Yamaha’s most recent riders’ title in the Superbike class was won by former MotoGP rider Jonas Folger in the 2020 season on a YZF-R1. Since then, the brand has had only sporadic podium finishes. Twan Smits is currently working to change that in the EURO MOTO Superbike series. Two races completed, one podium finish. The Dutchman is breathing new life into the team’s history—and that’s not just thanks to the concession parts.
Concession Parts are specifically defined components that a manufacturer is permitted to use if it is lagging too far behind in the championship because the production motorcycle’s design is not capable of delivering top results. Yamaha has five options for 2026 and is utilizing all of them. This applies to the brakes, engine tuning, the swingarm length—which has been redesigned compared to last year—the triple clamp, and the larger fuel tank. A 22-liter tank is being used instead of the 17-liter production tank. The selection is top-notch and ready for the World Championship.
Wim Vermeulen, however, does not see this as the main reason behind the significantly improved results. The Marketing Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe instead points explicitly to Twan Smits, the 22-year-old rider from Team Apreco, who—not least for cost reasons—is the only one fielding a Yamaha in the entire EURO MOTO Superbike field. “He accounts for 80 percent of the progress,” estimates Vermeulen. “Twan has changed his riding style. A year ago, he was still riding like a supersport rider. Now he really rides like a superbike rider. On top of that, he’s excellent at working with the Pirelli tires.”
Smits’s impressive performance has made such an impact that he will compete in the Superbike World Championship races at Estoril and Jerez following the conclusion of the EURO MOTO season. Vermeulen said, “If one of our top World Championship riders gets injured before then, he’ll be called up as a replacement rider.”