This coming weekend, the seventh round of the FIM Supersport World Championship will take place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. After a difficult weekend in Spain, Can Öncü, Yuki Okamoto, and the entire Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team have worked hard to regain their previous form at the Italian venue.

With six race weekends completed and six still to go, the 2026 season has now reached its halfway point. The next stop is the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, one of the circuits that has been a fixture on the World Superbike calendar for many years. Although the track features virtually no elevation changes, its layout presents a significant challenge for the riders and often produces exciting racing. Combined with its beautiful setting on the Adriatic coast, Misano is regarded as one of the favourite venues by many within the paddock.

After claiming an impressive five consecutive podium finishes from Race 2 in Assen through to Race 2 in Most, Can Öncü endured a challenging weekend at MotorLand Aragón. As a result, the Turkish rider saw his gap to the championship leader increase, but his motivation and determination remain as strong as ever to reduce that deficit again in Misano.

Following his positive weekend in Most, Yuki Okamoto was unable to add another points-scoring finish in Aragón. However, the Japanese rider is increasingly establishing himself among the top fifteen competitors in the highly competitive World Supersport Championship. At a circuit where many of the Italian riders have extensive experience, it will be a significant challenge, but one that Okamoto and the team from Nieuwleusen are eager to take on.

Can Öncü:
“İ feel so excited for the Misano round, and I am looking forward to get started again. During the test we did at Motorland Aragón we made a lot of improvements, so I cannot wait to be on my bike again. Racing in Italy is always a great experience, so I hope that we can have a strong weekend.”

Yuki Okamoto:
“After the race weekend at Aragón, I spent more time in Spain and did a lot of training. I hope I can use this experience during the Misano round, so that we can make another step forward. I’m looking forward to see what this weekend will bring us.”

Kervin Bos – Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team manager:
“Misano is always a special event for us. This weekend, we have organised a special sponsor event for Bakker Bedrijfswagens, one of the team’s partners, and we will be hosting fifty of their guests. In addition, our hospitality area will be full of our regular supporters who are visiting Misano not only for the spectacular races, but also for the beautiful surroundings and the Italian lifestyle.

Yuki has had a productive training week, visiting several circuits with his own team. Through both motorcycle training and physical workouts in the gym, he has been working on fine-tuning every detail. Can took a week off following his participation in the tyre test in Aragón and the training sessions he completed at home afterwards. Both riders are ready to start this weekend feeling refreshed, at a circuit we always enjoy visiting.

It is a track where both riders have traditionally been strong, so once again our goal will be to fight for a podium finish with Can, while aiming for a points-scoring result with Yuki.”

The race weekend at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli begins with a free practice session on Friday morning, followed by the Superpole session at 16:00 in the afternoon. After a warm-up session on Saturday morning, Race 1 will get underway at 14:00. On Sunday, a revised schedule will be in place, featuring another warm-up session in the morning, followed by Race 2 at 15:15.