MGM Ducati will run Loris Baz for the final two rounds of the 2026 WorldSBK season at Estoril and Jerez. Baz had already stepped in for Tarran Mackenzie at the Italian round and will now finish the campaign on the team’s Ducati Panigale V4 R, with Mackenzie still not ready to return to racing.

Mackenzie has been out since his crash in the second free-practice session at Donington during the British round in July. The accident caused multiple fractures, including one to his left leg. He tried to come back at the following French round, roughly two months later, but was ruled unfit on Thursday. He did not then attempt to race in Italy, where Baz took his place.

Baz brings more than a temporary solution to the MGM Ducati garage. He has previous experience with the team from its time as a BMW satellite outfit and is also a WorldSBK race winner. Mackenzie’s most recent finish came in Race 2 at Misano, where he placed fifth, while several other results in the top six followed his arrival at MGM in mid-2025.

Mackenzie’s 2027 position remains unconfirmed. Staying with MGM had been expected, but the team will close this season with Baz aboard at Estoril and Jerez.