Leandro “Tati” Mercado joins the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship, partnering Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika as Yamaha aims to defend its world title.
Subscribe to our Instagram Channel for instant news & updates!
Yamaha Motor Europe has officially confirmed that Leandro “Tati” Mercado will join the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) season. The Argentinian rider will line up alongside Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika as the reigning world champions aim to defend their crown.
The 33-year-old replaces Jason O’Halloran, who played a vital role in helping YART secure their third EWC world title during a thrilling 2025 campaign. Yamaha expressed its gratitude to O’Halloran for his dedication and success and wished him well in his future racing endeavours.
Mercado Brings Proven Experience to YART Yamaha
Mercado arrives with an impressive racing résumé and extensive international experience. He began his career in the US Red Bull Rookies Cup before winning the 2009 AMA Supersport Championship. His move to Europe proved just as successful when he captured the 2014 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, marking him as one of the sport’s top emerging talents.
Over the past decade, Mercado has competed in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), where he started an impressive 197 races and consistently battled among the elite. His transition into endurance racing has also been noteworthy. After making his EWC debut in 2023, he finished second overall at the Bol d’Or in his rookie season.
In 2024, Mercado completed a solid campaign, finishing ninth overall. The following year, he celebrated a Superstock victory at the 8 Hours of Spa Motos and took second in class at the Suzuka 8 Hours, finishing 17th overall.
Aiming for Back-to-Back EWC Titles
Mercado now joins an already dominant Austrian-based YART squad that has won the EWC title three times in 2009, 2023, and 2025. With a strong lineup and the competitive Yamaha R1, the team is determined to achieve back-to-back world titles and continue its success story in the endurance racing world.
The 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship will kick off on April 16–19 with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, France.
Confidence from Yamaha Leadership
Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing Sporting Manager, Niccolò Canepa, expressed his full confidence in Mercado’s signing. He described Mercado as a talented and experienced rider who fits perfectly within the YART team structure. Canepa believes the Argentinian’s smooth and aggressive riding style will complement the Yamaha R1 and strengthen the team’s performance even further.
He also highlighted YART’s impressive record, having won two of the last three endurance world titles and finishing runner-up in the other. With Mercado now joining Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, Canepa is confident the team will continue to improve and remain at the top of the championship. He also took the opportunity to thank Jason O’Halloran for his dedication, noting that winning the world title in his debut season with Yamaha was an incredible achievement.
Mercado Excited for a New Challenge
Leandro Mercado shared his excitement about joining the reigning world champions. He said that joining YART Yamaha is a dream come true and represents an important new chapter in his racing career. Mercado looks forward to riding the Yamaha R1 and aims to give his maximum effort to help the team win the championship again.
He expressed strong confidence in his new teammates, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, describing them as fast, experienced, and great to work with. Mercado believes the team has the perfect combination of speed, teamwork, and motivation to achieve great results in the upcoming season. He also thanked Yamaha Motor Europe and Niccolò Canepa for trusting him with this opportunity and said he cannot wait to get started in 2026.
Facebook
Instagram
X (Twitter)
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS