming agonisingly close to the podium on two occasions here last year, eager to carry that momentum into the closing stretch of the season.
Vierge, meanwhile, is out to bounce back after a challenging weekend at Cremona. Estoril has long been a happy hunting ground for the Spaniard, who has always finished inside the top 10 there – and on most occasions inside the top six – though this weekend will be his first taste of the circuit on the Official Yamaha R1 WorldSBK.
The weather is expected to stay kind, with track action getting under way on Friday at 10:20 WEST for Free Practice 1, followed by Free Practice 2 at 15:00.
Andrea Locatelli, Pata Maxus Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team:
“We’re heading into the final rounds of the season and I’m quite excited. Cremona was a good weekend for us: even if our grid position wasn’t amazing, we were strong in the races and I think we did a good job overall. We’re still working to find that last bit of confidence on the bike, pushing hard while also looking to the future and starting to prepare for the winter test and 2027. I’m really looking forward to finishing the season as well as we can – we have good memories at Estoril, and we know that if we keep working hard we can be stronger. So fingers crossed. Most of all, I’m excited to be back on the bike and give my best, for the team and for everyone, and to enjoy the weekend.”
Xavi Vierge, Pata Maxus Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team:
“We’ve reached the final two rounds of the season, and Estoril is a track I really enjoy. I can’t wait to get back on the bike after the difficult weekend in Cremona. I’ve always been competitive there, and Yamaha had a very strong weekend last year, so I’m looking forward to getting started, rebuilding my feeling with the bike, working with my team and fighting for good results.”
