Luca Bernardi: Highs, lows and fresh starts of a multiple Italian Champion

The years from 2021 to 2026 have certainly been a rollercoaster for Luca Bernardi.

An Italian Champion in Supersport 300 (2017) and in Supersport (2020), Bernardi secured podium finishes in the Supersport World Championship, but later suffered a serious back injury (a T12 vertebra fracture at Magny-Cours in 2021) and a few more struggles, including a challenging time in the Superbike World Championship and back-and-forth moves between Italian CIV Superbike and international championships. This journey takes another step in 2026: the young rider from San Marino had some issues at the beginning of the year, but he's now delivering excellent results in CIV Superbike with his own Berna Racing Team, mainly managed by his father Stefano.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the opportunity to interview Luca Bernardi, to discuss the current season and look back at the past few years.

Luca, how would you describe the 2026 season?

Things are going well now. Unfortunately, I had to miss the first races, both because I got injured and because I ended up without a ride. At the beginning of the year, I had signed with a team (Cecchini Racing, ed.), but then some problems arose and the plan just vanished. As if it wasn't enough, my father and I took part in some tests at Misano with a Ducati, but I got injured in a bad crash and the bike was too damaged to continue. That's why I missed the first two rounds of the year (Misano and Mugello, ed).

How did you manage to compete in CIV Superbike, despite what happened?

Fortunately, Aprilia provided me with a bike through Enea Maironi (a technician who works for the Italian manufacturer in MotoGP, ed), and then Revo helped me with spare parts. My father took care of most of the rest, and he's also working as my mechanic. We then brought in another mechanic named Marco, and besides him, we are getting help from Enea and other people. One of them is a friend of ours, who supports us with the electronics.

At Imola, for my season debut and without any testing, I immediately felt quite comfortable and secured an excellent third place in Race 2. I had already fought for the podium in Race 1, but then I made a mistake that cost me several positions. At the Racing Night in Misano, I felt competitive, but I had an electronic issue before the race and this caused a DNS. Fortunately, I scored another podium in Race 2 at Misano and then I had an amazing weekend in Cremona, where I won Race 1 and stepped onto the podium again in Race 2.

Looking back now, you became Italian Supersport 300 Champion in 2017 and then moved up to WorldSSP300. Later you became Italian Supersport Champion in 2020. How would you describe that season?

I felt very competitive and fast, especially after the great races I had the previous year (the year before, he had secured podium finishes in his debut season in the category, ed). I felt I could fight for the title. Fortunately, the Gomma Racing Team (owned by former rider Alessio Corradi) believed in me and made the best effort possible. Together, we won almost every race and we eventually claimed the title. We had an absolutely incredible season, and with them I grew a lot.

Then you moved up to World Supersport.

Yes, I moved up to WorldSSP with the CM Racing Team. I felt very competitive there as well and I had an excellent feeling with the Yamaha R6. I was immediately fast, despite not knowing many of the tracks, and I secured my maiden World Championship podium already at the second round. During the season, I scored a few more podiums. Unfortunately, though, I suffered a bad injury at Magny Cours, which brought my season to an early end.

From there, you moved up to Superbike with the Barni Racing Team, but that season didn't go to plan. Looking back, would you have stayed in Supersport for another year?

I received their offer during my second race in WorldSSP, and at that point I thought about it for a while before accepting. Honestly, I don't regret the decisions I made.

What can you say about that year?

I don't really like to talk about it, because it was a difficult year and I wasn't at my 100% physically. Nevertheless, I still did a good job for a rookie. On top of that, there were a few circuits I didn't know, and even on the ones I knew I had to start from scratch, because you need to ride in a different way when moving from a 600cc bike to a 1000cc one. In my opinion, I did reasonably well that year, and one thing that confirms it is that, even though I didn't finish the season (he was replaced by Xavi Forés for the last three rounds, ed), I was the rider who gained most positions in the races throughout the entire year. I got an award for that. Yes, I made several great comebacks...

How did you restart your career after that season?

In 2023, I raced in CIV Superbike with Aprilia and the Revo M2 team, and together we had two good seasons. We made some mistakes that prevented us from fighting for the title, but I'm happy with the results I achieved.

Another new adventure came afterwards: the MotoE World Championship, in 2025.

It was a great experience. I got along well with the team (Aruba.it Racing, ed.) and the people I worked with, and I generally felt good on the bike. The only thing I didn't like was the tyres we used (Michelin tyres made with recycled materials, ed). For example, I felt very competitive at Balaton Park, but I crashed on the first lap of Race 1 precisely because of those tyres. (In 2025, he also competed in the Endurance World Championship with Aviobike WRS team, on a Ducati, ed)

How did you like the MotoGP paddock?

I didn't really experience it very much, actually, since the MotoE tent was separated from the rest of the paddock. I occasionally walked in it, but I still spent very little time there, so I don't have a very clear image of it.

At this point, what are your goals for the future?

Honestly, I don't know right now. The one thing I'm sure of is that I want to finish the 2026 season in the best way possible. We'll then see what opportunities come along and what decisions I will make for my career. At the moment, I don't have any news.

How did you deal with the injuries and difficulties you experienced in the Supersport and Superbike World Championships?

When I got injured at Magny Cours, even though it was a bad crash, my first thought was to get back on the bike as soon as possible. In general, I tried to remain as positive and calm as I could, knowing that I would return. Things were much tougher in 2026. I injured my back again, although it was a small fracture and I was fully recovered after two months. However, as I mentioned, I had been left without a ride and I didn't know what to do at that point. It's not easy to stay focused, also because a part of my family was telling me me to quit. In the end I told them that I wanted to continue, no matter that, and here we are.

What do you consider as your best achievement so far?

Definitely becoming Italian Champion in 2017 and 2020. I would also mention the year I spent in World Supersport, where I felt really good and I was fighting for podiums and wins as a rookie.

Are you working on anything else as well, or are you 100% focused on racing?

I'm trying to set up something outside racing, but I won't say anything yet, to avoid jinxing it (laughs, ed).

Finally, the "Thank You Moment".

First of all, I want to thank my father. He works more than hard so I can continue racing. Moreover, he is working on my bike and, at the same time, he continues to do his own full time job. He is often exhausted, and I'm even more grateful to him for everything he is doing. Even though he is retiring this year, he isn't stopping and he continues to work hard to make sure my career goes on. Besides him, I want to thank my entire family, Aprilia, Enea Maironi, my sponsors, my manager and all the people who support me.

Palmen in Motorradsport would like to thank Luca Bernardi for his time and wishes him all the best for the upcoming races and seasons.