Three riders who were once rivals on track will now race together under the same banner as Saidatul Zakirah (#88), Beatrice Barbera (#94) and Matilde Contri (#34) join Sommariva Corse for the 2026 Women’s European Championship. The trio previously competed against each other in past seasons, but the upcoming season will see them working together as teammates within the same squad.
Sommariva Corse operates as a close-knit team led by Matilde Contri, together with her boyfriend and their technician Marco Agostini, who will handle the technical aspects of the bikes throughout the season.
Interestingly, Beatrice Barbera (Bea) and Saidatul Zakirah were previously teammates during the 2024 Women’s European Championship season. However, in 2025 Bea stepped up to compete in the WorldWCR, gaining valuable experience at the world championship level.
For the 2026 season, Bea returns to the Women’s European Championship, bringing with her the knowledge and experience from racing in WorldWCR. Her presence is expected to play an important role in helping her teammates adapt to the new machinery. The championship itself has also undergone a significant change, upgrading from the Supersport 300 class to the Yamaha R7, the same platform used in WorldWCR. This move is seen as an important pathway for riders aiming to progress to the global stage.
For Malaysian rider Saidatul Zakirah, also known as Kirah, joining Sommariva Corse represents a major opportunity in her racing career. In previous seasons, Kirah raced on the Kawasaki Ninja 400, but the switch to the Yamaha R7 marks the largest-capacity race bike she has ever competed on. Kirah hopes to quickly adapt to the new machine while continuing to improve her performance and gain more experience throughout the season. She considers this transition a significant step forward in her racing journey. To prepare for the upcoming season, Kirah has been undergoing both physical and mental training to ensure she is ready when the championship begins. Although excited about the opportunity, she admits there is still some nervousness as she adapts to a new team and a new motorcycle, but she remains confident that the 2026 season will be an important chapter in her development as a rider.