Image: Supplied.

Italian Andrea Locatelli will remain with Yamaha in the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) for another two years, extending his contract with the brand through the 2025 season.

The 26-year-old stepped up to the premier WorldSBK category in 2021 with the Pata Yamaha team after convincing capturing the Supersport World Championship the year prior.

He finished fourth in his rookie WorldSBK season before he was fifth in the 2022 campaign. In the opening stages of the 2023 championship, Locatelli has stood on the podium at each of the four rounds contested and is currently third in the standings.

“My objective was to continue with Yamaha, so I’m very happy to have signed for another two years,” said Locatelli. “One of the best things about Yamaha is the people who believe in me, starting with Eric de Seynes, Paolo Pavesio and Andrea Dosoli, but also Riccardo Tisci and all the engineers and technicians who work so hard to give me the best bike possible. The same is true of the team.

“Since I arrived in WorldSBK I have enjoyed incredible support from Paul Denning and Andrew Pitt, and everyone involved in the project. All together we have achieved some good results but, more importantly, we have walked side-by-side on a path that has allowed me to feel more and more confident.

“We still have room for improvement in many areas, but I truly believe that with such a good relationship we will grow stronger together. If consistency is key as they say, then I think that with this extension we’ve laid the groundwork for a bright future.”

The announcement follows Toprak Razgatlioglu’s exit from Yamaha, with the former Superbike World champion switching to BMW for 2024. Locatelli’s teammate for next season has not yet been confirmed.