Northern Ireland’s James McManus and Italian prospect Edoardo Colombi will spearhead MMB Racing’s British Supersport challenge in 2026 on Ducati Panigale V2 machinery.

Randalstown’s McManus, the 2022 British Junior Supersport champion, will be hoping for better luck this year after he was hampered by injury last season.

Italian Colombi joins the team after making his debut in the Supersport class last year, stepping up from the National Sportbike Championship, when he missed out on the title by just 1.5 points in 2024 in his maiden year of racing in the UK.

The team is owned by ex-Grand Prix rider Eugene McManus Sr and will be managed by former racer John Laverty.

placeholder image — MMB Racing's James McManus with John Laverty (team manager) and Edoardo Colombi.

James McManus, whose brother Eugene has made the step up to the British Superbike class with the MasterMac Honda team, has been working hard over the winter to regain full fitness following his injury pain in 2025.

“I’m really looking forward to the start of the 2026 season,” he said. It was a difficult year for me in 2025 with injuries, but I’ve worked and trained hard over the winter with my brother Eugene to get back to full fitness again.

“It’s great to have Edoardo alongside me in the team this year; it’ll be a big learning year for us with Edoardo in a new team and myself coming back from injury.

“However, we are both ready to work hard and very excited to get back racing.”

Team manager Laverty said the key objective for both riders this year was to continue learning and “building momentum” in the Supersport class.

“We are really looking forward to this season, both the riders had a really positive test in Spain and both were progressing very well,” said the Co Antrim man.

“James is obviously coming back from his broken foot last year and he is coming back strong and Edoardo has impressed us since joining the team, so it is about patience and time as both riders we know have huge potential.

“There is no pressure on them; we want to give them the ability to learn and progress and keep building momentum throughout the season.”

Colombi rode a Ducati V2 last year for TAS Racing and finished 15th in the final standings in his first year in the class.

The European rider is confident he can take another step forward in 2026.

“I am very happy to be with the MMB Racing team this year,” said Colombi. “I think they are a great team and I think that we can do well together this season.

“I learnt a lot last year in my first year in Supersport and now is the time to move forward. We had a really good test at Andalucia and I am really happy to start the season now. We will be working hard to be in the battle at the front.”

The British Superbike Championship gets under way with the opening round over the bank holiday weekend at Oulton Park in Cheshire from May 2-4.

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The MMB Racing team has announced their 2026 Quattro Group British Supersport Championship line-up with Edoardo Colombi joining James McManus as the young contenders build for the forthcoming season following a positive shakedown test in Spain earlier this month.

Colombi said: “I am very happy to be with the MMB Racing team this year. I think they are a great team and I think that we can do well together this season. I learnt a lot last year in my first year in Supersport and now is the time to move forward. We had a really good test at Andalucía and I am really happy to start the season now; we will be working hard to be in the battle at the front.”