Yamaha rider's WorldSBK form “a bit frustrating for everybody”

Andrea Locatelli’s current WorldSBK form is “frustrating for everybody”, says Pata Yamaha boss Paul Denning.

Locatelli was fourth in the championship last year and was the only rider other than Nicolo Bulega or Toprak Razgatlioglu to win a race when he triumphed at Assen. 

But the Italian admitted his lack of comfort on the Yamaha R1 after the Phillip Island World Superbike test earlier this week (16–17 February). This was backed up by an underwhelming performance on Friday in Australia where he finished 15th on the combined times, four places and 0.2 seconds behind his teammate Xavi Vierge, who is new to the team and bike this year.

“A little bit frustrating for everybody – including the rider – on Loka’s [Andrea Locatelli] side of the box,” said Pata Yamaha Team Principal Denning, speaking to the WorldSBK world feed broadcast during FP2 in Australia.

“We know how good he is on the Yamaha, we know how good he is at Phillip Island, but we've struggled to find a good feeling since Monday morning and it hasn’t really improves yet. 

“So, keep working towards the races and see what we can do.”

Denning added that he doesn’t think Locatelli has lost confidence, just that he hasn’t yet found his rhythm in 2026 after a preseason testing campaign largely disrupted by bad weather.

“I wouldn’t say he’s lost his confidence,” said Denning. “You’re 1.3 seconds away from the fastest time and you’re 14th or 15th and the rhythm is not there. 

“But it’s very small details and we haven’t, of course, had much running over the winter, and Andrea’s been a rider in the past who thrives on having that rhythm. 

“Frankly speaking, the Yamaha responds, as we saw in the Toprak [Razgatlioglu] years, to being over-ridden, so 100 per cent of your effort is probably not enough – you need a little bit more than that. 

“If the rider’s at a little bit less than 100, just building into his own level of confidence, then for sure it makes it tough. 

“So, the plan is for the races for Loka to catch up at least to the level that Xavi is at right now, and improve from where we are.”

Vierge “enjoying himself”

In contrast to Locatelli’s struggles is the performance of Vierge, who was in the top-10 in FP2 on his first proper day as a Yamaha rider, which was a performance Denning found satisfying.

“Definitely a good start,” Denning said. “[He] likes the bike, likes the team, enjoying himself, and this is only the second track he’s ever ridden the bike at. 

“So, a little bit early to expect him to be doing more than he’s doing, to be honest. 

“Started this session on used tyres from the first session and straight away the rhythm was inside the top-10. Honestly, on that side of the box, more or less where we should be, I think.”