Yamaha Motor Europe and Ten Kate Racing to End Successful Partnership After 2026

The eight-year collaboration produced multiple WorldSSP titles, 48 race wins, and nearly 100 podium finishes before both parties go their separate ways in 2027.

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Yamaha Motor Europe has officially announced that its long-standing partnership with Ten Kate Racing will come to an end following the conclusion of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) season.

The collaboration, which began in 2019, has been one of Yamaha’s most successful racing partnerships in recent years, delivering multiple championship titles, dozens of race victories, and helping establish the Japanese manufacturer as the most successful brand in the FIM Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP).

Ten Kate Racing first teamed up with Yamaha Motor Europe in the WorldSBK Championship in 2019. The partnership made an immediate impact, with French rider Loris Baz producing impressive performances during the team’s debut season.

A year later, the team continued its progress by securing four podium finishes in the premier production-based championship, proving it could consistently challenge at the front. Although success came in WorldSBK, it was in WorldSSP where the Yamaha and Ten Kate partnership truly flourished.

Ten Kate Racing entered the WorldSSP Championship with Yamaha’s YZF-R6 in 2020. In their first season together, Steven Odendaal finished sixth in the riders’ standings, laying the foundation for future success.

The arrival of Dominique Aegerter in 2021 marked the beginning of a dominant period for the team. The Swiss rider claimed back-to-back WorldSSP titles in 2021 and 2022, giving Yamaha two consecutive championship victories.

Stefano Manzi then joined the team for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, finishing runner-up in the championship on both occasions before leading Yamaha’s campaign with the all-new YZF-R9 in 2025.

The introduction of the Yamaha R9 proved to be another milestone for the partnership. Manzi delivered victory in the R9’s very first WorldSSP race at Phillip Island, Australia, before going on to dominate the championship and secure the motorcycle’s maiden world title in its debut season.

Ten Kate Racing continued its winning momentum in 2026 with Turkish rider Can Öncü, adding more victories to an already remarkable record. By the end of the partnership, the team will have achieved 48 race wins and 99 podium finishes in WorldSSP, along with four podium finishes in the WorldSBK category.

Yamaha Motor Europe expressed its appreciation to Ten Kate Racing for its contribution over the past eight seasons, acknowledging the team’s role in strengthening Yamaha’s success in international production-based motorcycle racing.

Andrea Dosoli, Division Manager of Motorsport at Yamaha Motor Europe, praised the team’s achievements and professionalism throughout the partnership.

“We would like to thank Ten Kate for everything over the past eight seasons. Their record in the Supersport World Championship spoke for itself before they joined Yamaha in 2019, and adding three World Championship titles to the tally has contributed towards Yamaha becoming the most successful manufacturer in WorldSSP history. We are disappointed to see them choose a new direction for 2027 but must thank Ronald and Gerrit Ten Kate and their team for all their efforts over the past eight years.”

While Yamaha Motor Europe did not reveal who will replace Ten Kate Racing from the 2027 season onwards, the announcement marks the end of one of the most successful partnerships in the manufacturer’s recent WorldSBK and WorldSSP history.

After eight memorable seasons together, both Yamaha and Ten Kate Racing will now prepare for new challenges as they head in different directions from 2027.