MGM-Ducati unveils its 2026 season line-up, with Mackenzie on track!

A first full season lies ahead for ‘Taz’ with his team.

On the second day of testing, under cloudy skies at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in Andalusia, the MGM Optical Express Racing team officially presented itself ahead of the 2026 season. Tarran Mackenzie remains with the team after joining during the 2025 season to replace Scott Redding. ‘Taz’ made his debut at Balaton Park during the eighth round of the season and showed strong potential with the team, scoring points nine times in 15 races and finishing in the top ten in every race of the final round.

Mackenzie said: “It’s great to be able to announce the agreement with Optical Express and MGM Performance. Over the winter, everyone has been working really hard to get everything ready for the new season, so it’s really nice to be able to show off the new colours. I know the new Ducati Panigale V4R will be exceptional, and having this kind of support for 2026 gives me a lot of confidence. We have four test days in Europe before flying to Australia, and I can’t wait to get started!”

MGM Performance Team Principal Michael Galinski shares Mackenzie’s enthusiasm: “We’re really looking forward to starting the new season. Being able to work with a partner like Optical Express obviously gives us an extra boost. We want to try to build on those top-ten finishes, and I believe Tarran has what it takes and we have the technical capability to do it. So we can’t wait for the new season to begin, for the first race at Phillip Island, and then for the European rounds.”

Reference: WorldSBK Official Website