The countdown to the 2026 FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup continues and with 21 riders already confirmed, it looks set to be another hotly contested year as riders battle it out for a Yamaha-supported ride in the 2027 FIM Sportbike World Championship.
Registrations remain open, but grid slots are filling quickly with only 30 spaces available. Over recent years, the FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup has proved to be a truly global series and 2026 looks to be no different, with the 21 riders registered representing 13 countries from four continents.
The championship sees all competitors racing identical Yamaha R3 machines to provide a level playing field and allow talent to shine through, with the ultimate prize on offer to the winner a coveted Yamaha-supported ride in the FIM Sportbike World Championship (WorldSPB), the new entry level class that replaces WorldSSP300 from 2026.
Taking part over six rounds alongside the FIM Superbike World Championship, all races are streamed live on the Yamaha Racing YouTube channel, bringing the excitement of the series to hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide, with the series also benefitting from exposure on the Yamaha Racing social media channels and WorldSBK platform ensuring truly global coverage.
2026 FIM R3 BLU CRU World Cup Calendar
Pre-Season Test – Cremona, Italy | 9 April
Round 1 – Balaton Park, Hungary | 2–3 May
Round 2 – MotorLand Aragon, Spain | 30–31 May
Round 3 – Donington Park, United Kingdom | 11–12 July
Round 4 – Magny-Cours, France | 5–6 September
Round 5 – Cremona, Italy | 26–27 September
Round 6 – Estoril, Portugal | 10–11 October
Created in 2021 as part of the SBK Roadway and Yamaha’s award-winning BLU CRU program, the FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup forms a key part of the Yamaha Racing pyramid, and in 2025 the BLU CRU program extended to Grand Prix racing for the first time with the introduction of the BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 Team – meaning Yamaha now offers the most direct and supported path from grassroots racing all the way to the very top of the sport.
An example of this commitment is the reward given to BLU CRU rider Izan Guevara for his first Moto2 win in Valencia – three days after standing on the top step of the podium the Spaniard swung his leg over the YZR-M1 MotoGP bike in a private test, marking the first time a BLU CRU rider has ridden a MotoGP machine.
Indonesia’s Aldi Satya Mahendra is another example of the BLU CRU program’s success. Second in the R3 BLU CRU World Cup in 2023, Mahendra stepped up to WorldSSP300 in 2024 with the Br Corse team and went on to become Indonesia’s first World Champion. He was then rewarded with a step up to the Supersport World Championship, where he impressed as a rookie fighting for the podium and will be looking to make another step in 2026 with the AS Racing team.
Hoping to follow in Mahendra’s footsteps, 2025 World Cup winner Alessandro di Persio of Italy has been confirmed to race the Yamaha R7 with the Arco MotoR University team in the Sportbike World Championship next season.
Entry costs for the 2026 FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup remain focused on keeping the series as accessible as possible to young riders around the world, which means the package for the entire season, including the use of a race-prepared Yamaha R3, together with the provision of leathers, gloves, boots, helmet, tyres, fuel and season entry fees is €32,500 (Euros).
The championship is run out of a dedicated village in the heart of the WorldSBK paddock, meaning all competitors are based in the same place and can benefit from guidance, technical assistance and mentoring from the experienced BLU CRU coaches and mechanics.
Registrations close at midnight on 31st March 2026, but with 21 riders already confirmed and only 30 grid spots available early registration is essential to guarantee a full-time place on the grid.
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