The World Superbike Superpole race at Circuito Estoril delivered drama in equal measure to triumph. Riding the Racing Ducati Panigale V4R Nicolo Bulega clinched his 28th victory of the 2026 campaign, finishing 0.734 seconds ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona. The 10-lap sprint not only solidified Bulega’s lead in the championship but also produced a new lap record of 1’34.525, underscoring the Ducati’s dominance on the Portuguese circuit.
How the race unfolded lap by lap
From the drop-go, Lecuona grabbed the lead at Turn 1, but his aggressive entry into Lap 3 saw him run wide under braking, surrendering the front to Bulega. That moment gave the champion breathing room and forced the chase group into a reshuffle. Alberto Surra, on a Motocorsa Racing Ducati Panigale V4R lurked in third and seized the opportunity on the final lap, overtaking home favourite Miguel Oliveira at Turn 3 to secure the podium. Oliveira, aboard a ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK M1000RR ended fourth, while Alvaro Bautista’s Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R completed the top five.
Mid-field action was equally eventful. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki) fought his way into sixth place, staying close to Bautista but never managing a pass. Xavi Vierge on a Pata Maxus Yamaha grabbed seventh, followed by Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) to round out the top nine. Notably, Yari Montella received a long-lap penalty for irresponsible riding after a contact incident with Alex Lowes at the opening corner, pushing both riders down the order and costing them a second-row start for Race 2.
Championship ramifications
With the Estoril triumph, Bulega now sits atop the standings with 639 points, a comfortable 141-point cushion over Lecuona, who remains on 498. Yari Montella, despite his penalty, holds third place with 277 points. Lecuona’s second-place finish marked his 30th WorldSBK podium, 28 of which have come this season, cementing his status as a consistent front-runner even when an error at Turn 1 cost him the win.
The results also reshuffle the grid for the upcoming Race 2. Oliveira, Bautista and Bassani will line up on the second row, while the third row will feature Vierge, Dixon and Baldassarri. Alex Lowes and Montella, having dropped to 10th and 11th respectively, will start further back, highlighting how quickly fortunes can change in a tightly contested Superpole sprint.
Key statistics and records
Beyond the headline victory, several notable figures emerged from the event: Bulega’s fastest lap of 1’34.525 set a new circuit benchmark; Surra’s third-place finish gave him his third podium in four races; and Lecuona’s 30th podium underscores a season of remarkable consistency. The race also demonstrated the competitive depth of the field, with manufacturers Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki and Yamaha all represented among the top ten finishers.
Fans can catch the final Race 2 at 15:30 local time (UTC+1) via the WorldSBK VideoPass, currently priced at €9.99, ensuring the excitement at Estoril continues to be accessible to a global audience.
