Roger Burnett revealed the true details behind Ryan Vickers' departure from the Motocorsa Racing squad.

On Friday at the Estoril World Superbike Round, Motocorsa Racing announced it would be parting ways with Ryan Vickers at the end of the 2025 season.

Ahead of the final race of the weekend, TNT Sports caught up with Ryan Vickers' Manager, Roger Burnett. During his discussion with Rachel Stringer and Shane 'Shakey' Byrne, Burnett opened up on why and when the team really told Vickers they would not continue together for 2026.

"He had had a two-year agreement, it was a two plus one to be honest, it was very clear," Burnett told TNT Sports.

"Unfortunately, the team are short of budget; they were [going] to take a sponsor with another rider, which did not materialise.

"But they terminated with Ryan some weeks ago, actually, so we have been preparing for this. I am not sure you won’t see him here [next year], in some form or another."

Burnett has been a presence in the World Superbike paddock since it first began, and is able to reflect on the financial status of the Championship in the current era.

"I have been here since day one. [Originally] It was that the manufacturers were supporting this Championship to prove their Superbike to the fans, so they would buy the bikes," he explained.

"That was the whole ethos of the Championship from the beginning, and that has not changed. The manufacturers are still supporting the Championship very well; the thing that’s lacking is that the independent teams have no commercial reason to be here. They need sponsorship, and that is not coming forward."

'Will the team take him forward?'

It had already been reported that Motocorsa Racing wanted more money from Vickers for the 2026 World Superbike season. However, the Italian team stated that Vickers' performance was the reason for their separation.

Whilst talking to TNT Sports, Burnett was able to set the record straight about his rider's departure from the team.

Burnett revealed: "The Motocorsa team wanted 400 thousand Euros, and that is virtually impossible to find, and if you could find it, how is it going to make the team better?

"Ryan has done an amazing job; he has been on lap record pace from last year's lap records at every round. He has not known any of the tracks, which has been incredible.

"But the level of the team will it take him forward, is the question. I don’t think it can, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise."