Ducati’s Nicolo Brega described this week’s World Superbike test at Jerez as “not very useful” due to poor weather, which limited his track time. After competing in MotoGP recently, Brega had to adapt his riding style back to the World Superbike format. The 2025 World Superbike runner-up hadn’t ridden a Panigale V4 since last October’s post-season test at Jerez, with his MotoGP debut occurring in the meantime.
Brega stepped in for Marc Marquez in the last two rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season and participated in the Valencia post-race test. However, bad weather forced him to miss the first day at Jerez entirely, and he managed just 20 laps on the second day. He said these laps were essential for reacclimating to the superbike after riding MotoGP machines. “I only did 20 laps, so it wasn’t very significant,” he told the official World Superbike website. “The last time I was on a bike before winter was in MotoGP, so I used these laps to regain the superbike feeling. Hopefully, the next test will be better.”
During Thursday’s session, Brega crashed after going slightly wide at Turn 5 and hitting a damp patch on the track. He explained, “It wasn’t too bad, but the weather was the main issue. The track conditions were poor, with many wet spots. I went 10 centimeters wide and hit a wet patch, which caused the crash.”
Despite the limited running, Brega remains optimistic about Ducati’s new 2026 Panigale V4. “My first impressions are good — I actually tested it here last October,” he said. “It’s a new bike, so I need to keep riding and put more laps in.”
Testing for World Superbike continues next week at Portimao, with the season opener in Australia scheduled for February 20-22. Alongside the World Superbike season, Brega will also take part in at least three private tests with Ducati, helping to develop their 2027 MotoGP bike.
Fan Take:
This update highlights the challenges riders face when switching between motorcycle racing formats, especially under unpredictable conditions. Brega’s ongoing involvement in both World Superbike and MotoGP development signals an exciting future for Ducati, potentially shaping the competitiveness and technology in both series.
