Bathams retain Storm Stacey for 2026 as they complete switch to Ducati
Eccleshall star Storm Stacey will remain with Bathams AJC Race team after his successful season in the British Superbike Championship in 2025.
Bathams have also made the decision to switch its machinery to Ducati in a bid to take Stacey's performance to the next level.
Despite the change, Bathams will continue to use BMW machinery at the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races with an announcement on the team's racing plans expected soon.
22-year-old Stacey, who will be heading into his seventh British Superbike season, secured a 10th-place finish in the previous campaign.
"2025 was mega for me and being able to race regularly further towards the front of the field in the top five was such a boost," Stacey reflected.
"The team was new to me, but I can't fault their effort and the atmosphere.
"So staying with them for 2026 was a pretty easy decision - especially with the switch to Ducati happening too.
"The bike is 98 per cent built and ready to test. So you can imagine just how keen I am to throw a leg over it and see what the fuss is all about, which will be very soon.
"Until then, I really want to say a massive thanks to all the teams sponsors for backing this massive new project, and a shot out to my fans who have been wanting to know what I am up to.
"Thank you for your patience, but I really do believe this news was worth the wait."
After retaining Stacey for the 2026 BSB campaign, Brierley Hill-born biking legend Michael Rutter said: ”Well, if 2025 was a big jump for the team, 2026 is already making that look like a piece of cake.
"Switching manufacturers and building our bike from a road bike has been a mammoth task, but I truly believe it will be worth it.
"Along with Storm and everyone else in the team including the sponsors, we felt that in order to move forward from where we got to in 2025, we needed to change the bike.
“Obviously, we considered all options, but the fact that the Ducati is the only superbike to have been upgraded and developed in recent times is what swayed us onto it. Also, there is a long history between me, my dad and Ducati which is a really nice bonus.
“Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the one thing I learned last year was that it’s impossible to know what to expect.
"I would never have predicted the results we managed last year, not even close, so I’m not about to make any predictions for the Storm/Ducati combination.”
