WorldSPB | Race 2

Thompson wins Jerez Race 2 as Artigas secures WorldSPB title

Xavi Artigas finished eighth at the Circuito de Jerez, enough to clinch the 2026 FIM Sportbike World Championship after title rival David Salvador placed fourth.

Usain Bolto

The decisive moment

Racing Racing: cars and motorcycles The decisive moment

Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) won WorldSPB Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto on 18 October 2026, with Antonio Torres second and Pepe Osuna third.

Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) finished eighth, while title rival David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) was fourth. The WorldSBK report said Artigas’s result secured the 2026 FIM Sportbike World Championship title.

Thompson takes the Race 2 win

Thompson finished 4.565 seconds ahead of Torres. Osuna completed the top three, 6.224 seconds behind the winner, for his first WorldSPB podium, according to the WorldSBK report.

Salvador was classified fourth, followed by Alvaro Fuertes and Marco Gaggi. The report listed Thompson’s fastest lap as 1:46.716.

Artigas clinches the championship

Artigas and Salvador began the race from seventh and eighth on the grid, respectively, with Artigas ahead. Salvador briefly led early in the race, while Artigas moved through the group before later dropping back.

Both riders ran wide at Turn 13 on Lap 9 during their battle, and Artigas fell to eighth. Salvador recovered to fourth, but Artigas’s finish was enough to secure the title, the report said.

Thompson secures third in the standings

The WorldSBK report said Thompson and Torres were level on points before Race 2 and that Thompson’s victory secured third place in the world standings ahead of Torres. It also recorded this as Thompson’s second win of the season, with both victories coming in the final two rounds.

Several riders retire

Four riders crashed out in two separate incidents on the opening lap: Indi Schunselaar and Troy Sovicka collided at Turn 9, while Fenton Seabright and Bruno Ieraci came together at Turn 13.

Mirko Gennai crashed on Lap 6 and later retired in the pits. Ferre Fleerackers crashed on Lap 7, and Gonzalo Sanchez was also listed as a retirement.

Newsroom

This report is based on the WorldSBK Race 2 report published on 18 October 2026. The supplied report identifies the event as WorldSPB and gives the results as reported.

Byline

Usain Bolto

The decisive moment

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