Artigas Takes Inaugural World Sportbike Crown
Kawasaki riders duel it out in a dramatic season finale Xavi Artigas rode a calculated eighth-place finish in a chaotic Race 2 at Jerez to be crowned the first-ever FIM Sportbike World Champion, closing out the 2026 season eight points clear of David Salvador. The two Spaniards — both riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R — were the only riders with a mathematical chance of the championship heading…
Kawasaki riders battled fiercely in the season-ending Jerez race to crown Xavi Artigas as the inaugural FIM Sportbike World Champion. Artigas secured the title by finishing eighth in Race 2, while leading by eight points over David Salvador of Team ProDina heading into the final round. The two Spaniards shared the championship lead after Salvador suffered a collision with Carter Thompson at the final hairpin during Race 1, resulting in a long-lap penalty.
Artigas capitalized on this, securing an eighth-place finish while Salvador managed a non-scoring 22nd place. Thompson won Race 2, but it was not enough to secure victory. Artigas' dominant charge included three wins in the final six races, turning a 35-point deficit into an 18-point advantage. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R dominated the 2026 Superbike season, with three of its riders finishing in the top four.
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