Michael Ruben Rinaldi has retired from racing in the World Superbike Championship ahead of the 2026 season.

After eight years in the World Superbike Championship, Michael Ruben Rinaldi has announced his retirement from racing in the Superbike paddock.

The Italian featured in the World Superbike Championship between 2018 and 2025, during which time he rode for the Aruba.it Racing - Junior Team, BARNI Racing Team, Team GoEleven, Aruba.it Racing - Ducati, Motocorsa Racing, and Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team.

During his 239 races as a World Superbike rider, Rinaldi won five races and featured on 18 further podiums, all of which came with the Ducati Panigale V4 R.

"Inside me, I knew…
This would be my last victory in Superbike," Rinaldi wrote on an Instagram post which featured videos of his last World Superbike win at Aragon.

"I wish I could find the words
to express what I feel, but it’s hard. My time as a full-time World Superbike rider has come to an end.
Not because I’m ready to stop,
but because I’ve learned that sometimes
the best thing you can do
is not to force life,
but to let it unfold naturally.

"The hunger, though… It’s still there.
The fire to win burns just as strong.
Becoming World Champion
remains my purpose, my unfinished story. I’ll keep chasing that dream,
maybe on different tracks,
maybe in different championships.

"And beyond racing,
I’m working on something new,
beyond motorcycles,
yet driven by the same passion. So… thank you.
It’s been a beautiful ride!
And the road ahead is only just beginning!

"But this big part of my heart and career ends here..
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

Rinaldi ended his time in the Championship on the Yamaha R1 for the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team, and was not retained by the squad for 2026 and has been replaced by Mattia Rato.