Artigas secured the inaugural FIM Sportbike World Championship with eighth place in Race 2 at Jerez. The MTM Kawasaki rider finished the campaign on 245 points, eight ahead of David Salvador’s 237, after the two Spaniards arrived at the finale as the only riders still able to win the title. Both title contenders raced Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R machinery, but the championship was decided only after a turbulent final weekend.

A 12-point deficit became a 13-point lead

Salvador began the weekend 12 points in front. His title challenge suffered a major setback in Race 1 when contact with Carter Thompson at the final hairpin sent him off. Thompson received a long-lap penalty, while Salvador recovered to 22nd and finished outside the points. Artigas took the race win, turning the standings around and giving himself a 13-point advantage before Sunday’s decider. That meant the MTM Kawasaki rider did not need another victory: keeping Salvador within reach would be enough.

The second race still produced plenty of pressure. Artigas and Salvador started seventh and eighth, exchanged positions early and came close to contact on Lap 4. Thompson broke clear at the front, leaving the two title contenders to fight among themselves. On Lap 8 they both ran wide at Turn 13, and an attempted pass by Artigas at Lorenzo Corner briefly left them in eighth and ninth. Salvador then recovered to fourth, while Artigas maintained eighth to secure the championship.

Thompson wins as Kawasaki takes the manufacturers’ title

Thompson won Race 2 by 4.565 seconds from Antonio Torres, taking his second victory of the campaign; both of his wins came in the final two rounds. Riding a Yamaha YZF-R7, he also finished third in the riders’ standings with 193 points, ahead of Torres on 188. Pepe Osuna completed the podium, earning his first WorldSPB podium.

The result completed a strong late-season recovery for Artigas. He won three of the final six races and added a second-place finish at Cremona, overturning a 35-point deficit before ending the title fight 245-237. Artigas summed up the change in confidence by saying that being competitive, with the ability to win and score podiums, made him increasingly believe the championship was possible.

Kawasaki also won the manufacturers’ championship with 345 points. Triumph was second on 228, followed by Yamaha on 200, Suzuki on 192 and Aprilia on 147. Three Kawasaki Ninja riders finished inside the overall top four: Artigas, Salvador and Antonio Torres. The top 10 also included Ferre Fleerackers on 143 points, Fenton Seabright on 127, Matteo Vannucci on 117, Jeffrey Buis on 112, Alvaro Fuertes on 106 and Bruno Ieraci, whose table entry does not show a points total.