The Cremona circuit hosted a pivotal weekend for the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. With the Italian round also serving as Nicolò Bulega’s home race, the tension was palpable as the title leader faced his nearest rival, Iker Lecuona, in a direct showdown. Both riders represent Racing – Ducati and the outcome of the weekend would determine whether the championship could be wrapped up before the final two events.
Early on Friday, Free Practice 1 set the tone. Lecuona posted a best lap of 1’28.278, edging Bulega by just 0.119 seconds (Bulega’s 1’28.397). The Spaniard’s pace hinted at a strong qualifying performance, while Bulega suffered a brief slide off at Turn 10, ending up in the gravel but walking away unharmed. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) managed a late surge to claim third in the session, and Sam Lowes secured fourth with a 1’28.752.
Superpole showdown at the Cremona Circuit
Saturday’s Superpole turned into a sprint for the pole position. Lecuona opened the first run with a flawless lap, immediately breaking the track record at 1’27.639. A brief yellow flag at Turn 10, caused by Jake Dixon’s crash, did not disrupt his rhythm. Bulega answered with a 1’27.912 effort, but a track-limits infringement erased the time, promoting Yari Montella to second and Lorenzo Baldassarri to third.
Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) was the fastest in FP3 and appeared poised for a front-row start. On his second flying lap he briefly reclaimed the fastest time at 1’27.437, only to be eclipsed by Bulega’s 1’27.297. Lecuona then delivered a decisive lap of 1’27.253, securing pole by a razor-thin 0.044 seconds over his teammate. The result marked Lecuona’s first pole since Barcelona and the first occasion the #11 Ducati has been out-qualified by a teammate in WorldSBK history. Surra settled for third, matching his career best in Superpole.
Race 1: Bulega takes victory on home soil
The race began with Lecuona leading from the start, but Bulega quickly slipped off the ideal launch, dropping to third behind Montella and Surra. Montella’s aggressive push resulted in a high-speed fall at the final corner of the opening lap, allowing Bulega to re-enter second place as Surra slipped further back.
Mid-race drama intensified when Surra, fighting for his first WorldSBK podium, crashed just before the tenth lap, eliminating his chance for a top-three finish. Meanwhile, Montella attempted a comeback, only to suffer a second tumble on lap 8, cementing his retirement. Lecuona steadily widened the gap on Bulega, who maintained composure and extracted maximum performance from his Ducati. Sam Lowes capitalized on the chaos, moving into third and holding the position to the finish line. The final classification placed Lecuona first, Bulega second, and Lowes third, delivering Bulega his second win of the season and his first on Italian soil.
Title race edges toward a climax
With the Cremona results in hand, Bulega now leads the championship with a margin that can be clinched in tomorrow’s Superpole Race. Should he finish the next event with eight points more than Lecuona, the title would be secured with two rounds remaining. The pressure is therefore on the Spanish rider to outscore his teammate or force a showdown in the final stages of the season.
Other notable performances included Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) securing fifth on the grid, just 0.470 seconds shy of Lecuona’s pole time, and Lorenzo Baldassarri rounding out the top six. The top six riders all posted times faster than the previous year’s pole, underscoring the increasing competitiveness of the 2026 grid.
Fans can catch the decisive Superpole Race later tomorrow, with live coverage available through WorldSBK VideoPass, currently offered at a 70 % discount. The outcome will not only determine the weekend winner but could also hand the WorldSBK title to Bulega before the season’s curtain call.
