Leandro Mercado Joins Yamalube YART Yamaha for 2026
Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that Leandro Mercado will join the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, the reigning FIM Endurance World Champions, for the 2026 season to partner Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika.
The 33-year-old Argentinian replaces Jason O’Halloran in the YART lineup, and Yamaha Motor Europe would like to extend their thanks to the Australian, who helped the team secure their third FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) after a sensational 2025 season, and wishes him good luck with his future endeavours.
Mercado brings a wealth of experience to the Austrian-based squad. He started his career in the United States, racing in the US Red Bull Rookies Cup, before going on to be crowned the 2009 AMA Supersport Champion. He then moved across to Europe and established himself as one to watch by winning the 2014 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup.
He made his FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) debut in 2012 and was a regular contender in the class over the last decade, starting 197 races. He has also shown his potential in the EWC after making his debut in 2023, claiming second overall at the Bol d’Or in his maiden season. A consistent 2024 EWC season saw him finish ninth in the overall standings, while in 2025 he secured the Superstock victory at the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, as well as finishing second in class and a respectable 17th overall at the Suzuka 8 Hours.
“Tati”, as Mercado is known, joins a YART team looking to add to the three EWC titles it has already won (2009, 2023, 2025) as they aim to secure back-to-back crowns and their third in four years. The 2026 FIM EWC season kicks off on April 16-19 with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans.
Niccolò Canepa
Road Racing Sporting Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe
“I am delighted that “Tati” has joined us. I raced against him for many years in WorldSBK and the EWC, and he has an incredible amount of talent and experience. I believe he will fit perfectly into the YART lineup alongside Marvin and Karel, and that the R1 will suit his riding style. The YART team has consistently shown they are the fastest in EWC, winning two of the last three EWC titles and finishing as runner-up in the other, which shows they have the most competitive, strongest package. Together with “Tati”, I believe they will only improve. I wish him good luck and look forward to seeing him race on the R1. I want to thank Jason. We are so grateful for all his hard work, and he became an Endurance World Champion in his maiden season with us, an incredible achievement. We wish him the best for his future.”
Leandro Mercado
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“I am thrilled! I want to thank Yamaha Motor Europe and Niccolò Canepa for this opportunity to join YART, the reigning EWC champions. It is a dream come true. I am looking forward to starting this new chapter in my career and cannot wait to ride the R1. I will give my maximum to help the team win the title. I have raced on track with Marvin and Karel, and we are good friends. They are really strong, very fast, and have a lot of experience, so I feel we have everything in place to succeed, and I cannot wait for next season.”
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