Team Pata Maxus Yamaha

Xavi Vierge
Born on 30 April 1997 in Barcelona, Spain

Xavi Vierge is entering a new phase of his career in the Superbike World Championship in 2026 by joining the Pata Maxus Yamaha team. The Spanish rider is returning to an important role by joining the Japanese manufacturer's official team alongside Andrea Locatelli. He is replacing Jonathan Rea, who announced his retirement from full-time competition at the end of the 2025 season.

Before joining WSBK, Vierge first made a name for himself in various road racing championships. Born in Barcelona, he distinguished himself in the junior categories by finishing runner-up in the FIM CEV European Moto2 Championship. This performance opened the doors to the Moto2 World Championship, where he made his debut midway through the 2015 season. He became a full-time rider the following year. Over the 2016 season, he gradually established himself among the group of riders capable of regularly finishing in the top 10. This progress was confirmed in 2017 when he secured his first podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix. Two more podium finishes followed in 2018, confirming his ability to compete at the front of the pack in the intermediate category.

Vierge then continued his career in Moto2 for several seasons. Although he remained a consistent rider in the field, podium finishes became rarer. His last top-three finish came in 2021 at his home Grand Prix in Barcelona. At the end of that season, he decided to turn his attention to a new discipline and joined WSBK with Honda alongside Iker Lecuona. From his first season, Vierge stood out for his consistency, which allowed him to frequently finish in the top 10. He remained with Honda until the end of the 2025 season, during which he distinguished himself by becoming the highest-ranked Honda rider in the championship. This consistency helped to reinforce his reputation as a consistent and solid rider.

In 2026, Xavi Vierge took on a new challenge by joining Yamaha to ride the YZF-R1. His goal will be to get closer to the podium on a more regular basis in order to take his career to the next level.

Andrea Locatelli
Born on 16 October 1996 in Alzano Lombardo, Italy

World Supersport champion in 2020, Andrea Locatelli is competing in his fifth World Superbike season this year. It will also be his fifth with the Pata Yamaha team. The Italian is no stranger to the YZF R1, with which he has finished on the podium on eighteen occasions. The only thing missing now is victory. Having made his international debut in Grand Prix racing, Locatelli shone in Moto3 and Moto2 before moving on to the WSBK paddock. After winning the Supersport title on twelve occasions, the Italian was promoted to the top category with the official Yamaha team. He adapted very quickly, leading his first race and finishing on the podium in the Netherlands. Three more races followed on his way to fourth place in the championship. The Italian had his ups and downs in 2022, finishing fifth at the end of the season. His best season came in 2023 with eight podiums and an intense battle with Rea for third place in the championship. Seventh in 2024 after climbing onto the podium four times and racking up 232 points, he finished fourth again last season, securing his first WSBK victory along the way.