Eighteenth in the championship, with a total of 74 points, Yari Montella was the best of the rookies who had lined up at the start of the 2025 World Superbike season. But it was a meagre consolation for the rider from Campania, who cannot be satisfied with the way his adventure in the premier class of production derived racing started.
So many, too many, crashes punctuated the race weekends of the 25-year-old, who became trapped in a downward spiral from which he managed to re-emerge only in the last round of the calendar. And that's precisely the point from which Montella will try to restart in order to build a 2026 season in which to repay the trust of the Barni team, capitalizing on the talent and speed he only managed to show in flashes this year.
"It's been a hard and complicated year. A debut of the type that 'marks you' - Yari told us exclusively - I had some really down moments, because I was pushing hard but always fell into the same trap. But I held on, gritted my teeth, and now I'm ready for what's to come."
I guess the balance is not particularly positive.
"I would give myself a 5. A failing grade. I'm happy with the fact that I was fast, but not with the fact that I couldn't materialize. In the end, I do little or nothing with speed, because only I and the team can see it. I need to concretize, which I haven't been able to do this year. That's also why my vacation was very short: I had just a week and a half of rest and then got back to work for 2026. I wanted to rest the right amount, because with what happened, it was a tough year and really difficult emotionally and mentally as well. But at the same time I also wanted to start preparing again. This has been a particular year and the next one will be important for me, so I preferred not to waste any time and get to work right away to be ready. Overall, though, I'm satisfied that I at least showed that I'm fast, and I'm glad that Barni reconfirmed me for 2026."
What went wrong this year?
"I made a lot of small mistakes and had a lot of crashes. But not from going too fast, I must have had two or three of those all year. All the crashes and damage I did was in delicate moments of the race, in group conditions and when overtaking. As I said, it's been a bit of a peculiar year, because I seemed to get into a bit of a whirlwind until the last round at Jerez."
How important was it to complete all three races in Andalusia?
"I approached the round only with the intent and desire to complete the races, whatever the result was. Since we had already confirmed my presence in Superbike for next year, rather than thinking about finishing well in 2025 by aiming for the top 10, the team and I decided to take the Jerez round as a race already in view of 2026. We were content with what was to come, without overdoing it, in order to rebuild some of the confidence I've lost from banging my nose on the ground. The target was really to avoid ending the year with another crash, which would have risked making my winter a little bit underwhelming."
How close was the team to you during those difficult times?
"It helped me a lot. In those moments when I was having crash after crash, Barnabò would come to me personally to ask me if they, as a team, could do anything to help me. They were very good and very friendly to me. They tried to come to me, to understand me, to be there for me and to help me as much as possible. This is very important for a rider, because it gives you confidence in such a delicate moment and it's good for you, because it helps you regain some confidence."
Did you envision Superbike to be this way, or was there something that surprised you positively or negatively?
"I expected it to be a tough category, but the truth is that it was tougher than expected. Comparing this year's timesheets with those of previous seasons shows that it is a category of a very high level. On the one hand I'm happy, because if you get to a certain result it means you are really capable of doing it and you didn't achieve it because of the low level, or there are some riders who are going strong and the others are a bit mediocre. Compared to Supersport, where I had gotten to a level where I was able to stay in front, be fast and consistent and be ready in all kinds of conditions and circuits, here I was faced with something new, with the goal of getting back to where I was in the other championship. Otherwise, Superbike is as I expected: it's a complete category, a premier class."
Next year there will be a few changes, including the new Ducati. Do you already have an idea of what it will be like?
"It will definitely be an evolutionary step, but eventually everyone will have it. The goal will be to understand it as soon as possible, although fortunately I've already had a chance to do a day at Vallelunga with the test team. The Ducati characteristic has remained the same: the bike has not been overhauled, only positive updates have been made. In 2026 I plan to use the experience I have gained this year and improve my results."
You will also have a new teammate. What can a champion like Bautista teach you?
"I got to know him a little in November, when we had a three-day training session in Aragon with the standard version bikes, and I must say I like him. He's a quiet person, and what I can definitely learn from him is the desire he has at his age to keep working and to look for any kind of thing that can make him go stronger, help him improve, and be more consistent."
The desire he still has to win can also be seen in the battle he is waging against the bike+rider minimum weight.
"Yes. This desire of his to work, to prove and to do something extra to get the results is something that amazes you. Because he is a two-time Superbike Champion, a rider who has already created his position, but he still keeps pushing and hammering away. I find that a very nice thing and you can feel it when you talk to him and, especially, when you get to know him in a context like racing."
How do you feel about Petrucci's farewell to the Barni team? Do you imagine him being immediately competitive with BMW?
"It's understandable: everyone's goal is to win World Championships and to do it, maybe, with an official team, and he took the opportunity that presented itself to him to go to BMW. I haven't talked to him since his first test, but from the times I've seen, I think the bike is quite suited to his riding style. I'm curious to see how he can adapt to this bike in the first few championship races. But also to see what the new opponents coming in next year will be like. It will definitely be another year with a very high level."
Everyone expects Bulega to kill the championship. Kind of like Marc Marquez did this year in MotoGP.
"Let's say, data in hand, that's what is expected. Races are races and you never know, because nothing is that predictable. But seeing what he has done this year and the opponents that will be there next year, he, at the moment, is maybe a little step ahead."
Were you surprised to see how he and Toprak fared in their first contact with MotoGP?
"They both did something positive, because it gives value and merit to what Superbike is. For years now, you have to be a top rider to win here. Superbike used to be categorized as a B series, the riders as the rejects of MotoGP, but over the years it has become a top category, where you have to go fast to win. Toprak might struggle in MotoGP, but I don't think he can't get to fight with the top riders. He is a hard worker, as is Bulega, and I think they have shown that they have the potential to do well in both championships."
What will be the watchword of your 2026?
"To concretize. The main goal will be to improve on what we did in this 2025, to be in the Top 5 in all races and to have a breakthrough year. I would like to be able to do something similar to what Sam Lowes did, when he took advantage of a tough year like his debut year to do something good in the following season."