Cork-formed Team 109 land Kove backing after Supersport 300 title triumph

It is expected that Spanish rider Benat Fernandez will be retained by the team. 

Retro Traffic Team 109 celebrate victory in the World Supersport 300 series in Jerez. Pic: Vaclav Duska Jr.

Fresh from their stunning success in capturing what was the last-ever FIM Supersport 300 World Championship title, the Cork-formed Retro Traffic Team 109 have announced an extended partnership with Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Kove.

The synergy sees Kove providing factory support to the team that will be based out of the TechnoPark at Motorland Aragon in Spain and will be known as Kove Racing Team 109.

The FIM are introducing a new World Sportbike class in 2026 and costs will be higher than this year's series won by Spaniard Benat Fernandez in a thrilling final race shootout in Jerez.

In addition to the factory support, Kove Racing Team 109 have also revealed they will field two riders in the all new FIM Sportbike World Championship, which will feature eight rounds alongside the FIM Superbike World Championship.

The identities of both riders will be announced in the coming weeks but it is expected that rookie rider Fernandez, whose success sparked amazing celebrations across his native Basque Country in northern Spain, will be retained.

Team principal, Cork's Paul Tobin, said, “Everyone at Team 109 is excited to announce that we will receive factory support from Kove in 2026 for the FIM Sportbike World Championship, using their 450RR machines. This is a culmination of all our determination, passion and hard work over recent years, especially in 2025 where we used Kove’s 321RRS with Benat Fernandez and won the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship as an independent team."

The Carrigaline team boss added, "Kove’s tagline is - focus on performance - and you can see this with their street bikes. With this collaboration we will be able to provide the factory more data to allow them to increase the DNA of performance in their road going machines that people can buy. It is an exciting time for us. We are delighted to have Kove’s support and look forward to working closely with them and hopefully we will have similar success with their 450RR in 2026. We certainly will be doing everything we can to win!”