Joe Talbot and Max Cook with Bimota for the 2026 British Superbike Championship

FS-3 Racing is betting on youth for the new era with Bimota: alongside the confirmed Max Cook, Joe Talbot will race in the 2026 British Superbike.

A youth-focused approach for Bimota’s debut. FS-3 Racing, since 2020 the reference structure for Kawasaki Motors UK in the British Superbike, has unveiled its revamped rider line-up for the 2026 season. With Christian Iddon gone, it will be the young Max Cook and Joe Talbot bringing the new KB998 Rimini to the track under the AJN Steelstock Bimota banner.

Part of FS-3 Racing’s programs since 2023, Max Cook has shown flashes of speed in his first three years in BSB, grabbing a couple of podiums at Thruxton. Next year, the 2022 British Superstock 600 Champion will aim for a definitive step up. “I’m really excited to take on this new challenge. Seeing the results achieved straight away in the World Championship, I think Bimota will be a solid option for BSB as well,” says Max Cook. “My goal is to be more consistent. Maybe, why not, turning that consistency into wins.”

FS-3 Racing has also made a forward-looking move by signing Joe Talbot. The former British Superstock 1000 frontrunner was already set to race full-time in BSB this year with OMG Racing Yamaha, a project that collapsed at the outset due to the team’s financial difficulties. After rebuilding his stock in British Supersport aboard a Binch Racing Ducati V2, he got the chance mid-season to contest the Donington Park round with DAO Racing Honda, scoring a 13th place as his best result on his British Superbike debut. “I’m excited to join AJN Steelstock Bimota. I’ve always dreamed of racing in BSB, and to do it with a brand-new bike with so much potential is simply fantastic,” says Joe Talbot. “FS-3 is a proven team, so I know they’ll give me everything I need to start on the right foot. I’m not setting any expectations—I’ve seen firsthand how tough BSB is—but I can’t wait to get started.”