Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing teams faced a busy third weekend in April, with major events taking place at TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands for round three of the FIM Superbike World Championship, and at Le Mans in France for the opening round of the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship.
In Assen, expectation was high for the WorldSBK teams after the Dutch circuit proved to be one of the strongest on the calendar for the Yamaha R1 in 2025 – but after the challenges faced over the first two rounds, the main target was to demonstrate progress during the weekend – which was achieved with a welcome return to form for Andrea Locatelli while Xavi Vierge continued to show his pace on the R1.
However, the story of the weekend came from Le Mans, where the Yamalube YART Official EWC Team put in an impeccable performance to take back-to-back victories in the 24 Hour race with Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and newcomer Leandro Mercado.
Hit ‘Read More’ for the thoughts from Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Sporting Manager, Niccolò Canepa on the hectic weekend:
Michael Le Pard (“Mr. Totalmotorcycle”) is the Founder of Total Motorcycle, the world’s largest motorcycle information site, trusted by over 430 million riders since 1999. With over 34 years of experience in motorcycles, gear and rider culture, he has built a global community dedicated to empowering and inspiring motorcyclists.
Total Motorcycle remains his passion project. Combining expert research, hands‑on knowledge and a commitment to helping riders make informed decisions about bikes, gear and safety worldwide.
