Career path of a young talent
Iker Lecuona was born on January 6, 2000, in Valencia, Spain. He made his debut in the Moto2 category at the age of 16 and remained active there for four seasons. In 2020, he moved up to MotoGP with the Tech3 team. Since 2022, he has been a permanent fixture in the Superbike World Championship, where he competes for the Honda factory team.
In his 113 WorldSBK races to date, the Spaniard has achieved two podium finishes and one pole position. He achieved outstanding results at the races in Assen in 2022 and Estoril in 2024, among others. In addition to his WSBK appearances, Lecuona has also represented Honda several times in MotoGP as a substitute rider and was part of the winning team at the traditional Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in 2022, where he rode the CBR1000RR-R SP.
Farewell to Honda HRC
With the change now announced, the partnership between Lecuona and Honda HRC will end after the 2025 season. Honda praised his commitment, consistency, and professionalism both on the track and in the development environment. The separation is amicable and with mutual respect.
End of an era: Alvaro Bautista leaves Ducati
Lecuona’s arrival also marks the end of the successful collaboration between Ducati and Alvaro Bautista. The Spaniard has contested 228 races on the Panigale V4R to date, winning 63 of them and achieving a total of 120 podium finishes. Ten pole positions and two world championship titles round off his record. Bautista is thus considered the most successful Ducati rider in the history of the Superbike World Championship.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team expressed its gratitude for the time spent together and the successes achieved. The collaboration with Bautista has shaped the team not only in terms of sport but also on a personal level.
Outlook for 2026
With the signing of Iker Lecuona, Ducati clearly wants to set a new course. The Panigale V4R will be launched in a revised form in 2026, with Lecuona contributing his experience and versatility to its further development. It remains to be seen whether he can build on the successes of his predecessor. One thing is certain: the rider market in the Superbike World Championship is set to remain in flux in the future.
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