Michael Ruben Rinaldi has indicated he had a number of choices open to him in 2026 after asserting his retirement from WorldSBK.
Rinaldi, who received the 2017 Superstock 1000 title within the WorldSBK paddock, introduced his retirement from World Superbike after the ultimate race of 2025 in Jerez, having endured a 2025 that noticed him battling mid-pack in Supersport in the beginning of the yr, then combating behind WorldSBK after switching to MotoxRacing for the Misano spherical.
The Italian says {that a} need to not combat on the again anymore was behind his choice to retire from the World Championship, however that he has choices for 2026.
“It’s been huge information for me, after a few years in Superbike I made a decision to cease as a result of final yr has been fairly powerful,” Michael Ruben Rinaldi advised WorldSBK.com on the EICMA present in Milan.
“I see myself not anymore combating for the bottom positions on the grid and I didn’t have the prospect to have a powerful package deal for subsequent yr.
“So, I stated to myself ‘It’s okay, generally life is like this’. So, for positive in 2026 I can’t be racing Superbike, even when I’m nonetheless fairly younger as a result of I’m 29-years-old. However that is life.
“For the time being, I don’t know but what shall be my future as a result of since I made the announcement I acquired many calls from completely different groups in several championships and that’s one thing that I’m blissful about.
“However I’ll take my time to take a call and we are going to see.
“Possibly the final race in Jerez was not my final race in Superbike, I don’t know but, however there’s a powerful probability that it was my final and the subsequent time, if I come, I’d be blissful to come back in a approach that permits me to point out all my potential. If not, it’s okay like this; I’m nonetheless blissful and so grateful for what Superbike gave me.”
On the choices which have been offered to him up to now for 2026, Rinaldi stated that some have been to race in several championships, whereas others would maintain him within the World Superbike paddock in “a special function”.
“The calls that I’ve acquired are to race in several championships as a rider, but additionally contained in the paddock with a special function,” he stated.
“That provides me loads to consider as a result of meaning to cease racing at 100 per cent.
“My want is to search out one thing that may make me blissful and I can keep concerned indirectly in motorsports as a result of it’s my ardour since I used to be a toddler.
“We’ll see, I didn’t take a call but so will probably be two months that shall be fairly busy for me and likewise for my future life.”
