With the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) announcing last year that the FIM Sportbike World Championship is replacing the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship in 2026, we received news that one of the first riders signed to compete in the new class is not only an American, but also, a former MotoAmerica rider.
Floridian Julián Correa has been signed by Pons Motorsport Italika Racing to race a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R in the inaugural season of the entry-level class, which will run concurrently with select rounds of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
Correa is the second confirmed rider from the U.S. and MotoAmerica who will compete in a WorldSBK-affiliated championship as he joins WorldSBK veteran Garrett Gerloff (who also races a Kawasaki in the series).
“Julian is an incredibly exciting young talent, and we believe he has the dedication and speed to succeed in this new era of intermediate-capacity racing,” Pons Motorsport Italika Racing team owner Arnau Pons said. “Pons Motorsport Italika Racing has a strong track record of developing riders, and we are committed to providing Julián with the best-possible package to challenge at the front.”
The young American rider is eager to race on the world stage, and he commented, “Joining Pons Motorsport Italika Racing to contest the Sportbike World Championship is a dream come true. It’s a fantastic opportunity to compete against the best young riders in the world. Being one of only two confirmed Americans in the entire WorldSBK paddock is a huge honor, and I look forward to flying the U.S. flag next to a successful rider like Garrett Gerloff. My focus is entirely on a strong debut season and making the most of this chance.”
The new Sportbike World Championship will feature agile, mid-tier-displacement motorcycles and will provide a refined steppingstone for riders hoping to advance to World Supersport and World Superbike.
Correa will soon begin testing with the Pons Motorsport Italika Racing team in preparation for the first round of the 2026 FIM Sportbike World Championship, which takes place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, on March 27 through 29,
