Tati Mercado is YART Yamaha’s new rider for the 2026 FIM EWC

YART Yamaha signs Tati Mercado to defend the number 1 in the FIM EWC Endurance World Championship 2026: he will join the confirmed Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika.

An established trio of riders to chase the fourth FIM EWC title in its history. YART Yamaha, the reigning Endurance World Champion team, has announced the signing of Leandro “Tati” Mercado for the 2026 season, where he will line up alongside the reconfirmed Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika. Yamaha’s flagship squad in endurance motorcycle racing is thus banking on one of the best riders to emerge this year from the FIM Endurance World Cup Superstock class, with the goal of defending the #1.

Tati Mercado will effectively replace Jason O’Halloran, cut by YART Yamaha after just one (albeit triumphant) season. Brought in to inherit the heavy mantle of our Niccolò Canepa (now Sporting Manager of Yamaha Motor Europe), despite solid outright speed the experienced Australian rider paid the price with crashes (see Spa and Suzuka) that nearly compromised the assault on the FIM EWC title.

Superstock class winner at the 8 Hours of Spa and on the podium at the 8 Hours of Suzuka with the revamped CHAMPION-MRP-TECMAS BMW, for Tati Mercado this will be his debut in Yamaha colors after having raced a bit with all manufacturers. “A dream come true,” admits the 2014 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Champion. “I would like to thank Yamaha Motor Europe for the opportunity to join YART in the FIM EWC. I can’t wait to start this new chapter of my career and to ride the R1. I will give my all to help the team win another title. Marvin and Karel are strong, fast, and very experienced: we’re great friends and together we have what it takes to achieve victory.”

While Jason O’Halloran is set to return to the British Superbike Championship, the EWC will be Tati Mercado’s main commitment, after also featuring in IDM Superbike over the past two seasons, first with Kawasaki Webes Motos and then with Alpha Van Zon BMW. Awaiting the 2026 season opener scheduled for the weekend of April 18–19 with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, YART Yamaha has set up an intensive testing program to help him get to grips with the #1 Bridgestone-shod R1.