After two BSB titles with Yamaha, Kyle Ryde and the Nitrous Competitions Racing crew – beforehand OMG Racing – will transfer to Ducati for the 2026 season, however that is one thing the Nottinghamshire rider “wished”, in accordance with his rider coach and 2011 BSB Champion Tommy Hill.
Amid 2023 champion Tommy Bridewell’s departure from Honda, Ryan Vickers’ return from World Superbike to switch him, and the introduction of the Bimota KB998, the Nitrous Competitors change from the Yamaha R1 to the Ducati Panigale V4 R will not be essentially information that stands out within the BSB low season this yr however it has the potential to be maybe probably the most pivotal change of the winter.
This isn’t solely right down to Ryde, for whom the Ducati will likely be his fourth bike in BSB after Suzuki and BMW earlier than Yamaha, but additionally for his teammate Glenn Irwin who proved his capability to problem for titles aboard Ducati equipment with PBM in 2023 and 2024.
However, for Ryde (who spent a number of monitor days in 2025 using a Panigale V4 R for coaching), it’s a change that was desired, in accordance with his rider coach Tommy Hill.
“Everybody’s excited,” Hill stated in an interview with the Ducati UK web site.
“Sure, it’s a brand new mission. And it may not be straightforward at first. However I believe the change is sweet.
“It retains everybody on their toes and it’s what Kyle [Ryde] wished as nicely, and he’s excited for it. He’s been within the crew 4 years now and so a change in his fifth season will likely be good and he’s wanting ahead to it.”
Regardless of the optimism, Hill is conscious of the difficulties that would include what will likely be an untested bike in BSB-spec, given the particular situations created by the British Championship’s ruleset.
“We’ve heard good issues concerning the Panigale V4 R,” Hill stated.
“It seems like an excellent machine and Ducati have made some huge enhancements.
“We’re but to see if it really works in BSB-spec, which will likely be behind everybody’s thoughts.
“We’ll solely be operating one compound of tyre whereas the World Superbike Championship run 4 compounds of rear tyre and full digital methods, so that may change the bike rather a lot.
“I believe for us we’ll make it work.
“In Kyle we’ve got a rider on the prime of his sport, a great crew round him and we’re excited to change to an Italian model.
“Fingers crossed we will hit the bottom operating in 2026.”
