Regardless of the various “errors”, Jari Montella believes he had a “robust” rookie season in WorldSBK and has set excessive targets for 2026.
Montella entered the Superbike World Championship in 2025 as bronze medalist within the 2024 World SSP season, however misplaced out to Adrian Huertas (who moved to Moto2) and Stefano Manzi (who remained in Supersport for an additional yr and have become champion whereas signing a deal to step as much as Superbike with Yamaha in 2026).
His rookie yr was a yr the place his potential and pace blossomed, however he made too many errors. Montella retired in 12 of the 36 races and completed forward of solely fellow Ducati riders within the rider standings, Ryan Vickers (who misplaced his journey in 2026).
Montella is not afraid to confess he made errors in 2025, however prefers to focus his analysis of his rookie season on the pace he confirmed at instances.
“It was a very good season. I feel it was the strongest season of my profession as a result of I began properly,” Montella advised WorldSBK.com at EICMA.
“Ultimately I began lacking issues and making some errors.
“On the finish of the day, this season is simply the primary season to grasp how superbikes work. We’ll see subsequent season.”
He added: “I wish to thank Barni, as a result of they believed in me. Additionally, throughout this yr, after some crashes and a few errors, they all the time supported me, saying, ‘We’re attempting to do our greatest, we’re attempting to grasp you, we’re attempting to do the job.'”
“I feel it’s a very good motivation for riders to attempt to do their finest.
“Subsequent yr might be a powerful yr for me as a result of it is my second race in Superbike so I would like to point out my potential and I’ve already been engaged on it to reach on the first race of the yr prepared.”
2026 might be an enormous yr for Montella. He wants to point out his potential with constant outcomes, not simply short-term ones.
“I can and must battle for the highest 5,” he stated.
“This yr, I undoubtedly made a variety of errors on the finish and did not get the outcome I wished, however the potential was fairly excessive on the finish. The bike felt actually good.”
“I feel subsequent yr might be my second yr as a result of we are able to present some pace. I’ve extra expertise and I understand how the observe works on a superbike, so I feel it’s going to undoubtedly be higher.”
It is also the yr that two-time World Superbike Champion Alvaro Bautista joins Ducati after his second four-year spell with the manufacturing facility staff, so he’ll be becoming a member of his new team-mates at Barni, even when Montella himself stays.
For Montella, 25, Bautista’s expertise might be invaluable in 2026.
“I feel he is a very good man, definitely much more skilled than me,” he stated.
“For me, I’ve to study from him. That might be a very good motivation for me. Attempt to perceive the kind of work he does and the way he does it. We’ll see.”
The most important adaptation? “Strategy to racing”
For Montella, who stepped up from Supersport in 2025, there have been some issues to fret about, from the Ducati Panigale V4 R to the depth of competitors, particularly in WorldSBK’s three-race format.
“It is a utterly totally different degree,” Montella stated, evaluating superbikes and supersport.
“Additionally, the method to the race was totally different as a result of there’s one dash[in more races]. Everybody, each rider needs to be within the high 9 in race two, so it is like a jungle.”
“So the very first thing that impressed me was one thing robust, and in addition engaged on tires and electronics throughout a race, as a result of I had by no means used them in a supersport. That is a lot totally different in a supersport and a superbike.”
