Now here is a mid-season shuffle that changes the landscape of the paddock. Sophomore rider Bahattin Sofuoglu and the Yamaha Motoxracing team have mutually decided to part ways effective immediately. The #54 machine will not sit idle, though. Sofuoglu is heading straight to World Supersport for the rest of 2026 with QJMOTOR Factory Racing, stepping onto the bike to replace Spanish rider Marcos Ramirez.
Stepping up to take over that vacant Yamaha R1 seat at Motoxracing is Twan Smits. The 22-year-old Dutchman has already made his WorldSBK debut earlier this season at Assen. His racing CV includes WorldSSP300 appearances starting in 2021, followed by a couple of WorldSSP appearances per season in 2023 and 2024, alongside a stellar run in the Euro Moto championship's Superbike class this year featuring four wins and six podiums.
Smits made his feelings crystal clear, calling the step a dream come true. Team Principal Sandro Carusi welcomed the young talent, while also thanking Sofuoglu for their two seasons together, noting that the agreement was reached alongside Kenan Sofuoglu to allow the Turkish star to pursue this new path.
As for Sofuoglu, this new chapter kicks off at Cremona. He steps into a QJMOTOR project currently contesting its third WorldSSP season, arriving just as teammate Raffaele de Rosa delivered the SRK 800 RS its best result of the season with a P13 finish last round. Sofuoglu brings plenty of pedigree from his previous three-season stint in WorldSSP from 2022 to 2024, which peaked in 2023 with four podiums and a race win in Catalonia. He even took sixth place in WorldSSP300 back in 2021.
Having already tested the Chinese manufacturer's SRK 800 RS back in August, Sofuoglu is diving headfirst into the final three rounds of the campaign. QJMOTOR Marketing Director Lu Shuairong pointed out the rider's passion and instant feel for the machine during testing in Cremona, calling for patience as the team and rider make progress step by step.
Both riders will hit the track under their new colors starting at the next round at Cremona.
