The WorldSBK race weekend at Autodromo do Estoril brought a demanding chapter of sheer grit and determination for Xavi Vierge. Although the Spanish rider's future was already secured with a 2026 contract signed with Barni Ducati, his professional dedication to Yamaha remained absolute as he aimed to conclude his tenure with the Iwata manufacturer on a high note.
Throughout the sessions in Portugal, Vierge consistently stood as the benchmark for Yamaha machinery in the fiercely contested mid-pack. Starting the weekend with a tenth-place finish on Friday and 13th in Superpole, the Catalan racer successfully translated his efforts into competitive race results, crossing the line 13th, 7th, and 9th across the weekend's encounters.
Despite flying the flag for Yamaha, Vierge openly addressed the underlying performance deficit hampering his overall potential. While his rhythm was solid, the top-end speed simply fell short compared to the absolute front-runners in the WorldSBK paddock.
'It is a fact that we lack a little bit of speed. Everyone is so fast—our pace is not bad, but it is not quite enough to fight for a better position,' Vierge explained regarding the technical limitations faced by the Pata Maxus squad.
A crucial breakthrough arrived on Sunday morning when the team experimented with a decisive warm-up adjustment that unlocked better tyre management and rear grip. This overnight modification gave Vierge the confidence boost needed to extract maximum performance during the 10-lap Superpole race.
The ultimate test of endurance unfolded during Race 2, where Vierge had to fend off strong rivals like Jake Dixon and Tommy Bridewell through a grueling 21-lap battle.
'I knew that the 21 laps would be critical because I had to ride every single lap as if it were a qualifying session. But I tried, had a good start, and was in a good group,' Vierge described following the checkered flag.
Armed with valuable telemetry and newfound set-up directions, Vierge looks ahead to the final round at Circuito de Jerez with optimism, aiming to apply final tweaks that will grant him higher competitive options to close out the 2026 season successfully.
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